When living in Massachusetts one often hears a comment such as "there is just so much history around here!" So once in a while it is worthwhile to consider some of the historic events that transpired over 200 years ago, and shaped a country that is now a world superpower.
Most Americans probably know of King George III as the
English monarch at the time of the American Revolutionary
War (1775-1783):
Photo: Painting by Johann Zoffany (1733-1810)
This was also known as the American War of Independence.
It was based upon "a list of grievances against the King that justified the breaking of ties between the colonies and the mother country." The combatants were the British regular soldiers ('Redcoats') and militiamen from the 13 colonies ('Patriots'), that had been established in North America by immigrants from the King's realm and other countries in Europe. It all started with the "shot heard around the world" from one of the militiamen confronting British troops at
'The Green' in Lexington, Massachussetts.
With the signing of the Declaration of
Independence, on July 4th, 1776, the foundation was set for a full fledged democracy - the United States of America (USA).
The Declaration was drafted by a colonist Thomas Jefferson, of whom it was said: "the greatest volume of sheer brainpower in one place occurred when he dined alone...". His prose makes this document one of the most endearing of all time.
A signatory, and one of the 'Founding Fathers' along with Jefferson, was a famous Patriot of the Revolution - John Adams. As a delegate from Massachusetts
to the Continental Congress, he played a leading role in persuading Congress to adopt the Declaration. He was to become the USA's second President.
Another signatory was Samuel Adams, also from Boston and a second cousin to John Adams. Being a great orator and a leader of the movement that became the American Revolution, he was "one of the architects of the principles of American republicanism that shaped the political culture of the USA." He lead many meetings at Boston's Fanueil Hall, which he dubbed 'The Cradle of Liberty', and his
statue now stands in front of this building:
Photo: September 16, 2009 [Fullsize view]
As an aside, even though there is no reason to believe that a famous patriot was also a brewer, there is a superior libation
available today from the Boston Beer Company - Samuel Adams lager:
In modern times, however, Great Britain is known as the United Kingdom (UK) and is undoubtedly a staunch ally of the USA. This allegiance may be rooted in
president Franklin D. Roosevelt's unwavering support during the most perilous of times during World War II. In essence, the British people stood alone against the Axis Powers - Germany, Italy and Japan. In the face of isolationist political
opponents, Roosevelt stood by Britain's Winston Churchill - a great wartime leader - and when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, and the USA mobilized unlimited industrial resources, Nazi Germany's fate was sealed. It was the commanding Japanese Imperial Admiral, Isokoru Yamamoto, who actually understood that "we may have awakened a sleeping giant."
Thus at least since World war II there has been a continuing, close relationship with both Britain's political
leader, the Prime Minister, and the reigning monarch - Queen Elizabeth II - shown here with President George W. Bush:
Photo: [X] Washington, May 2007 (UPI/kevin Deutsch)
Also in the photo are First Lady Barbara Bush and the Queen's husband, HRH the Duke of Edinburgh.
Upon the death of King George VI, she became Queen when only 26 years of age. Today she is still on the throne at the age of 83.
In the meantime, some 12 American presidents have taken office - as shown in this
pictorial timeline - based upon images made available by a Blog reader.
Although just a kid in school in Masterton, New Zealand, I still clearly remember Queen Elizabeth's coronation in 1953. It also happened to take place within weeks of a countryman, Sir Edmund Hillary, reaching the summit of Mount Everest for the first time ever. I also remember his wonderful, but I suppose irreverent, remark upon returning to base camp with his faithful sherpa Tensing: "we knocked the bastard off." By all accounts an unassuming man, but a real man and a real hero...
He then spent many years working with the sherpas in Nepal to raise international funding to build schools and medical facilities.
Now it's all part of history...
