Historical Look: The Establishment of the United States of America

At the start of the American Revolutionary War in 1776, the Continental Congress began organizing a government to manage the revolution. This was primarily to conduct the war, diplomacy, and territory issues. The Articles of Confederation was thus established to unite the thirteen original colonies into a legitimate government. This document served as the first original contract of the United States and outlined the laws of which the nation would be governed by. It was completely ratified and accepted by 1781, however after the end of the war, it began to receive heavy criticism amongst nationalists, for being too weak of a government.

After the Treaty of Paris in 1783, the new nation experienced some time of peace and prosperity. Gen George Washington resigned his military command and went to retire at Mount Vernon. However there were still issues of debt incurred from the war, which was not entirely addressed in the Articles of Confederation. This resulted in a nationalist movement, of Federalists, led by Alexander Hamilton calling for a stronger federal government. In 1787, these Federalists were able to convince Congress to assemble a new agreement at the Philadelphia Convention.

The Philadelphia Convention

The Convention began on May 14th of 1787 with an intention to revise the Articles of Confederation. All of the top dog founding fathers were called to attend, and George Washington was appointed to preside over the Constitution. Alexander Hamilton and James Madison were the two key proponents of the convention, and presented their case for an entirely new federal government. Among the issues of discussion was the system of government, the need for an executive leader, a representative congress, a branch of judges, the length of terms, an election process, and the practice of slavery.

On September 17, 1787 the Convention agreed upon a new US Constitution as the supreme law of the nation. The government was thus established as a federal system of three separate powers; an executive branch, legislative branch, and judicial branch. This made for a fair democratic system known as checks-and-balances, where each elected office had equal powers. Through it's system of federalism, the power to govern was shared between national governments and local/state governments. The Constitution's greatest flaw was that it ignored the issue of slavery, since many of the delegates themselves were slave-owners. The Constitution was however the official establishment of the US government, and George Washington became the 1st to preside over it.


The Federal District of Colombia

The idea of a national capital began after the war, amongst the Federalists such as Alexander Hamilton and James Madison.  The founding fathers thus agreed upon a small district as a seat of the national government. In the Residence Act of 1790, this location was selected by George Washington, a territory of 10 square miles along the Potomac River. The city was fittingly called the Washington DC. Construction began shortly after on monumental locations such as The White House and the US Capitol Building. John Adams became the 1st president to reside in the White House in 1797. In 1801, Congress began it's first session in the city.

Bill of Rights

 By 1789, a number of delegates began to feel that the Constitution had overlooked personal liberty and property. James Madison thus introduced a series of articles intended to protect human's natural rights. These Amendments to the Constitution were presented to Congress on August 21, 1789 and ten of which were officially ratified on December 15, 1789. Here are the Bill of Rights:

1. Freedom of Speech, Press, Religion, Assembly, and Right to Petition
2. Right to Bear Arms
3. Protection from Soldier Occupation in Time of Peace
4. Protection from Unreasonable Search or Seizure
5. Right of Due Process in Court
6. Right of a Public Trail by Jury (Criminal Prosecutions)
7. Right of a Civil Trail by Jury (Common Law)
8. Protection from Cruel and Unsual Punishment
9. Protection from Certain Rights not Mentioned in Constitution
10. Powers of the States and People

Presidency of George Washington

Following the ratification of the Constitution, an electoral college was assembled to chose a leader. It was of course not a question as to who should be the first president of the new nation; the very popular, General George Washington. He was unopposed and won 100% of the electoral votes. John Adams was elected as his vice president. George Washington was officially inaugurated on April 30th, 1789 at Federal Hall in New York City. He began his administration in New York City, while the capital of DC was in it's early development.


He was ultimately opposed to political parties, however agreed on the concept of a federal united nation. He was consulted by many of the founding fathers, yet was most in-line with Alexander Hamilton's approach of "federalism". Much of Washington's presidency was dedicated to the organization of the executive office, as well as economic affairs. He established a Cabinet of consultants, such as the Secretary of State, War, Treasury, Postmaster, and Attorney General. He also established a Supreme Court of 6 federal judges through the Judiciary Act of 1789.

