Patriots of the Past

It’s August 12, 1812. I’m on the deck of the USS Essex with Commander William Bainbridge. We’re fighting the British frigate Java. JG: “Commander Bainbridge, look out! The mast is …

It’s April 17, 1805. I’m with President Thomas Jefferson discussing the First Amendment to the Constitution. JG: “Mr. President, what are your views on the free exercise of religion in …

It’s March 4, 1805. I’m in Washington attending President Jefferson’s second inaugural address. Let’s listen to some of his speech. TJ: “I do truly believe that if the principle were …

It’s March 4, 1801. I’m with President Thomas Jefferson, and he has just finished his inaugural address. JG: “Mr. President, there’s been a lot of quarreling lately between Federalists and …

It’s November 2, 1786. I’m with the former Governor of Virginia, Thomas Jefferson. JG: “Mr. Jefferson, why did you write the Virginia statute for religious freedom?” TJ: “John, Almighty God …

It’s November 24, 1783. I’m at Monticello with Thomas Jefferson’s 10-year-old daughter, Patsy. She’s all excited having just received the letter from her father. JG: “Patsy, what does your father …

It’s June 20, 1782. I’m with Thomas Jefferson, who has been working with Benjamin Franklin over the design of the Great Seal of the United States. JG: “Mr. Jefferson, what …

It’s October 7, 1780. I’m with barefoot 16-year-old Patriot soldier Thomas Young at the Battle of Kings Mountain. Thomas is wooping and shouting and dashing with his fellow Patriots from …

It’s January 2, 1780. I’m in Oxford, England, visiting with Professor William Blackstone. JG: “Sir Blackstone, why has your book, Commentaries on the Laws of England, had such a profound …

It’s July 10, 1777. I’m at Fort West Point with Polish Captain Thaddeus Kosciusko. Thaddeus supports the American cause and has been appointed by General Washington to build West Point. …

It’s April 4, 1777. I’m with 16-year-old Sybil Ludington. JG: “Sybil, what did you do when you realized the British were attacking Danbury, Connecticut?” SL: “Mr. Gillespie, at midnight I …

It’s July 8, 1776. I’m visiting with Thomas Jefferson in Philadelphia. JG: “Mr. Jefferson, what did you mean when you wrote in the Declaration of Independence that all men are …

It’s July 4, 1776. I’m with the author of the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson. JG: “Mr. Jefferson, to whom do you and the Continental Congress look for support for …

It’s July 4, 1776. I’m in Philadelphia at Independence Hall with the main author of the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson. JG: “Mr. Jefferson, what is your primary concern about …

It’s January 29, 1776, I’m with Englishman-turned-Patriot Thomas Paine. JG: “Mr. Paine, what is the main premise of your book, Common Sense?” TP: “Mr. Gillespie, I use the Bible as …

It’s January 21, 1776. I’m with Patriot writer Thomas Paine. His pamphlet, Common Sense, is causing a sensation as thousands of Americans are reading it and calling for independence. TP: …

It’s January 10, 1776. I’m with Thomas Paine, writer of the revolutionary pamphlet Common Sense. JG: “Mr. Paine, what words from your inspiring pamphlet could you share with us?” TP: …

It’s November 10, 1775. I’m in the historic Tun Tavern on King Street in Philadelphia. I’m with the proprietor, Robert Mullen, who has just been made a captain in the …

 It’s June 16, 1775. I’m with British General William Howe, who has just finished directing the Battle of Bunker Hill. JG: “General Howe, what do you think of the Yankee …

It’s May 10, 1775. Over a year before the Declaration of Independence, a dedicated group of Scotch-Irish Presbyterians met as delegates of Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. Many of them were …