What was the Shot Heard Around the World?

An Overview

On the night of April 18, 1775, hundreds of British troops set off from Boston and headed towards Concord, Massachusetts with the intent to steal the weapons and ammunition of the American colonist.  They were led by British General Thomas Gage.  Although the British though they were sneaky enough to be successful, Patriot spies soon got wind of Gage’s plan, and they knew they had to spread the word that the upcoming ambush. 

The King’s troops departed Boston late in the evening and they marched into the small town of Lexington around five o’clock in the morning.  There, they were face-to-face with Captain John Parker and his militia of more than seventy men.  There was a shot fired, which Historians still do not know which side fired the initial shot, and the nervous British soldiers fired a volley, killing seven and mortally wounding one of the retrieving militiamen.  The British managed to move past the Patriots and continued towards Concord, leaving the dead, the wounded, and the dying behind. 

Arriving in Concord around three hours later, British commanders ordered several companies to secure the north bridge across the Concord River.  They were to do this before continuing another mile to Barrett Farm, where they suspected cache of arms and powder was being stored.  By the time the British arrive to the North Bridge, a growing assembly of 400 militia from Concord and surrounding towns had gathered.  From their vantage point, they could see smoke rising from Concord, which was a result of the British burning supplies; however, the Patriots thought the smoke was the British burning down their town. After the attack from the morning combined potential town torching, the Patriot side would not be silent.

The Minute Men marched down the hill, towards their opponents.  The British soldiers, intimidated by the colonial numbers, retreated and prepared to defend themselves.  Once within range, the British opened fire, killing Isaac Davis and Abner Hosmer.  In a reply, the Minute Men started their own volley, which is considered “the shot heard round the world”.  The rest of the British troops retreated to town, and the Revolutionary War had begun.

About out photograph:

An air of serenity and tranquility fills the Lexington Battle Green in Concord, Massachusetts. Sunlight streams down on the park, and the luscious trees and well-kept grass add to the beautiful atmosphere with the calm, clear sky. Standing gallantly in the center of the park is a life-size statue a continental minute man holding a musket in his right hand. The statue casts a stark shadow on the ground, contrasting against the well-lit area and adding to the power and intensity of the soldier. Underneath the minute man, a short inscription from Ralph Waldo Emerson's Concord Hymn is carved onto the stone pedestal and describes the first shot launched during the American Revolution:

"By the rude bridge that arched the flood,

Their flag to April's breeze unfurled,

Here, once, the embattled farmers stood, 

And fired the shot heard 'round the world."

 The minute man statue, sculpted by Daniel Chester French (the same French who designed the Lincoln Memorial) in 1915, is officially titled the “Concord Minute man of 1775” and commemorates the strong and valiant minutemen soldiers who fought in the revolutionary war.  The term “Minute Men” refers to an eager group of volunteer soldiers who provided high support to the military and would instantly be ready for duty "at a minute's warning".

A Hymn

Ralph Waldo Emerson, an American philosopher and poet, wrote a hymn to honor the competition of the Concord Monument.  The poem was originally titled Hymn but then was later altered to Concord Hymn.

Concord Hymn

Sung at the Completion of the Battle Monument, July 4, 1837

By the rude bridge that arched the flood, 

   Their flag to April’s breeze unfurled, 

Here once the embattled farmers stood 

   And fired the shot heard round the world. 

The foe long since in silence slept; 

   Alike the conqueror silent sleeps; 

And Time the ruined bridge has swept 

   Down the dark stream which seaward creeps. 

On this green bank, by this soft stream, 

   We set today a votive stone; 

That memory may their deed redeem, 

   When, like our sires, our sons are gone. 

Spirit, that made those heroes dare 

   To die, and leave their children free, 

Bid Time and Nature gently spare 

   The shaft we raise to them and thee.