Washington's economic policy was mostly concerned with the debts caused from the Revolutionary War which were quite severe. His Secretary of Treasury, Alexander Hamilton, convinced him to start a national bank while his Secretary of State, Thomas Jefferson, believed in an independent economic system. This economic dispute became the foundation of early political parties such as the Federalists and the Democratic-Republican parties. The debate grew violent when Hamilton issued a tax on grain farmers, which resulted in the Whiskey Rebellion. Washington did his best to remain neutral on these political-economic disagreements and maintain compromise throughout his two terms.

As for foreign affairs, Washington was quite devoted to maintaining a neutral stance. Diplomatic tensions continued with Great Britain, yet he was able to secure peace through the Jay Treaty in 1795. At the start of his presidency, the French Revolution had begun and war between France and England had consumed Europe. Many Americans felt they should return France's favor, and come to their aid. However America was still recovering from it's own revolution, and Washington knew it was in its best interest to remain neutral.

He reluctantly accepted a salary and a 2nd term, and entirely refused a 3rd term. His presidency came to an end in 1797. In his Farewell Address he emphasized the importance of a united nation and it's constitution and the evils of political parties and sectionalism. He also defended his neutrality on foreign affairs and that America should rather focus on it's domestic affairs. George Washington would then go to retire at Mount Vernon, as the undeniable father of our country. His political ideals were later put to opposition by his successors, Thomas Jefferson and James Madison.

Presidency of John Adams

Throughout the Revolution, John Adams had established himself as a significant statesman and diplomatic leader. He was a key player in the Declaration of Independence, the Continental Congress, and conducting diplomacy with France. He had also served two terms as Vice President for George Washington.

In 1797 in the first contested presidential election, John Adams won as the Federalist nominee against the Democratic-Republican, Thomas Jefferson. As president he continued Washington's example of republicanism, emphasizing civic duties and avoiding political entanglements. While Washington DC was still under construction, he occupied the President's House in Philadelphia, for most his term. In November of 1800 he became the first president to reside in the White House.

However foreign affairs grew more complex as the French Revolutionary Wars continued to expand throughout Europe. Americans were in disagreement over whether they should support the British or France, and how they should support them. This issue was finally settled during the XYZ affair, a diplomatic disagreement between France and America. President John Adams used the event to trigger an undeclared Quasi-War with France mostly fought in the seas. He also passed the controversial Aliens and Sedition Acts, to maintain order in the nation and avoid a similar scenario as seen in France's Reign of Terror.


John Adams was able to quell diplomatic tension and maintain order in his country, however the growing political opposition eventually subdued him. In 1801, he was unable to win his reelection against Thomas Jefferson. He however remained very active in the governments affairs, and established one of the first family dynasty in politics. His son, John Quincy Adams, would go on to be the sixth president.

Presidency of Thomas Jefferson

In 1801, Thomas Jefferson won the election and became the third president of the United States. He also had a highly respectable resume as a founding father; he wrote the Declaration of Independence, served on the Continental Congress, served as Washington's first secretary of state, and served as Adam's vice president. With the support of James Madison, Jefferson ushered in a new era of political direction through his Democratic-Republican ideology. This political party was against the previous ideals of federalism and instead favored state-rights and republicanism.

As President he made significant achievements in expanding the territory. In 1803 he purchased a vast region of land from France, known as the Louisiana Purchase. He then sent an expedition led by Lewis and Clark to explore the new western lands. He hoped that the Native Americans would assimilate to white culture, yet also felt they should be moved to the west. His attitudes towards the Native Americans, were derived from the Revolutionary War and numerous rebellions, and it would eventually lead to a total Indian Removal by Andrew Jackson in 1830. As a counter to this however, he was one of the earliest advocates against slavery, even though he was a slave-owner himself. He passed a law that banned the importation of slaves into the United States.

