During America’s war for independence, our forefathers fought under hundreds of flags designed and hand-made by local militia groups and colonial regiments.

From the First Continental Congress in 1774 until the election of 1824, America was more politically united than at any other time in our nation’s history. While there were differences of opinion, the Founders had a common goal of gaining our independence from England. Only after England was defeated and the new Constitution took effect did their unity begin to splinter.

The Newburgh Conspiracy represents a time when our nation came closest to deviating from our core revolutionary principles of representative government with civilian control of the military. Only George Washington’s steady and unselfish leadership on March 15, 1783, when he calmed the discontent of Continental Army soldiers, prevented this devastating event from happening.

On March 11, 1783, soldiers were supposed to meet after an anonymous letter circulated through the Continental Army’s encampment at Newburgh encouraging them to take action against Congress and their unfulfilled promises of a pension for the men.

In 1788, after serving as ambassador to England, John Adams sailed for home. For the previous ten years, this devoted patriot had been away from America for all but a few months. His tireless work with the Netherlands secured desperately needed funding for our revolution and the generous terms he obtained in the Treaty of Paris gave our young nation a chance at success.

On March 10, 1783, an anonymous letter circulated through the Continental Army’s encampment at Newburgh encouraging the soldiers take action against Congress, who had begun to waffle on their promise of a lifetime pension of half-pay upon discharge from the service.

The Tenth Amendment guarantees us a government which divides power between a distant central authority and legislatures closer to home and more in tune with local needs.

John Adams retired from Congress in November 1777 but was soon appointed as a commissioner to France, marking the start of his diplomatic career. After two years in France, Adams, on his own initiative, set off for Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands, to secure recognition of American independence and obtain a desperately needed loan for the United States.

The Ninth Amendment, crafted by James Madison, reserves for the people all rights not expressly granted to the government. Tom Hand, creator and publisher of Americana Corner, explores how this visionary amendment addressed the concern that the new Bill of Rights might be construed as a complete list, and why it still matters today.

To fully appreciate the novelty of Thomas Paine’s Common Sense, one must consider that all colonists had ever known was a dependency on England and a government run by the King. Now this 47-page pamphlet challenged them to consider separating from that powerful nation and replacing the King with something called a democracy.

Our Forefathers knew that a person accused or convicted of a crime within the bounds of our judicial system would be relatively powerless without certain protections. To prevent harsh and arbitrary treatment by the government, the Founders created the Eighth Amendment.

The two most influential books of the Revolutionary era were written by Thomas Paine, an immigrant from England. Common Sense and The American Crisis shaped the American mindset like nothing else.

Our founding fathers had experienced a country in which the monarchy had been both the judge and the jury. This one-sided system was terribly unfair. In response, they created the Seventh Amendment to ensure the people, not the government, decide if someone is innocent or guilty.

Through sheer force of will and a supremely convincing explanation of democratic government, John Adams almost single-handedly convinced the Second Continental Congress to unanimously approve our Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776.

The Sixth Amendment helped usher in a new age of justice. With the various rights included in this amendment, the Founders guaranteed to all Americans transparency and fairness in criminal proceedings, and protection from an over-reaching government.

In 1775, despite the seemingly unavoidable conflict between the colonies and England, there was disagreement regarding our future relationship. Some, like John Dickinson, wanted to remain loyal to the King, some were undecided, and others, including John Adams, wanted to declare independence. Watch Americana Corner’s latest video and learn how the opening debates resulted in a last attempt at reconciliation, and why it still matters today.

The Fifth Amendment contains five separate but related rights protecting those accused of a crime. Thanks to the foresight of our Founders, we are innocent until proven guilty, and the burden to prove guilt falls on the government.

By 1773, John Adams had established a prosperous legal practice and had a fine family. He believed differences with the Crown could be and should be worked out. But after the Boston Tea Party, and England’s response, Adams became committed to the cause of independence as one of Massachusetts’ representatives to the First Continental Congress.