Sources:

History.com: History Stories
American Battlefield Trust: Lexington and Concord 
 

5 Facts About United States Transportation History That Nobody Ever Told You

The twentieth century was the era for growth, especially advancements made in transportation.  Let’s start from the beginning shall we.  The growth of American transportation began when Thomas Jefferson was elected into office.  President Jefferson had a vision to expand trade and travel from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific.  He wanted to be able to connect people across the entire continent.  By the 1800’s, Jefferson had implemented different transportation systems that would connect American communities, involving roads, rivers, and railroads.  Many citizens were skeptical of this plan; however, by the later half of the 19^th-century, these transportation systems, specifically the railroad system, was more than what it what its envisioned purpose was.  It was not only a means for people to travel the continent; it was a way to transport goods between farms, towns, and cities.      

With this new transportation system flourishing, people found that they could obtain fruits and vegetables year-round.  Farmers could sell wheat and grain to ports, which could then be sent out on ships around the world.  Local crops could be sold nation-wide.  The increased demand for the goods required an increased demand for labor, so immigrants from Asia and Mexico could be employed to plant, harvest, and package the foods. Now that these goods were so accessible, people had no need to move to have food and goods to stay alive.  People could remain in the same place and develop cities and towns.  With the growth of American cities, public transportation grew as well.

Fast forward to the twenty-first century and we have units of transportation that surpass the visions of two hundred years ago.  Our nation offers Transatlantic flights, cross country bus tickets, and International cruise lines.  To put the changes in perspective, here are five facts about the changes in United States Transportation that you probably don’t know:

1. In 1900, Americans owned 8,000 cars. By 1920, they owned 8 million, and by 2000, there were more than 220 million- that is more than once car for every person about the age of 18.
2. There 3,980,817 miles of roads in the United States.
3. Approximately 15.7 million trucks are currently in use in the U.S. If you lined up all of those trucks end-to-end, they would reach the moon!
4. 42% of Americans used planes to travel for leisure between the years of 2008 and 2009.
5. One third of the world’s airports are in the United States.

As you can see, transportation is an ever-evolving industry.  Without these advancements made regarding automobiles, trains airplanes, boats, and even bicycles, life would probably be like that of the 17^th century.  Here is a quick clip to give you a visual on the history of transportation. 

Let us know which form of transportation you appreciate the most and why!

Sources:

G&B Integrated, Facts About History

InterNations- Public History in the USA

What is American Football?

The sport that is most commonly associated with the United States is football, more properly know as gridiron football.  Saturday game days are a way for family and friends to come together and share their passion in rooting for the same team.  On the contrary, it is also a way to bond through competition of supporting opposing teams.  The pregame is full of laughter and playful banter, finger foods and light beer, thunder sticks and cowbells. Football jerseys and team colors create a sea of spirit right before your eyes.  On an ideal day, the sun is beaming down on your tent as your best friend is managing the barbeque and you and your friends play cornrow, all while taking in the scents of the delicious indulgences and victories to come soon.  The best part isn’t even the elements of the festive pregame; it is the anticipation of watching your team destroy the opposition.  It is joining together in a unity to cheer on what you believe in.  More often that not, we don’t realize that many other countries do not gather together in such a way, and they often question why Americans feel so much passion for such a diverse sport. So how did this sport and its traditions develop in American anyways?

The History of American History

American football emerged from two primary European sports, rugby and soccer.  In 1879, a rugby player and coach Walter Camp, of Yale University, proposed numerous rule changes to the sport.  With the reduction of players on the field and the standardization of field size, a new sport was created.  This meant that instead of having fifteen players on the field, like what rugby still has, there would only be eleven men on the field.  Additionally, the standard field size was set to a hundred and ten yards.   Soon after, tackling rules were adapted to legalize tackling under the belt.  A “high tackle” could result in a penalty.  Unfortunately, the violent physically challenges from the game did cause some serious injuries, so football was banned from many colleges and universities until protective equipment was revised.