During his presidency, foreign affairs continued to escalate with the start of the Napoleonic Wars. At the time America had diplomatic tension with both France and Britain, and thought it best to remain neutral. However with the growing threat of Napoleon's military dominance, Jefferson passed an embargo act in 1807. This was intended to give a strong world message, however ultimately affected the country's economy.

Although foreign issues and the embargo affected the US economy, the political direction of Thomas Jefferson was able to endure for the next 20 years. He was succeeded by presidents who shared his republicanism ideals, such as James Madison, James Monroe, and John Quincy Adams. During this time, political parties would also come into shape, and eventually split into Republicans, Whigs, and Democrats. In the 1830s the direction was once again changed with Andrew Jackson's Democratic ideals. By the 1850s, the politics began to once again change, revolving around slavery and eventually a civil war. Despite the constant political and diplomatic opposition, the United States has always remained true to it's democratic foundation.

Movie Theater Review: The Dark Knight Rises

Didn't waste anytime to see this final installment of Nolan's masterful Batman trilogy. It was no doubt the icing on the cake. Of course there was much hype following the success of The Dark Knight in 2008, and Heath Ledger's iconic role as the Joker. The series has somewhat turned into an obsessive cult, and unfortunately there was a terrible shooting at one of it's premieres in Aurora, Colorado. As tragic as this is however, it would be unfair to see this is as a negative reflection on the Dark Knight series. Christopher Nolan has not only revamped the Batman series, but has introduced a completely original style of filmmaking and storytelling.

The premise of The Dark Knight Rises, continues 8 years after the previous film, where Harvey Dent/Two Face went on a killing spree and put the entire blame on Batman. Bruce Wayne, played once again by Christian Bale, thus lives in his mansion in total exile, growing weaker by the minute. However he is finally stirred out of his cave, when a new villain arises in Gotham City. Once again director Nolan, delivers on a brilliant villain, that is Bane. Bane is played by Tom Hardy, with a demonic robotic voice, and abnormal strength to match his genius mind. This makes for an exciting physical confrontation, since Bane was the legendary comic villain who "broke the bat".

Yet as usual, the Christopher Nolan story is never as simple as a superhero vs a villain. There are numerous complexities, twists, back-stories, and supporting roles that make this film all the more intriguing. In this film we are introduced to a slew of new characters such as the seductive Catwoman, played by Anne Hathaway; the ambitious police office John Blake, played by Joseph Gordon Levitt; and finally the executive board member, Miranda Tate, played by the stunning Marion Cotillard. Each of these characters bring forth a mysterious background, making their roles in the story all the more suspenseful.

The usual characters provide a basis of familiarity in the story such as the loyal butler Alfred, played by Michael Caine; Commissioner Gordon played by Gary Oldman, and the CEO of Wayne Enterprises and scientist Lucius Fox played by Morgan Freeman. Each of these characters support Bruce Wayne and believe in the necessity of Gotham's masked hero, the Batman.

Once Batman is back in true form, the story really begins to draw the viewer in. It is full of intense action; chases, battles, and fights throughout the city. Each of these action scenes are intensified by a Wayne Enterprise weapon, such as his tumbler, bat-cycle, or new Bat-jet. Gotham is torn apart by Bane and his army of mercenaries, and Batman is eventually defeated and thrown into a dungeon. Bane is thus able to hold the entire city of Gotham as his hostage. The city becomes an island of anarchy, run by a warlord without any protection or order.

Inside the dungeon, Batman must come to terms with his past and essentially "rise" out of the cave. Here he learns more of the League of Shadows and especially his new arch-enemy, Bane. After several attempts he is able to climb out of the dungeon, and return to Gotham to face Bane. This is of course the climatic battle of the film, and does not disappoint. Batman is able to gather up his loyal companions, such as Commissioner Gordon, Lucius Fox, Officer Blake, and Catwoman, resulting in a cliche battle in the streets of cops vs. thugs. While facing Bane, he must also quickly defuse a nuclear bomb ready to blow up the entire city.

