The American Revolution

American students are not taught about the American Revolution. They are taught that we declared indepedence on 4 July 1776 and that was that. They are not taught about what led up to that point or about what followed. Most Americans don't realize the war for independence raged from 1775 to 1787. In twelve years, combat ranged from Georgia to Massachusetts, from western N.Y. and Canada to what is now Tennessee and Kentucky. Open warfare with huge armies crashing into one another, with guerrillas on both sides brutalizing civilians sympathetic to their enemy in addition to harassing the enemy regular army. Violence which had not been seen on that scale in the colonies. Americans are not taught about sacrifice, about the signatories of the Declaration of Independence who died in the war. Who lost sons or whole families, who lost homes. Wealthy men before the war who died in poverty afterward because they believed in an independent country. We are approaching Memorial Day, Flag Day, and the Fourth of July. If none of this sounds familiar, look it up while we still have the resources to do so and remember the costs of our freedom. Would the founders of our great country, who sacrificed so much, feel that it was worthy or in vain if they could see the U.S. and our preoccupation with comfort and entertainment today?