Drive Thru History: American History

Just north of Plymouth we travel to Boston, one of America’s oldest and most historic cities. It was here that the American Revolution began. The Boston Massacre of 1770 ignited the minds and hearts of Colonists, leading up to the Boston Tea Party of 1773. We visit the Old North Church, where lanterns signaled Paul Revere’s ride. We experience the “shot heard round the world,” as the Revolutionary War officially began at the Battles of Lexington and Concord. The Battle of Bunker Hill soon followed, marking the first significant confrontation in the American Revolution.

We return to England to learn about the life of George Whitefield, the father of the “First Great Awakening.” Back in Boston, we park the Jeep and put on our walking shoes to tour the Boston Freedom Trail. As we see Paul Revere’s home, Faneuil Hall, the USS Constitution, and the site of Bunker Hill, we are reminded of the importance of Boston in the American Revolution.

We examine the life and vision of the enterprising William Penn. At his home, Pennsbury Manor, we learn about Penn’s philosophy of representative government and how it influenced future American government and the U.S. Constitution. We visit Christ Church in Philadelphia, the parish of many Founding Fathers, and we investigate the truth behind the first American flag at the Betsy Ross House.

Philadelphia overflows with early American history. We start our episode by looking at the life of Benjamin Franklin, often called “The First American.” We will learn about the many other Founding Fathers that called the City of Brotherly Love home. Philadelphia represented the best in colonial life and culture, making it the logical place to convene the Second Continental Congress and sign the Declaration of Independence at Independence Hall.

We learn about some of the great fighters of the American Revolution. We start with the little-known Tadeusz Kosciuszko, the Poland-born engineer who was the mastermind behind the British defeat at Saratoga and the person who designed the fortifications at West Point. We learn about the Battle of Germantown, visit Fort Mifflin, and remember the endurance of Washington’s Continental Army at Valley Forge.

Virginia is filled with early American history. We’ll start in Jamestown, the first permanent English settlement in the New World. We will learn the story of Peter Muhlenberg, the pastor, soldier, and statesman who lived in Woodstock. In Williamsburg, we’ll immerse ourselves in 18th century life, admiring the site of what was once the capital of Virginia. We end by studying the Battle of Yorktown, where the defeat of Cornwallis and his troops led to American independence.

We travel south and visit the elegant homes of the great Virginian Founding Fathers, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison. We’ll admire the refinement of Mount Vernon, the ingenuity of Monticello, and the hospitality of Montpelier. We will also seek to understand how these southern Founding Fathers reconciled their beliefs, while living in a culture steeped in slavery.

We leave the peaceful estates of Virginia and explore the bustling metropolis of New York City. We will visit several historic sites and monuments from the Revolutionary War, including the site of the Battle of Long Island, where we learn about miraculous events that saved the continental army from annihilation. We finish the day by experiencing New York life – both old and new – as we get a Lombardi’s Pizza “to go” and set up camp in the middle of Times Square to enjoy it.

We continue our tour of New York City and visit the modern and industrious Wall Street, the financial capital of the world. Here, we climb the steps of Federal Hall, the first capitol building of the United States, and the site of the inauguration of America’s first president, George Washington. We visit St. Paul’s Chapel. Outside the city, we visit the Saratoga battlefields and West Point. We also learn about the infamous traitor, Benedict Arnold.

We drive to New Jersey and learn about American victories at the Battles of Trenton, Princeton, and Monmouth. At Trenton, we reenact Washington crossing the Delaware with Dave in his very special ride. We visit Morristown, often referred to as the “military capital of the American Revolution.” As we end our journey, we contemplate the sacrifices of our Founding Fathers and the liberties and freedoms of the U.S. Constitution that have made America truly exceptional.