Celebrate the 4th!



The 4th of July, my favorite holiday, is just around the corner.  At our house it’s a holiday that lasts at least a month, kind of how Christmas is celebrated for most of December.  The fun begins with Flag Day and continues to the end of July.  I love everything about it:  the colors, the festivity, the gatherings, the food, the fireworks (which make me cry because I think of how John Adams said the day would someday be celebrated with “bonfires and illuminations”) and most especially the history.

Really, that’s what I love about Independence Day.  I love the history.

I recently heard a brief report on a study that’s been done about patriotic themes in the media.  The study revealed that the American media talks about patriotic food and patriotic decorations far more than they talk about patriotic acts by citizens or by our troops.   The blurb I heard didn’t even mention patriotic history.  That piece of information has been gnawing at me.  Much as I love the food and the decorations, they are by no means the meaning of the day.

But if that’s all we talk about, then our children will have grown up in a world that’s forgotten the history, forgotten the meaning, and in so doing, forgotten how to be free.

I’ve thought long and hard about what that same study would reveal in our home.  I think it would be more balanced, but I’ve decided to consciously work at infusing much more history, much more meaning, much more principle into our 4th of July observance.

And so, tonight I’m announcing a week long “Celebrate the 4th” theme here at Hopeful Homemaker.  Yes, there will be some decorating and some food, but I think you’ll also find a few ideas that might help you remember why and what we celebrate.

So come back all week long for festive ideas and some inspiring stories as well.  There will be two or three posts a day so please check them out and see what interests you!

And since we’re already celebrating in my neck of the woods, Happy 4th of July to you!

Jennifer

4th of July Trivia Answers (and winners)

Thanks to those who participated in my little online trivia quiz!  I hope it was a good experience to test your memory and stretch your knowledge a little bit.


Without further ado, here are the answers to the 2010 quiz.

1.  What happened on July 4, 1776?
Congress voted to approve the Declaration of Independence.

2.  When did the Revolutionary War begin?  When did it end?
The war began on April 19, 1775 with the Battles of Lexington and Concord.  The fighting effectively ended in October 1781 with the defeat of the British but peace was finally secured with the Treaty of Paris in 1783.

3.  Name the author of the Declaration of Independence.
Thomas Jefferson 4.  Recite the preamble to the Constitution.
We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect Union, establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

5.  Name 5 signers of the Declaration of Independence.
see the entire list here 6.  In what year was the Constitution written?
1787 7.  The U.S. Constitution is organized into how many articles?
7 8.  What series of articles were written and published to convince the American people to support ratification of the Constitution?
The Federalist Papers 9.  How many of these articles were written?
85 10.  Name the three authors of the articles.
Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay 11.  Who wrote the fewest?  How many did he write?
John Jay, who wrote 5.

12.  Who said the following:
“The preservation of the sacred fire of liberty and the destiny of the Republican form of government are justly considered, perhaps, as deeply, and finally staked on the experiment intrusted [sic] to the American people.”
George Washington, First Inaugural Address, April 30, 1789 13.  What form of government do we have?
At the conclusion of the Constitutional Convention, Benjamin Franklin was asked what kind of government had been wrought.  He answered, “…a Republic, if you can keep it.”
It is unfortunate that we are being taught in our country that our form of government is a democracy.  If we believe this, there is much we will not understand about the Constitution.  The Founding Fathers had grave concerns about democratic forms of government.  To understand some of the dangers they sought to avoid by creating a republic instead of a democracy, I highly recommend reading the Federalist #10, by James Madison.

14.  Name the battle which turned the tide of the war on Christmas Day, 1776.
The Battle of Trenton 15.  At the Battle of Monmouth, what woman’s heroic efforts carried the day for the American army?
Mary Ludwig Hays, who became known as Molly Pitcher.  Following the battle, George Washington personally awarded her the rank of Sargent in the American army.

16.  Name the man responsible for hauling cannon from Ft. Ticonderoga to Boston for General Washington?
Henry Knox 17.  Who wrote the following:
“These are the times in which a genius would wish to live.  It is not in the still calm of life, or the repose of a pacific station, that great characters are formed.  The habits of a vigorous mind are formed in contending with difficulties.   Great necessities call out great virtues.  When a mind is raised, and animated by scenes that engage the heart, then those qualities which would otherwise lay dormant, wake into life and form the character of the hero and the statesman.”
Abigail Adams, in a letter to her son John Quincy Adams.  I might add that this quote seems as relevant to our world today as it was 234 years ago.

18.  Name the man who led his men in executing critical amphibious operations for the Army during 1776 (and throughout the war).
The man I was referring to is Major General John Glover , whose regiment of Marblehead Mariners were responsible for the evacuation of the Army from Long Island in August 1776 and who also ferried the army across the icy Delaware River for the attack on Trenton.  I will, however, also accept Samuel Nicholas as correct.

The first comment to reply with correct answers to all 18 questions was Kristen.  Congratulations!  I was also very impressed that Emily’s 9 year old daughter contributed to their answers and posted the first response to the quiz.  I’ll be sending a flag holder to both of you!  Way to go, and thanks so much for playing along!  We’ll have another one next year.

Hopeful Homemaker

4th of July Trivia (and a prize)

One of our family’s Independence Day traditions is to have a little history trivia quiz.  It’s a fun way to test your knowledge of American history and to learn a few things.   This year I shared our quiz with friends and neighbors at our barbecue.  I thought I’d share it here, as well.  Answers will be posted Tuesday morning.  Good luck!


1.  What happened on July 4, 1776?

2.  What year did the Revolutionary War begin?  When did it end?

3.  Name the author of the Declaration of Independence.

4.  Recite the Preamble to the Constitution.


5.  Name 5 signers of the Declaration of Independence.

6.  In what year was the Constitution written?

7.  The U.S. Constitution is organized into how many articles?


8.  A series of articles were written and published to help convince Americans to support the ratification of the Constitution.  What were they called?

9.  How many of these articles were written?

10.  Name the three authors of the articles.

11.  Who wrote the fewest?  How many did he write?


12.  Who said the following:
“The preservation of the sacred fire of liberty and the destiny of the Republican form of government are justly considered, perhaps, as deeply, and finally staked on the experiment intrusted [sic] to the American people.”

13.  What form of government do we have?

14.  Name the battle which turned the tide of the war on Christmas Day, 1776.

15.  At the Battle of Monmouth, what woman’s heroic efforts carried the day for the American army?


16.   Name the man responsible for hauling cannon from Ft. Ticonderoga to Boston for General Washington?

17.  Who wrote this:
“These are the times in which a genius would wish to live.  It is not in the still calm of life, or the repose of a pacific station, that great characters are formed.  The habits of a vigorous mind are formed in contending with difficulties.   Great necessities call out great virtues.  When a mind is raised, and animated by scenes that engage the heart, then those qualities which would otherwise lay dormant, wake into life and form the character of the hero and the statesman.”

18.  Name the man who led his men in executing critical amphibious operations for the Army during 1776 (and throughout the war).

If you wish to participate, post your answers in a comment.  The first person to answer correctly will win this flag holder. (Holds 5 flags) Special plea:  The idea to add a prize hit me in the middle of typing this post.  Someone, anyone, please save me and answer the questions!  You’ll have my undying gratitude, and a flag holder to boot.  (I love mine!)

Jennifer

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