CONSTITUTION
“By 1787, many leaders feared that the new country would fall apart without a stronger Central government. They called for a meeting of delegates from all of the states. The goal was to make changes in the Articles of Confederation. But once the delegates had gathered, they realized that a bigger change was needed. They wrote a brand-new document. It is called the Constitution.”

1776
"1776 -- what an amazing year! By the end of it, many Americans were no longer loyal subjects of Britain's King George III. Instead, they were proud citizens of a new nation. Of course, this didn't happen in just 12 months. By 1776, Britain and 13 of its North American colonies had been arguing with each other off and on for many years. Still, when 1776 began, many colonists believed that the two sides . . . "

WASHINGTON
"When George Washington died in 1799, General Henry Lee summed up his many achievements in just a few words. Washington, he said, was "first in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen." Most people remember Washington as the nation's first president, but he was also an outstanding military leader. He led the nation to victory in the American Revolution, an . . . "

COLONIAL AMERICA
"Picture yourself on the dock of Plymouth, England, a green and pretty port town. It's the year 1620. You are waving good-bye to your friends and relatives. Most likely, you'll never see them again. Like many Europeans of your day, you are boarding a ship for the New World. Your ship is called the Mayflower, and you will travel on it for two long months.Instead of sleeping on your soft bed, you sleep. . . "

REVOLUTIONARY WOMEN
"In 1775, Britain ruled 13 colonies, which stretched along the East Coast of North America from Massachusetts to Georgia. Many colonists were tired of British rule. They had quarreled with Britain for years about taxes and laws they considered unfair. Finally, in April 1775, fighting broke out between the colonists and the British army. The American Revolution had begun.”

DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
“It’s hard to believe that just over a thousand words could change world history, but one document—only 1,337 words long—holds ideas more powerful than dynamite. This document’s ideas shook up the mighty British Empire. It launched a new nation. And it is still greatly admired today. What is this document? The Declaration of Independence, of course.”

CHILDREN'S BOOKS

• Revolutionary War Days : Discover the Past with Exciting Projects, Games, Activities, and Recipes (American Kids in History Series). By David C. King, Wiley, 2001.
• Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation. By Joseph J. Ellis, Vintage, 2002.
• The American Revolution: A History. By Gordon S. Wood, Modern Library, 2002.
• Washington's Crossing (Pivotal Moments in American History). By David Hackett Fischer, Oxford University Press, 2004.
• Give Me Liberty (Cover-to-Cover Chapter Books: American Revolution). By Diana Star Helmer, Perfection Learning, 2000.

ADULT BOOKS

• The Glorious Cause: The American Revolution, 1763-1789 (Oxford History of the United States). By Robert Middlekauff, Oxford University Press, 2005.
• The American Revolution: Writings from the War of Independence (Library of America). By John Rhodehamel, Library of America, 2001.
• Liberty or Death: The American Revolution, 1763-1783. By Betsy Maestro, HarperCollins Publishers, 2005.

WEBSITES

• National Park Service - Tour the Revolution: www.nps.gov/revwar/revolutionary_parks/tour_the_revolution.html
• National Park Service - Educational Resouces: www.nps.gov/revwar/educational_resources/teachers.html

COMMUNITY RESOURCES

• Valley Forge (VA):
  www.cr.nps.gov/museum/exhibits/revwar/index1.html
• Independence National Historical Park and The Liberty Bell (Philadeplhia, PA):
  http://www.nps.gov/inde/visit.html and www.nps.gov/inde/liberty-bell.html
• Smithsonian National Museum of American History (DC):
  www.americanhistory.si.edu