Before the muskets fired, an idea was born: People, not kings, could govern themselves.
Welcome to a new series: Inside the American Mind. Let’s uncover the roots that made America the most badass nation in history.
Let’s dive in. 🧵🧠🇺🇸 #AmRev
The Founders didn’t just write laws, they built a blueprint for greatness. They believed rights come from God, not government. From nature, not nobility. That radical belief gave rise to a nation for the people, by the people.
The American revolutionary mind wasn’t born overnight. It was shaped by centuries of thought, from the Bible to Cicero, from Locke to Montesquieu. Our founders fused faith, classical virtue, and Enlightenment reason into a bold new vision of self-government.
They studied ancient Rome and Athens not just for politics, but for lessons in virtue and civic duty. The collapse of past republics taught them this truth: liberty survives only when the people are moral, educated, and willing to defend it.
Faith was at the core. Many founders believed rights came from the Creator, not man. That belief shaped everything, from the Declaration of Independence to the structure of our Constitution. Moral order was the foundation of political freedom.
The result? The most remarkable Constitution ever written. A blueprint that empowered the people, limited the state, and inspired revolutions around the globe. For the first time, excellence was expected from every citizen, rich or poor, farmer or scholar.
To understand America, study the revolutionary mind. It calls us to reject mediocrity, embrace liberty, and pursue greatness; not just for ourselves, but for the country we love. That spirit still lives. Let’s live up to it. 🇺🇸 #AmRev
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Today is Flag Day , a holiday honoring the birth of the Stars and Stripes. But where did our iconic flag come from? Who designed it? And how did it evolve over time?
Let’s take a patriotic journey through history. 🧵🇺🇸 #AmRev
The original resolution for the U.S. flag was passed on June 14, 1777 by the Second Continental Congress:
“Resolved, that the flag of the United States be 13 stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be 13 stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation.”
This resolution gave us the foundation: 13 stripes for the 13 colonies and a blue union with stars symbolizing the states, united but distinct.
But who made the first flag? That’s where Betsy Ross comes in, or does she?
Before Jefferson wrote of liberty, before Washington took command, America was shaped in the pews. The Bible wasn’t just read, it was lived. It formed minds, inspired resistance, and helped forge the greatest republic in history.
Let’s dive in. 🧵🇺🇸 #AmRev
From New England to the backcountry, colonial life was steeped in Scripture. The Geneva Bible was in every home. Sermons were political, fiery, and unflinching. To many colonists, resisting tyranny wasn’t rebellion, it was obedience to God.
The Old Testament especially resonated. Colonists saw themselves as a New Israel, delivered from bondage, forging a covenant in the wilderness. Pharaoh became Parliament. The Red Sea? The Atlantic. And Canaan? A land of liberty on this continent.
In 1846, the United States and Mexico went to war over disputed territory, and by the end of it, half of Mexico’s land would change hands. This is the story of the Mexican-American War, a forgotten yet defining chapter in America’s rise.
Let’s dive in.🧵🇺🇸 #AmRev
The roots of war go back to Texas. After winning independence from Mexico in 1836, Texas joined the U.S. in 1845. But Mexico had never recognized Texan independence, and considered annexation an act of war.
President James K. Polk, a firm believer in Manifest Destiny, sent troops to the Rio Grande, land Mexico still claimed. Skirmishes broke out. Polk declared that “American blood had been shed on American soil.” Congress declared war on May 13, 1846.
Before America had factories, it had fields, and before it had citizens, it had indentured servants. From the 1600s to the Revolution, tens of thousands of Europeans signed away years of their life for a shot at freedom in the New World.
Let’s dive in. 🧵🇺🇸 #AmRev
The system was simple: work 4–7 years for a colonist, and in return you’d get passage to America, food, shelter, and one day, your freedom. For many, it was their only ticket out of poverty. A dangerous gamble. But one many were willing to take.
Most came from England, Ireland, Scotland, and the German Palatinate. Some were poor farmers. Others were orphans. Many were convicted of petty crimes and sentenced to servitude. A few, like the famous Martha Ballard, came willingly in search of new beginnings.
Before factories and freeways, before presidents and parties, there were settlers. They braved the unknown with a Bible, a musket, and grit. What united them? A fierce belief in self-sufficiency, local control, and faith in God.
Let’s dive in. 🧵🇺🇸 #AmRev
Localism wasn’t a political slogan, it was a necessity. With no king nearby and no government to lean on, town halls and congregations became the center of civic life. Decisions were made by neighbors. Power stayed close to home.
Early Americans learned quickly that survival came from the work of their own hands. They built their homes, grew their food, raised their children, and defended their land. It was hard. But it forged a culture of grit, independence, and responsibility.
By late 1621, Plymouth had survived its first brutal year. Now came the harder part: building a permanent home. The Pilgrims weren’t just surviving the wilderness, they were trying to build a godly society from the ground up.
Let’s dive in.🧵🇺🇸 #AmRev
The heart of the colony was a single main street leading to the fort on Burial Hill, where the Pilgrims could defend against attack. Each family had a small one-room house, made of logs, thatched roofs, and clay-daubed walls.
Life was structured around faith, work, and survival. The colony ran on a strict rhythm; Sabbath days, public prayer, daily labor, and tight social discipline. They believed their survival depended on divine favor as much as hard work.