The story takes a sudden twist, when Talia Shire, the daughter of Ras Al Ghul, reveals her master plan to finish her father's League of Shadow plan. As Gotham is faced with total oblivion, Batman rises to the call to sacrifice himself and successfully save the city of Gotham. The movie then appears to be over, with everything back to normal. Officer Blake takes on the new role of Gotham's protector, as Robin. The film then ends in the city Florence, where Alfred is enjoying a coffee, and looks over to see a retired Bruce Wayne laughing happily. It is the perfect ending to an incredible trilogy!

Kekionga Sprint Triathlon 2012

This year our 4th annual sprint triathlon went official and teamed up with Tri State Triathlon. The decision to do this began back in December when a guy named Derek Wetli gave me a call about our event. He had recently hosted an event at Fox Island and had experience with triathlons. I thought this was the perfect chance for our event to grow and become more legitimate.

The planning carried on all throughout the winter and spring. Derek and I discussed prices, logos, marketing, course maps, and all the logistics that go into hosting one of these events. We set the date for July 21st, $65 for participants, $20 for friends, family, and neighbors. The distance was 630 meters across the lake, 12.6 mile bike, and 3.1 mile run. The event was a total success!

Tri State Triathlon made the event entirely legit. They provided signs, bike racks, a transition zone, time chips, road blocks, police, volunteers, swimming caps, and just about anything else you would expect at an official triathlon race. They also brought the bulk of the participants, through their triathlon network. Around 50 seasoned triathletes showed up to the race, some as far as Chicago. Unfortunately we only had 4 participants on our side, (Philip, Shawna, Kelly Bren, and myself) Palmer slept in and missed the entire race. However I was still very excited to see how our tiny event had grown into a well-organized and officially sanctioned race.

A registration table was set at 6am, to hand out packets. We also agreed on allowing same-day entrees for potential neighbors or friends. The Lions Club set up a tent in the front yard, to sell food and drinks. This wasn't a great idea however, since nobody came to eat and hang-out, they just wanted to race. Chick-Filet brought 100 free sandwiches, an amazingly kind gesture. Joseph DeQuis also provided my dad with a free box of wine bottles.

As expected the competition was at an entirely different level, and way beyond my range. The swim began at 8am, as an open start. The water was of course very shallow and mucky due to the drought. Dad was on the pontoon and had a floatilla unit of about 3 to 4 boats. I was able to hang with the pack on the swim, yet would lose them all on the bike.

The biking course was 12.6 miles through the beautiful Aboite countryside. It was a scenic yet very hilly course. Dad and I had rode it twice to get familiar with it. Yet my 21-speed Schwinn bike and amateur cycling experience was no match for the rest. I was quickly passed few miles into the course, and began to fear that I would finish last. I suppose I was just extremely winded from the swim, and especially struggling on the hills. When I finally got the bike course done, I knew I would be bringing up the rear of the race. The run went surprisingly well considering that my legs were jello, and I maintained a decent pace. I ran 29 minutes on the 5k. Derek won the race, at an incredible time of 1:09. I finished 2nd last, in front of KB, with a time of 1:56. It was a little embarrassing however I was happy to finally have the thing finished. Next year I will definitely focus more on my cycling.

Afterwards we had a nice award ceremony, in the backyard on Dad's patio. Derek and his gang of volunteers did such an amazing job at coordinating the event. They passed out water bottles to the top finishers, and had a brief Q&A to see what people thought of the race. Derek had intended for people to hang out all day, yet this didn't quite happen. By about 12 the house was cleared from all the action. This was a perfect chance to shower and rest.

Later that evening however, we moved on to phase 2, our 5pm party. Not expecting a huge turn-out, I decided to get cases of beer instead of a keg. We cooked burgers, hot-dogs, and my mom made her world famous pad thai. The Palmer family came out, and Ryan was very sorry about sleeping in. I wasn't mad and was happy to see him there. Derek brought his family and hung out the entire night. LaMaster also came out to join in on the festivities.