Walter Camp

Walter Camp is the man most notably responsible for the introduction of American football in the world today.  As mentioned earlier, Walter was a rugby coach and played for Yale University.  Arguably, Walter’s two largest contributions to the sport were made when he served on the newly formed Intercollegiate Football Association (IFA).  The first contribution was removing the “scrum” from the game, and he proposed that a team surrender the all after failing to move down the field a specific yardage.  The other notorious change was the number of men who participated during playing-time, the quarter back, the line of scrimmage, and offensive signal-calling.

Well Known Collegiate Players

Each year, there are many new men drafted and selected to take the field each season.  Among the many men selected, a few of them become legends, but only a few are worthy of greater recognition.  One of these select players is Herschel Walker of the University of Georgia for setting running back records from 1980 to 1982.  He led the steam to a National Championship in 1980.  After his college career, he moved on to play for the New Jersey General for three years and then later the Dallas Cowboys.  Another notorious football star is Tommie Frazier from Nebraska.  Tommie led his team to the national championships two times in a row in the 1990’s, and he is the only quarterback to accomplish such a thing in the past forty years.

Sources:

SocialIssuesReportCenter.org

BleacherReport.com

History.com

SportsIllustrated.com

First Day of Fall: 5 Things to Look Forward to...

Although the summer heat has not left all parts of the country yet, such as my sticky home in Atlanta, the season of brilliant foliage shows, crisp air, and pumpkin and apple flavored everything is upon us.  What makes this time of the year so wonderful?  Maybe it is the anticipation of the vast number of holidays soon, or perhaps it is that we can all enjoy the comfort foods that we love because our “winter bodies” can hide underneath cozy sweaters?  We all light up inside over different aspects of this season, but I think it is safe to say that we all want to capture the moments as they happen so that we can sit around and think about the good times later.  Here are a few of our favorite elements of the fall equinox.

Festive Activities

The fall season is arguably the only season that offers a variety of activities for all people.  There are sporting events, wilderness adventures, and family functions happening constantly.  You can say goodbye to pal, sad grocery store apples because apple orchards are flourishing with fresh food ready to pick right off the tree.  This and pumpkin patches are two great ways to get into the fall mood; plus, it kills two birds with one stone because you can get physical activity and have a great time with family or friends.  If you are not interested in the fruit picking scene, there other more adrenaline-based activities to engage yourself with, such as college football tailgates and haunted houses.

Fall Food

Break out the slow cookers, ladies and gentlemen.  Fall is the season of stews, casseroles, and creamy pasta dishes.  Sure, you can eat these dishes year-round, but who wants to eat a hot bowl of macaroni when it is over one hundred degrees Fahrenheit outside and you must put on your swimsuit in an hour?  Not an ideal situation when the sun is blaring and you are three-quarters exposed, but you don’t have to worry about this with the temperature drop and the sweet addition of all the fall fashion choices.

Fall Clothing

Eating all the delicious, warm foods can be problematic to your waistline, but that is easily fixed with the retirement of tank tops and sun dresses.  Say hello to the loose sweaters, stretchy waistbands, and fuzzy socks.  Sweaters, scarves, and boots look fantastic pair together, plus they are ever so comfortable.  Bonus!  Football jerseys are also back in season.

Halloween

Halloween is the spookiest days of the year, and the thirty days leading up to it only build the anticipation.  Netflix is flooding with horror films, Halloween spirit shops are open on every other street corner, and children can’t stop talking about what they want to dress up as.  It is a fun month full of spooky gathers and themed-party foods, not to mention the abundance of candy that fills the grocery store isles.

College Football

Last on the list, but not the least, is college football.  Who doesn’t love the war within the home when half of the family is cheering for Auburn and the other half is rooting for Alabama.  The tailgating and the sportsmen ship bring friends and families together to eat good food and celebrate a great American sport.

If your favorite thing about fall wasn’t mentioned on the above list, please comment below what you love most! 

