John Hancock proposes boycott of British East India Company tea to Colonial housewives, 1769 (slide 4)

• I agree tea is lovely but coffee is good too
• Because, this will hurt British
• Yes, my signature is big
• No, not indicative of anything else, Madame.

Paul Revere delivers Suffolk Resolves to First Continental Congress, 1774 (final slide)

To recap:

• no British goods
• raise militia
• ignore British rule
• Intolerable Acts — really intolerable.

Thomas Paine presents Common Sense in Philadelphia, 1776 (slide 3)

Being part of Britain — third problem:

• drag America into unnecessary wars.

Jefferson previews first draft of Declaration of Independence to other committee members, 1776 (slide 4)

Unalienable rights — further explanation:

• not being killed or life?
• freedom from slavery or liberty?
• pursuit of happiness or — swag, property, bling?
• open to suggestions…

Jacques-Donatien Le Ray invites Benjamin Franklin to stay at his fully staffed mansion in Paris, 1776 (slide 12)

• As I love liberty, and believe all men are equal
• Use my mansion in Passy
• No electricity experiments is all I ask
• France and America will always be great friends!

Baron von Steuben drills Continental Army at Valley Forge, 1778 (slide 12)

Key elements of Prussian order:

• bad food
• harsh conditions
• severe discipline
• “friendship” of your fellow soldier.

Washington farewell address, 1796 (slide 7)

Further, regarding sectionalism:

• not so sure a two-party state is a good idea.

Happy holiday to everyone in the States, including all the busy bloggers at humor-blogs.com and alltop. Thanks to d4rr3ll for the fireworks photo.