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Declaration of Independence 1819, by John Trumbull

The Founding of America

The Mayflower
The Mayflower Pilgrims 

On a chilly November day, before landing

on Cape Cod, the Mayflower Pilgrims "laid

the foundation of American liberty."

Part I

Part II

Background information.

Writing the Declaration of Independence
The Origins of American Independence

America's fight for independence simmered for years. The Stamp Act, the Boston Massacre, the Tea Party were factors that led to the Declaration of Independence. Learn more here.

Samuel Adams by John Singleton Copley
Sam Adams
Mastermind of the Revolution

Poor, shabby, brilliant and determined, Sam Adams masterminded the events that led to the American Revolution.

At Harvard, he planned to be a minister. His father wanted him to be a lawyer. His mother overruled both and decreed that he go into business. His unrelenting passion for justice and liberty led to the colonies' declaration of independence on July 4, 1776, Like George Washington, he was irreplaceable.

It's quite a story.

Learn more here

​When you're in Boston visit the Old South Meeting House where the patriots met before tossing hundreds of boxes of tea into Boston Harbor.

Paul Revere
Paul Revere - American Hero

Thanks to a nudge from historian, Jeremy Belknap, in 1798, Paul Revere sat down with pen and paper and recounted the story of a memorable night in 1775.

 

He wrote, "Having a little leisure, I wish to fulfill my promise, of giving you some facts, and Anecdotes, prior to the Battle of Lexington, which I do not remember to have seen in any history of the American Revolution."​

Revere is famous for his Midnight Ride but as an organizer of the Sons of Liberty, a cartoonist and engraver, a reliable and trusted messenger, and tossing boxes of tea into Boston Harbor, Revere was an invaluable asset in the fight for freedom and liberty.

Learn more here

Visit Paul Revere's House in Boston's North End and the Hancock-Clarke House in Lexington.

General Henry Knox

Colorized by ChatGPT

Henry Knox 
Washington's Favorite General

When newly appointed General George Washington arrived in Cambridge, Massachusetts in the summer of 1775 to take command of the ragtag Continental Army, he was horrified by the lack of weapons and ammunition. 

A 25-year-old artillery officer stepped forward with a suggestion. Taking only his teenaged brother, Henry Knox made a 600-mile winter journey to Fort Ticonderoga to bring armaments stored there to Boston. 

Throughout the eight years of the Revolution, Knox was at Washington's side.

​​​

Learn more here.​

 

Self Portrait John Trumbull, 1777
John Trumbull
Washington's Favorite Spy

John Trumbulll's life was full of ups and downs - even a stint in a British prison.

Trumbull's enduring legacy, and his gift to generations of Americans, are his paintings of the Revolution's crucial moments and the brave patriots who made those moments happen. 

 

Today, four of his paintings hang in the Rotunda of the United States Capitol.

Towards the end of his life, Trumbull founded America's first university art gallery at Yale.

Learn more here. ​

Leadership Lives Logo

WORKING THROUGH HARDSHIP TO
EXTRAORDINARY SUCCESS

Career Lessons from Revolutionary War General Henry Knox
1 / Turn Your Job into a University — Self-Education Creates Expertise

While working at the Wharton & Bowes bookstore, Knox didn’t just sell books — he read them voraciously. He taught himself mathematics, Greek and Roman history, military science, and French. This self-directed learning later made him one of themost knowledgeable artillery officers in America.


Career Lesson: Treat your current role (or side interests) as a learning laboratory. Deep expertise in a specialized area becomes your greatest career asset, especially when formal education is limited.

2 / Build a Strong Personal Brand Through Character and Manners

John Adams noted that the young Knox “attracted my notice by his pleasingmanners and inquisitive turn of mind.” British army officers who frequentedhis bookstore encouraged him to join elite military companies. His reputationfor integrity and curiosity opened doors.

 

Career Lesson: Technical skills matter, but likability, curiosity, and a strongpersonal reputation create opportunities and alliances that accelerate your career.

3 / Pivot When External Forces Disrupt Your Plans

Knox’s successful bookstore business was crippled by the Boston Port Bill and non-importation agreements in 1774. Instead of complaining, he shifted his focus entirely to the patriot cause and military service.

Career Lesson: Economic or industry disruption is inevitable. The most successful professionals adapt quickly, view change as a new path, and transfer existing skills (organization, logistics, leadership) into new domains.

4 / Take Initiative — Don’t Wait to Be Asked

After Bunker Hill, Knox proactively proposed to George Washington a bold 300-mile winter expedition to retrieve heavy cannons from Fort Ticonderoga. He wrote to his pregnant wife Lucy: “I am going upon business only.”

 

Career Lesson: High-impact careers are built by people who identify problems and offer solutions without being told. Initiative signals leadership potential long before you have a title.

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