The History of Boy Scouts in America

The Boy Scout Movement Begins

On January 24, 1908, the Boy Scout Movement was created when Lieutenant General Robert Baden-Powell published his first installment of Scouting for Boys.  The book described a variety of games and contests that the Lieutenant General used to train his Calvary troops in scouting.  At this time, the author was already commonly known by many English boys, so thousands of copies of his handbook were bought immediately.  The idea behind the publication of this literary piece was that boys should be capable of organizing themselves into small groups of about six or seven plus an additional boy deemed as the leader, the “patrol leader” to learn skills.  Within the groups, the boys would train in areas applicable to outdoor activities: tracking, mapping, signaling, knotting, first air, and all other camping skills.  By the spring season, the series was complete, and Boy Scout troops started to form arise in Britain.  It was not until a year later that the movement made its way to America.

The America version of Boy Scouts was created after publisher William Boyce was rescued from being lost in the fog by a Boy Scout.  The Boy Scout refused to accept any form of compensation for his good deed, which inspired Boyce to organize his own youth organization in the United States.  After meeting with Baden-Powell, Boyce took the already existing Woodcraft Indians and the Sons of Daniel Boone and transformed it into the Boy Scouts of America.  The official founding date for this event is February 8^th, 1910.

The Development of the Organization

The Boy Scout Movement was intended for boys eleven to fifteen years of age; however, it became apparent that boys of all ages could benefit from the principles of the organization.  In 1916, Baden-Powell founded a parallel organization for younger boys.  This organization is called the “Wolf Cubs”, which is the identical organization in America, the “Cub Scouts”. Additionally, in 1980, girls were permitted to join the Boy Scouts, and in the past year, girls have been granted permission to join cub scouts.  Alternatively, the Girls Scouts of America program was inspired by the start up of the Boy Scouts of America.

Why Do Boy Scouts of America Sell Popcorn?

Something you may not understand the purpose of is “why do boy scouts sell popcorn?”.  Not only is this practice a fundraising event, but it teaches boys the art of selling.  This act offers boys a chance to earn a badge in Salesmanship and Entrepreneurship. Not only is learning to sell something a useful skill but learning how to deal with people who say “no” is also a useful skill.  Through this fundraising event, the boys also learn to set SMART goals, goals that are specific, measurable, attainable, reasonable, and time-bound.  This is a vital life skill because it is apart of success.  Creating a plan and following through with the plan teaches a person to prioritize and to value hard work.  Lastly, selling popcorn is a huge lesson in perseverance.  If you are unable to sell any popcorn at one house, you put your happy face on and move on to the next home.  Being tenacious is important- and it doesn’t stop with selling the product.  The perseverance and optimism that comes with selling door-to-door, and being rejected door-to-door, shines in the learning environment, as well as the work environment.

 Boy Scouts in America Today

Today in America, the Boy Scouts are no longer referred to as “Boy Scouts”.  Effective in February 2018, the program was renamed as “Scouts BSA”.  This is because the organization’s leaders are trying to change the face of the Boy Scouts due to the integration of allowing females to apart of the troops.  The parent organization will remain as the Boy Scouts of America, and the Cub Scouts will also keep its name.  This change reflects the shifting social and cultural norms that expect social groups to be exclusive based on gender.  To further this shift, the Scouts also permitted transgender children to join its programs as of January 2017.  The primary reason for this being that the leaders want all youth to have a fair opportunity to be apart of the scouts.

 Our Photograph

Almost as if he were a statue, the assistant patrol leader stands with perfect posture and a stern expression. His hands lay firmly at his sides, and he looks directly at the photographer with an intense, yet stoic, expression. He wears the standard assistant patrol leader uniform of the time: a long-sleeved shirt with four pockets, trousers gathered at the calves, and a hat. He stands on a grassy field in Kennebunkport, Maine with lush trees lining the area. The branches of the trees are abundant with leaves and cast dense shadows along the back of the field. Fortunately, there was sufficient sunlight that allowed the patrol leader to have such a handsome portrait taken.