Free Speech gave us the Constitution & Bill of Rights

A Production of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Finish Well Homeschool Podcast, Podcast #188, Free Speech Gave Us the Constitution & Bill of Rights, with Meredith Curtis on the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network

Free Speech gave us the Constitution & Bill of Rights

In “Free Speech gave us the Constitution & Bill of Rights,” Episode, #189, Meredith Curtis introduces you to the men and women who fought just as hard after the American Revolution about the Constitution. Meet the Federalists: George Washington, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay. Meet the Anti-Federalists: Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson, Richard Henry Lee, John Randolph. The battle raged in newspapers and public squares across the country – free speech in action. What were the men so passionate about? Who won the battle? What did the losers do?

 

 

 


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Show Notes

When 13 little colonies won the Revolutionary War, the Great Experiment began. Was it working? Some thought the Articles of Confederation needed tweaking and others thought they needed overhauling.

A Constitutional Convention was called, but some refused to go.

Concerns of the Federalists

Believed the Federal government was too weak and were concerned about the debt and possible invasions.

Concerns of the Anti-Federalists

Believed a powerful federal government could become corrupt leading to tyranny.

How They Battled

They battled in the newspapers of America writing letters back and forth, for and against the Constitution.

Federalist letters were written to defend the new Constitution. Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison wrote most of them. Now called Federalist Papers.

Anti-federalist letters were written to defend the Articles of Confederation. Thomas Jefferson, John Randolph, Richard Henry Lee, Patrick Henry, and Robert Yates were some of the Anti-Federalist writers.

Valid Points of the Federalists

Need for a federal government strong enough to pay off debt & protect the nation.

Valid Points of the Anti-Federalists

When a federal government has too much power it is out of touch, corrupt, and tyrannical.

Constitutional Convention

Trying to rewrite the Articles of Confederation – a brand new Consitution was written by a group who argued and compromised and argued some more.

Who Won?

The Federalists won, but the Anti-Federalists didn’t give up. The Constitution divided power into three branches: executive, judicial, and legislative. Written in 1787, it was ratified in 1788 and became effective in 1789.

What Did the Anti-Federalists Do?

Ran for office. Added the Bill of Rights to the Constitution.

Life Lesson from the President of the Constitutional Convention

His first cabinet was polarized – federalist and antifederalist. President Washington’s Farewell Address (1797)urged Americans to trust in God, live moral lives, and avoid entanglement with other nations. He urged Americans to stay neutral. He also encouraged Americans to avoid sectionalism that would splinter Americans from one another.

Life Lesson from the Anti-Federalists

When you lose, don’t take your marbles & go home. Adjust and continue to fight for what you believe in. In order to protect individual and states’ rights, the Bill of Rights, the first 10 Amendments, was added in 1789 and ratified in 1791.

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Resources

Government: God's Blueprint/Man's Agenda by Meredith Curtis American History Timeline American Literature & Research Newspaper Reporting by Meredith Curtis
50 First Ladies of the USA Notebooking Pages by Meredith Curtis Families Learning Together: American History Art Appreciation by Meredith Curtis Cover American History Cookbook

 

 


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Flourish at Home – Training Our Children

A Production of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.
Flourish At Home

Flourish At Home

People often ask me how I manage to homeschool and run a home business as a single mom. One of the most important factors is that I have taught my sons how to run the household. In this episode, I’ll talk about how to train your children to be independent and responsible, how to take initiative, and how to serve others cheerfully. These four things will prepare your children well for adulthood and contribute greatly to building a balanced life for your whole family now.

These sample chore charts will give you an idea of how I allocated housework and other responsibilities among my sons at different stages of our family life:

Training Your Children – Sample Chore Charts

How do YOU teach your children responsibility, independence, initiative, and service? After you listen to the podcast, please leave a comment and share your best tips with us!


