Our Country's Founders
Grade 6-9-Most of the selections in this book of moral instruction are drawn from Bennett's Our Sacred Honor (S & S, 1997), an adult title. However, the introduction and editorial comments throughout are new and simplified for this audience, and additional materials such as the famous stories about Betsy Ross and Washington's cherry tree have been added. The chapter headings clearly denote the tenor of the advice: "Patriotism and Courage," "Love and Courtship," "Civility and Friendship," etc. Sources, credits, and attributions are scrupulously listed at the end of the book, along with the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. While it is unlikely that many young people will choose this collection of historical writings for leisure reading, it is a valuable resource on the beliefs and ideas of Washington, Jefferson, Franklin, and other leaders of that period. Letters between husbands and wives, most famously Abigail and John Adams, advice from parents to children, diary entries, speeches, printed materials, and epitaphs all attest to the humanity and personal attributes of these often over-sanctified figures. Their doubts and disputes, their genuine feelings of friendship and affection, and their profound belief in the ideals of democratic government are expressed in their many writings. Occasional black-and-white drawings illustrate the entries. This volume will provide material for reports and primary sources on the principles and ideas that are our national heritage.Shirley Wilton, Ocean County College, Toms River, NJCopyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.