Johnny-on-the-Spot … by John Foster …

America’s 250th birthday.

America’s 250th birthday has a lot of people and events that made it possible.

These occasions don’t happen every day..

This event calls for some reflection and thought.

I’ve uncovered a few random notes that you may find enlightening.

Let’s do it alphabetically.

A

ADAMS…John…One of our 6 “Founding Fathers”. Adams was nicknamed the “Atlas of American Independence.

B

BICENTENNIAL…You can’t celebrate a 250th birthday until you experience a bicentennial, which America did in 1976.

C

CONCORD…Concord, Massachusetts was the site of the first battle of the Revolutionary War.

D

DEMOCRACRY…This word does not appear even once in the U.S. Constitution.

E

ELBRIDGE…Of the 42 delegates who attended the Constitutional Convention, Elbridge Gerry of Massachusetts was one of 3 who refused to sign it in part to the lack of a bill of rights.

F

FRANKLIN…Benjamin Franklin was one of three Americans to sign the peace treaty with England that ended the Revolutionary War and he advocated for a three-person presidential committee rather than a single president.

G

GERRYMANDERING…The construction of an election district so as to give a distinct advantage to one party or group over another. The process was named after Gerry Elbridge. (see above).

H

HAMILTON…Alexander Hamilton, yet another of the 6 “Founding Fathers” was regarded as the “Father of the National Debt” which he felt was a real blessing.

I

INDEPENDENCE…The first time the formal term “The United States of America” was used was in the Declaration of Independence.

J

JEFFERSON…Another one of the 6 “Founding Fathers” who was renowned for being a terrible public speaker due to a speech impediment but he was fortunately a gifted writer. But he died broke

K

KING…Rufus King of Massachusetts was a signer of the U.S. Constitution who failed to win the Federalist Party’s nomination for president in 1816.

L

LEXINGTON…It’s where the “Shot heard ’round the world” was fired on April 19, 1775, starting the Revolutionary War.

M

MADISON…James Madison, yet another of the 6 “Founding Fathers” was about 5’4″ tall and weighed less than 100 pounds and he outlived all of the other “Founding Fathers”, dying at the age of 85 in 1836.

N

NATIVE AMERICANS…Despite being here first, Native Americans have only been allowed to vote since the passage of the Indian Citizenship Act of 1924.

O

OLD GLORY…The famous nickname for the American flag, originating from a specific 10 by 17 foot flag owned by 19th century sea captain William Driver.

P

PENNSYLVANIA…Of the spelling errors in the U.S. Constitution, “Pensylvania” above the signers’ names might be the most-glaring.

Q

QUILL…The writing instrument used by the Founding Fathers to sign the foundational documents ol our nation like the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution.

R

RHODE ISLAND…In 1788, a popular election was held in Rhode Island to determine the ratification status of the new Constitution. The vote was 237 in favor and 2,495 opposed,

S

SMELT…Patrick Henry, who declared “Give me liberty or give me death!” was elected as a delegate to the Constitutional Convention but declined to participate, saying he “smelt a rat”.

T

TEA…The Boston Tea Party was an act of protest on December 16th, 1773 to protest British Parliament’s tax on tea. Sixteen members of the Sons of Liberty tossed about 340 chests of tea into Boston Harbor.

U

UNITED STATES…The Senate originally proposed that the President be addressed as “His Highness the President of the United States and Protector of their Liberties.” The House and Senate compromised and settled on the use of “President of the United States.”

V

VERMONT…Vermont ratified the Constitution on January 10th, 1791 even though it had not yet become a state

W

WASHINGTON…George Washington, also one of the six “Founding Fathers” was the only President to win unanimous approval (all the votes cast) by the electoral college and he did iu twice.

X

EXAMPLE…Despite what you might hear or read, we are still the best :”example” of what a nation can be. If we are so bad, why do so many want to come here?

Y

YEARNING…Lady Liberty says, “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.”

Z

ZEAL…Great energy, enthusiasm, or passionate dedication in pursuit of a cause, goal or objective.

I trust my listing may encourage you to consider “America 250” in a way you’ve never considered.

I for one, am damn proud to be here.

Happy Birthday America!