Joyful Balance for Busy Moms

Are you exhausted? Overloaded? Teetering on the brink of burnout? Whether you’re a stay-at-home mom, work-at-home mom, or homeschooling mom, it’s easy to be paralyzed by an overwhelming to-do list. False guilt only adds to the burden.

Mary Jo Tate—an international editor, book coach, and veteran homeschooling mom of four boys—wants to help you find peace in the space between the ideal and reality so you can stop struggling and start flourishing. Learn how to:

· Stop the juggling act and find a balance you can live with
· Minimize interruptions while being sensitive to real needs
· Take care of yourself so you can take care of your family
· Value and protect your time to do what matters most
· Establish a pace you can maintain for the marathon of life

Visit the show page for replays here


Special Thanks to Our Network Sponsor – Change is in the Air Movie

This story embraces the imperfections that make us human, offers a way to set ourselves free and asks us all to take a good, long look at the wild birds in the sky.

Watch the trailer here!


ENOUGH! We Are Free!

A Production of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Finish Well Radio, Podcast #068, Enough! We are Free!In “ENOUGH! We are Free!,” Episode #068, Meredith Curtis explains how one event led to another, resulting in our Founding Fathers declaring our Independence. If you are hazy on the details of events leading to the day we celebrate, July 4, 1776, where Ben Franklin declared, “Well, we either all hang together or we’ll all hang separately” and John Hancock signed his lavish signature big and bold, saying, “There now the king can read it without his spectacles!” join us. Meredith shows how the Great Awakening, the French and Indian War, the Proclamation Line of 1763, the Boston Massacre, the seizure of the Liberty, the Boston Tea Party, Paul Revere’s Ride, Patrick Henry’s Speech, the Battles of Lexington and Concord, and more led to our Founding Fathers deciding, “Enough! We are declaring ourselves to be a free and independent nation with God’s help.” Take a whirlwind tour of several decades culminating in the signing of our precious Declaration of Independence.

 

 


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Show Notes

Our history is British. The 13 American colonies who became the United States of America were all British colonies.

English Common Law

Rights that Englishmen enjoyed:

  • representative government
  • trial by a jury of peers
  • accused faces accusers
  • protection of private property
  • everyone from King to peasant accountable to God and the law of the land

Colonial Autonomy

Colonists from the beginning enjoyed a large amount of freedom and self-government.

  • The Pilgrims signed the Mayflower Compact
  • the Massachusetts Bay Company stockholders who made decisions for the colony all lived in Boston
  • New England enjoyed town hall meetings
  • Virginians elected representatives who enjoyed autonomy

Great Awakening

Revival brought unity that crossed denominational lines that often separate people. Revival erased the division of colony boundaries.

French & Indian War

Trained the colonists for war, taught them to work together against a common enemy.

Big problem: The British soldiers would not go home.

Proclamation Line of 1763

To keep their word to the Native Americans who fought on the side of the British, Parliament passed a law protecting land west of the Proclamation Line of 1763 for the Native Americans.

Taxes

Parliament taxed the American colonists here, there, and everywhere. Most of it was to pay off the debt from the French and Indian War, but some was just because they could.

Representatives from several colonies also met together and sent a protest letter to the king. In 1766, Founding Father Ben Franklin traveled to London, appearing before Parliament, asking them to repeal the Stamp Act.

Repeal the Stamp Act they did. However, the passed the Declaratory Act right away saying, “we can pass any law we want to in the colonies!” It was like a slap in the face. British citizens were supposed to have representation. The cry began, “No taxation without representation!”

The New York Assembly voted to ignore the Quartering Act on December 15, 1766. They refused to fund the British soldiers. Outraged, King George III, disbanded the New York Assembly. Things were heating up!

Mercantilism

Mercantilism, or using protectionism to restrict trade in the colonies in order to fill the Mother country’s treasury, was practiced by Great Britain. They outlawed free trade, dictated who the colonists could buy from, levied high tariffs, and taxed whatever they could. The colonists believed in Free-Market economics and freedom of choice, so mercantilism frustrated them.

