By the summer of 1787, the Constitutional Convention was on the verge of collapse. Delegates locked in stalemate, pulled apart by self-interest, competing state loyalties, and political gamesmanship. It was in this moment of crisis that Benjamin Franklin rose and made an appeal not to politics, but to providence, urging his fellow delegates to set aside their factions and seek the guidance of the Creator. Watch Oscar-winning actor and icon, John Voight, bring Ben Franklin to life in this powerful rendition of Franklin’s "Prayer Speech." Celebrate America's 250th With Purpose. As our nation celebrates its 250th birthday, PragerU is seizing this historic moment to educate the next generation about America’s founding, values, and…
They came to unite the colonies — and nearly failed on the first day. Before independence… before war… America’s fate was decided inside one quiet hall. In September 1774, delegates from 12 colonies gathered in Philadelphia for the First Continental Congress, responding to Britain’s Intolerable Acts and debating how far resistance should go. What began with arguments over rules, voting, and even whether to open with a prayer soon became the first true test of American unity. Over seven tense weeks, figures like John Adams, George Washington, and Patrick Henry wrestled with impossible questions: Could the colonies act together? Could they resist British tyranny without war? And what would unity cost? This episode explores how the…
On July 1, 2016, the Maryland State House, the oldest still in legislative use, was...
On July 1, 2016, the Maryland State House, the oldest still in legislative use, was struck by lightning. Smoke billowed from the wood dome, but firefighters found no fire. The lightning rod atop the dome, constructed to Benjamin Franklin’s specifications 208 years prior, safely redirected the current, preserving the historic building. Although Franklin’s inventions1 are valuable, his most significant impact was as a statesman. The only American to sign the Declaration of Independence,2 the Treaty of Alliance with France, the Treaty of Paris, and the Constitution, Benjamin Franklin was arguably second only—or perhaps equal to—George Washington in influence and equally necessary to victory. He led the development of U.S.…Open
Born in New Castle, Delaware, George Ross was raised in a very large family. He received a classical education at home before studying law in Philadelphia under his brother, John Ross. In 1750, at 20 years old, he was admitted to the bar and established a successful legal practice in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where his intellect and eloquence earned him a reputation as a skilled attorney. Ross’ political and governmental career began in the 1750s when he was chosen to represent the crown of England as the King’s prosecutor in Pennsylvania. In 1768, he was elected to the Pennsylvania Provincial Assembly. Initially a moderate, he leaned toward reconciliation with Britain but grew increasingly supportive of colonial rights as tensions…
Thomas Stone was born in 1743, in Charles County, Maryland, to a wealthy planter family. After completing preparatory studies in classics, he pursued law in Annapolis under Thomas Johnson, who would become Maryland's first state governor. Admitted to the Maryland bar in 1764, Stone opened a practice in Frederick, Maryland. His political career began in 1774, when he was elected from Charles County to the first Maryland Convention. Stone was initially cautious on the question of independence, even as a delegate to the Second Continental Congress, expressing in April 1776 his "wish to conduct affairs so that a just and honorable reconciliation should take place, or that we should be pretty unanimous in a resolution to fight it out for…
During a break in the Constitutional Convention, prominent Philadelphian Elizabeth Powell asked Benjamin Franklin, “Well, Doctor, what have we got, a republic or a monarchy?” […] Source
During a break in the Constitutional Convention, prominent Philadelphian Elizabeth Powell asked Benjamin Franklin, “Well, Doctor, what have we got, a republic or a monarchy?” […] Source
What should every citizen know about early U.S. history? In this episode, you’ll learn about the arrival of European settlers in the 1500s, why they came to this country, and how they established the 13 original colonies. You’ll also learn about the Revolutionary War, the Declaration of Independence, the Constitutional Convention, and George Washington, the “father of our country.” Can you pass the U.S. Citizenship Test? https://l.prageru.com/4rnKQoN Want more episodes? Subscribe here https://l.prageru.com/3Mmpedn Check out all of our kids content at PragerUkids.com: https://l.prageru.com/3vkepwq Watch our content ad-free on our app: https://prageru.onelink.me/3bas/vgyxvm79 Follow PragerU Kids on social media: Instagram …
