"War can be seen as a pillar of the American tradition. We are a nation born of war - our Revolution - and defined by war - our Civil War." .

             There were a number of circumstances that led to the colonists" rebellion against England and the monarchy. Tensions began to rise when King George III issued the Proclamation of 1763, banning English settlements west of the Appalachian mountains and ordering anyone in those regions to return east.1 In 1764, the Sugar Act was passed, increasing duties on imported good, and established a court to deal with custom matters.2 The Currency Act prohibited colonists from issuing paper money as legal tender, thus, destabilizing the colonial economy, and colonists called for a boycott of British luxury goods.3 The Stamp Act of 1865 ordered colonists to pay tax directly to England and the Quartering Act ordered colonists to house and feed British troops.4 That same year, the Sons of Liberty was formed to rebel against the Acts, and more merchants join in the boycotts.5 Over the course of the next several years, numerous incidents of frictions and often violence broke between the colonists and British troops, each Act passed by England met with rebellion and each act of rebellion met with new Acts.6 .

             In 1774, the First Continental Congress met in Philadelphia with delegates representing every colony, and included Patrick Henry and George Washington.7 This was the beginning of a new nation being born from a society that regarded its freedom greater than life and submission to monarchy. The Congress elects George Washington as general and commander-in-chief of the new Continental Army, and by July 4, 1776, it adopted The Declaration of Independence.8 This declaration of independence was a unique and powerful statement of commitment by a people united in cause and intent. Not only is the content of this document powerful, but it is worded in simple eloquent terms.