Boston Massacre 1770

Some British colonists forgot a very important truth: it’s not wise to through rocks at someone holding a gun who has the legal right to use it. This incident, however, inflamed anger throughout all 13 colonies.

Committees of Correspondence 1772

An unfortunate event led to colonists being taken back to England to stand trial. This violated their rights as Englishmen to a jury of their peers. Committees of Correspondence were started to protect towns from invasive government trampling on individual rights.

Sons of Liberty

The Sons of Liberty was founded in Boston in 1765 to fight the Stamp Act. It grew into all 13 colonies to fight for protection of the colonists rights as Englishmen. Sons of Liberty included Samuel Adams, Benedict Arnold, John Hancock, Patrick Henry, James Otis, Jr., Paul Revere, James Swan, Alexander McDougall, Benjamin Rush, Charles Thompson, Joseph Warren, Marinus Willet, Oliver Wolcott, Christopher Gadsden, Haym Salomon, Hercules Mulligan, Thomas Melville, and Isaac Sears.

Who was John Hancock?

John Hancock was a wealthy merchant in Boston. His ship Liberty was seized in 1768. He was a Son of Liberty. He served as President of the Second Continental Congress and first and third governor of Massachusetts.

Who was Samuel Adams?

Sam Adams was a politician in Boston who worked tirelessly for freedom as a Son of Liberty. He was a member of the Continental Congresses and served as fourth governor of Massachusetts.

Boston Tea Party 1773

John Hancock, Samuel Adams, and other Sons of Liberty dressed up as Native Americans, stormed a British ship and tossed all the cargo (tea) into the Boston Harbor, created one large pot of tea.

Closing Boston Port March 1774

As punishment for the Boston Tea Party, the Boston Harbor was closed to all but British military ships. As you can imagine, businesses were sunk! This affected almost every family in Boston in a negative way.

First Continental Congress September 1774

“We’ve had enough!” colonial leaders decided and met together to appeal to King George III and Parliament. They did three things:

  1. A Declaration of Rights (Freedom of trial by jury of peers, freedom of assembly, and freedom to representative if they were taxed)
  2. Organized a Boycott of British Goods
  3. Declared that if Patriots were attacked, they would defend themselves

Compromise Feb 1775

In January of 1775, Parliament considered the appeal from the First Continental Congress, eventually deciding to ease up on some of the taxes and give in on other issues by February.

Patrick Henry Speech March 1775

Meanwhile down in Virginia, the House of Burgesses had been disbanded by the Royal Governor, so they met in secret at a church. They were discussing the need to raise a volunteer calvary and infantry in every Virginia county when Patrick Henry gave his famous “Give Me Liberty or Give me Death” speech. The delegates sat in contemplative silence after the speech and the resolution passed.

Looking for Sam & John April 1775

General Gage was ordered to use whatever force is necessary to enforce the laws on April 14 and to confiscate militia weapons. He was to disarm the rebels and arrest key leaders like Sam Adams and John Hancock.

Paul Revere’s Ride

Sons of Liberty intercepted the British plans to capture Sam and John, as well as the colonists stockpile of weapons. Paul Revere and John Dawes were sent on different routes to warn, “The British are coming!” Sam and John escaped and the weapons were moved to a new location. However, …

Battle of Lexington

In Lexington, Captain John Parker gathered the Militia and Minutemen to prepare for battle. The British arrived at sunrise the next day. A few shots were exchanged between the Militia and the British troops, driving the Americans away. Eight Americans were dead and ten wounded. Only one British soldier was injured. On to Concord.

Battle of Concord

As the British entered Concord, the Americans fell back, taking up position on a hill across North Bridge. The British roamed through Concord looking for guns and military supplies. They destroyed three canons and some gunpowder.

In the meantime, reinforcements arrived, so the Americans advanced toward the British. American Colonel James Barrett led his men to engage the British and send them fleeing. They regrouped and headed back to Boston.

As the British headed back to Boston through Lexington, the Militia engaged them along the way. It was a bloody march back to Boston for the British.

