Give or take ten years.
Should be an international holiday. American democracy is the default accepted way to govern throughout the world. Even tyrants have to pretend to get elected, and constitutions abound even when they are ignored.
And then on that day was Massachusetts State Hero Samuel Whittemore...
Whittemore was in his fields when he spotted an approaching British relief brigade under Earl Percy, sent to assist the retreat. Whittemore loaded his musket and ambushed the British Grenadiers of the 47th Regiment of Foot from behind a nearby stone wall, killing one soldier. He then drew his dueling pistols, killed a second grenadier and mortally wounded a third. By the time Whittemore had fired his third shot, a British detachment had reached his position; Whittemore drew his sword and attacked.[7] He was subsequently shot in the face, bayoneted numerous times, and left for dead in a pool of blood. He was found by colonial forces trying to load his musket to resume the fight. He was taken to Dr. Cotton Tufts of Medford, who perceived no hope for his survival. However, Whittemore recovered and lived another 18 years until dying of natural causes at the age of 96.[2][9]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Whittemore
Great read! Thanks for posting.
And: Federalist coup
Knucklehead rants like this one are entertaining.
“They had even stolen four brass cannon right out from under Gage’s nose, a theft not taken lightly by General Gage.”
A couple of years ago I met an old-timer in Massachusetts who said he was a direct descendant of the guy who stole them. He told me where the four cannon, or some of them, are today. They are in different locations, IIRC. I do not recall ever hearing about them before that.
Happy Patriots Day ping
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Recessional of the Sons of the American Revolution:
“Until we meet again, let us remember our obligations to ourDr. Benjamin Franklin, when asked if we had a republic or a monarchy, replied "A Republic, if you can keep it."
forefathers who gave us our Constitution, the Bill of Rights,
an independent Supreme Court and a nation of free men.”
http://www.davekopel.org/2A/LawRev/american-revolution-against-british-gun-control.html
Above is a link with some more details on what transpired because of the British raid in September - called the “Powder Alarm”. Many believe that the colonists might have defeated the British at Bunker Hill if they still had that powder. (They ran out of powder for their cannons).
Anyway - as your great article states - the Americans began to prepare. There were already militias - but they were British militias. The linked article says that the people of Cambridge called a meeting and dissolved the British militia and fired all of the leaders. Then, they reinstated those same people in the leadership of the new “American” militia! And began training, created the Minutemen, etc.
Perhaps like modern times, we will argue and yell about taxes. We will rant about shutting down free speech. We will draw nasty cartoons when restrictive laws are placed. (And of course now we can also go to the voting booth along with all of the above.) But, when you start coming after our weapons.....
I just hope that there will be an ability to organize real state militias in time. Although I’m guessing that our modern-day “Powder Alarm” began in the 30’s or whenever they made machine guns so difficult to own. And it has slowly been progressing ever since. And we are like frogs in the warming pot of water.
The history of Lexington & Concord is fascinating, HOWEVER the included utter disparagement of the Constitution (and hence America & her history since 1789) is LOONEY TUNES stuff:
“The whitewashed history since then has lionized the inauguration of the divorce from the United Kingdom on this day and mistakenly links these events to all the “freedom” enjoyed under the Constitution. The Federalist coup in 1787 that reestablished an English-style yoke of central planning, national taxation and slight tinkering with indentured servitude to a kinder and gentler tax and regulatory apparatus did no more grant individual freedom than the Romans gave to conquered lands.”
“after 1791 would become enslaved once again under the totalitarian doomsday machine known as the Constitution.”
Hundreds of thousands of men have died for that Constitution. How dare you condemn it!!!
Too bad he takes a shot at the genius of the Constitution!
A splendid read. Cheers to all concerned.
The narrative of the initial militia-v.-Regulars fight below “The First Strike of the Match” is fascinating - very well written and engrossing.
IMO, the political theory espoused above “The First Strike of the Match” is pure poppycock. The Constitution is the greatest, most inspired political document maybe ever. Many confuse the current 80%+ unconstitutional federal government with the Constitution itself. That is a fatal mistake. Our mission is to defeat and take down the 80% unconstitutional portion of the federal government and put it back into its Constitutional cage. The same Divine Providence that helped the Colonists to beat the greatest military power in the world then, will help us against the greatest political power now.
Thanks for sharing the history. It is a great read.