Second Continental Congress

On May 10, 1775, representatives from all 13 colonies arrived in Philadelphia for the Second Continental Congress. They moved step-by-step toward independence, writing and signing the Declaration of Independence in 1776. They managed the military effort in the Revolutionary War and wrote the Articles of Confederation.

Declaration of Independence

On July 2, Richard Henry Lee, a representative from Virginia, urged the Continental Convention to declare themselves free from Great Britain. On July 4, 1776, the colonists signed the Declaration of Independence, doing just what Richard Henry Lee urged. This was a firm declaration that the colonies were now a free country.

Our own Declaration of Independence

Galatians 5:1

It is for freedom we have been set free. This fourth of July, it’s time to sign your own Declaration of Independence.

Resources

American History TimelineAmerican History CookbookFamilies Learning Together: American History Art AppreciationAmerican Literature & Research


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Building a Strong Math Foundation

A Production of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Math is on the minds of the Roadschool Moms team as they look forward to planning another successful roadschool year. Episode #136 comes to you live from the Oregon coast as well as the SouthWest Florida coast. Kimberly Travaglino, co-founder of Fulltime Families,  recaps her roadschool week in the pacific NorthWest. From across the country, Mary Beth Goff, calls in from Gulf Coast Florida.to catch up with the Road Trip Teacher crew.

Listeners hear a few words from the Season 10 series sponsor,  Time4Learning. The comprehensive K-12 online curriculum is a favorite from the Roadschool Moms Approved resources and used by both KT and MB in their own rolling homeschools. The coupon code “roadschooler” is shared for those who want to test drive a trial run of the online resource.

This episode features special guest, Dennis “Mr. D” DiNola who brings the scoop about building a strong math foundation. The creator of the Mr. D Math program talks specifically keeping your kids learning the math language. He reminds listeners that doing math can be like eating vegetables, you might not necessarily like it but you learn to appreciate it.

Mr. D reassures homeschool moms everywhere that it’s ok to take time off for summer. But if summer is a good time for roadschoolers in your rig to focus on math, he gives great summer options. Further, he encourages that students of all ages should be helped as little as possible with their math work. Hit the replay to learn all the details of this revelation that left both Roadschool Moms celebrating in the background.

This experienced educator of nearly three decades shares his favorite online curriculum for elementary and early middle schoolers. Moreover, he reveals that his own kids use it with success. In conclusion, Mr. D talks specifics about his math program and the options roadschoolers have to use it self-paced or in a virtual classroom scenario.

Looking for a roadmap for your next learning adventure? Scroll through the RSM library on iTunes to find more than 130 podcast replays.

Homeschool enrollment is on the rise. More and more families are moving into a home on wheels. As a result, the Roadschool Moms record this broadcast to present resources that meet the challenges of today’s roadschooler. Kimberly Travaglino, co-founder of Fulltime Families, and Mary Beth Goff, the creator of Road Trip Teacher, team up every week to offer listeners a fresh take on homeschooling while traveling full time across America’s backyard.

The Official Sponsor for Season 10 of Roadschool Moms

National Holidays as Roadschool Opportunities

A Production of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

National holidays are on the minds of the Roadschool Moms duo this week as the Independence Holiday approaches. Kimberly Travaglino, co-founder of Fulltime Families, calls in from the beautiful coastal location of Oregon. Mary Beth Goff, the Road Trip Teacher, calls in from across the country in Southwest Florida. Episode #135 kicks off with the over-the-road duo who talk about the benefits of the traveling lifestyle as well as the downside, specifically unexpected repairs.

Listeners hear a few words from the Season 10 series sponsor,  Time4Learning. The comprehensive K-12 online curriculum is a favorite from the Roadschool Moms Approved resources and used by both KT and MB in their own rolling homeschools. The coupon code “roadschooler” is shared for those who want to test drive a trial run of the online resource.

On this special episode, Mary Beth, shares her Patriot’s Guide as an example of a unit study resource available for holidays such as July 4th. Specifically, she suggests other resources discussed including lapbooks and even notebooking. She reveals that listeners from this episode who email their location for the upcoming holiday will receive a free downloadable copy of the highlighted roadschool resource.

KT chats a bit about the books that her family is reading this summer. That leads into a discussion about a family read-aloud list specifically for holidays such as July 4th. The Roadschool Moms discuss their 5 Tips for Using National Holidays for Roadschool Opportunities.

  • Holiday Unit Study
  • Reading List
  • Role Play
  • On Location Opportunities
  • Other Great Location Benefits

In conclusion, this Roadschool Moms episode wouldn’t be complete without the mention of Morning Time. For more details on that idea, hit the replay on the podcast about Morning Time. The RSM team agrees that holidays present great opportunities to roadschool together in a Morning Time scenario.

Looking for a roadmap for your next learning adventure? Scroll through the RSM library on iTunes to find more than 130 podcast replays.

Homeschool enrollment is on the rise. More and more families are moving into a home on wheels. As a result, the Roadschool Moms record this broadcast to present resources that meet the challenges of today’s roadschooler. Kimberly Travaglino, co-founder of Fulltime Families, and Mary Beth Goff, the creator of Road Trip Teacher, team up every week to offer listeners a fresh take on homeschooling while traveling full time across America’s backyard.

The Official Sponsor for Season 10 of Roadschool Moms

FW Radio – Happy Birthday America!

A Production of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

fw_035_julyfourth smTune in and listen to some of the great people who gave this country the outstanding beginning that she was blessed with. John Hancock, Richard Henry Lee, George Washington, Betsy Ross, Mary Pitcher, and Benjamin Rush will tell you about themselves and their involvement in the birth of a nation.

MBFLP – Celebrating The Fourth When You’re Worried About The Country

A Production of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

MBFLP - Celebrating the Fourth When You are Worried

It’s been a dramatic – and troubling – week in the news. with controversies flowing from the very center of our governmental processes. We are seeing Christians in dismay, worried that our freedoms are under attack from the very people we expect to secure them. Yet there are reasons to hope, and yes, reasons to celebrate – in fact, especially when we’re worried about the country!

Flourish at Home – Training Our Children

A Production of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.
Flourish At Home

Flourish At Home

People often ask me how I manage to homeschool and run a home business as a single mom. One of the most important factors is that I have taught my sons how to run the household. In this episode, I’ll talk about how to train your children to be independent and responsible, how to take initiative, and how to serve others cheerfully. These four things will prepare your children well for adulthood and contribute greatly to building a balanced life for your whole family now.

These sample chore charts will give you an idea of how I allocated housework and other responsibilities among my sons at different stages of our family life:

Training Your Children – Sample Chore Charts

How do YOU teach your children responsibility, independence, initiative, and service? After you listen to the podcast, please leave a comment and share your best tips with us!

MBFLP – Christianity and Patriotism

A Production of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

XtyAndPatriotism

With the Independence Day holiday just on the horizon, do we have a Biblical understanding of our “dual citizenship” – where we enjoy a citizenship in the Kingdom of God, shared with all believers from all ages, but also an earthly citizenship in a particular time of history? Do we recognize the blessings of our earthly liberty and teach them to our children, but avoid the trap of creating a red-white-and-blue version of Christianity? Join us as we open these questions “live” from rural Pelahatchie, Mississippi!

MBFLP – Transitioning to Adulthood with Israel Wayne

A Production of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

MBFLP Transitioning to Adulthood Israel Wayne

 

We all want to raise competent, well-prepared adults as our children grow up. Sometimes our best intentions, though, could be interfering with their growth and may result in something quite different than we hope — even a broken relationship with a twenty-something son or daughter. What’s happening, and more importantly, what can do to avoid it? Join us for this interview with author, speaker, and second-generation homeschooler Israel Wayne, on making the transition to adulthood!