We had a decent turnout of around 30 people, and spent the night outside drinking, listening to music, playing games, laughing, and talking. We played power hour and continued some more games in the garage. Derek made an incredible effort at getting to know our family and friends, and was the last one up with me till 2:30am. We had some good conversation and went for a late night swim. We agreed next year to do it again, keeping just about everything the same. The only difference would be changing the course name to the Sundberg Sprint Triathlon.

Historical Look: The American Revolutionary War

In the year 1775, before the Continental Congress had organized an army and a declaration of independence, the revolution was in full swing in the city of Boston. Numerous militias and protests had spread throughout the region, and it was only a matter of time before the British sent in their full army to squash these uprisings.

On April 18th, 1775 the British Armies began arriving on the eastern coast to siege the city of Boston. Patriots such as Paul Revere, rode through the night, warning all the locals that the British were coming and to take arms. Militias and Minutemen quickly assembled to stand against the British army and the first engagement of the American Revolutionary War began, at the Battle of Lexington and Concord.

Siege of Boston

The British had sent an army of 700 soldiers to seize Colonial military supplies in the Province of Massachusetts, however were thwarted along a bridge by local militiamen. The British Army had underestimated the militia's intent, and were forced to retreat to the city of Boston. This Colonial victory marked the beginning of the war, and soon all were speaking of the victorious "shot heard around the world".

The battle ensued however a few months later at Bunker Hill. The British general, Thomas Gage had sieged the city of Boston, and was thus able to resupply and reinforce his army by sea. On June 13, 1775 the Colonial army arrived with a force of over 2000 soldiers to drive the British away from the port. The Colonists made a strong stand at Bunker Hull, yet were eventually forced to retreat. Although it was a British victory, it came with heavy losses, and the end of Thomas Gage's command. The Colonists were able to keep their spirits high, with the arrival of General George Washington and his Continental Army.

By November of 1775, Gen Washington and Henry Knox began a fierce artillery campaign to drive the British out of Boston. They especially focused on the British navy supply line, which was the final straw for Commander William Howe. On March 17th the British army evacuated the city of Boston, and the Colonials had won a major victory.

New York Campaign

Having loss the city of Boston, General William Howe arrived with a much larger British army of 30,000 to capture the city of New York. General George Washington spread his forces throughout the region, and made a stand with 10,000 soldiers at the New York harbor. On August 27th of 1776, a month after the Declaration of Independence, The Battle of Long Island took place. It resulted in a decisive British victory, driving the Continental army to New Jersey and was the largest battle of the war.

The British armies, led by William Howe and Henry Clinton, began sweeping through Continental strongholds along the New York area, achieving numerous victories. Meanwhile British Gen Cornwallis continued to chase George Washington's army out of New Jersey. It was also during this time that the British kept many Continental prisoners on ships, and let them die of neglect. It was no-doubt the most hopeless time for the Continental Army. However things would finally take a turn for the Continental army during the Winter of 1776-1777.

This sudden turn of morale was thanks to Gen George Washington's strategic yet bold tactic of crossing the frozen Delaware River to surprise the German Hessian soldiers at the Battle of Trenton. This Colonial victory during the harsh winter, inspired a new wave of patriotic moral and enlistment. The Continental Army was able to carry on this successful drive with victories at Princeton and Assunpink Creek.

 
Philadelphia and Saratoga Campaigns

As the Continental army, began to gain momentum near the Chesapeake Bay, the war began to split into two theaters. The British led a campaign from northern Canada to control the Hudson River, known as the Saratoga Campaign. Meanwhile General Howe began a simultaneous campaign to assault the Congressional capital of Philadelphia. In June of 1777, George Washington put Gen Horatio Gates in charge of the Saratoga Campaign while he led his Continental army to face Gen. Howe's army at Philadelphia.

The Saratoga Campaign was split into two major battles during the autumn of 1777. Continental Generals Horatio Gates and Benedict Arnold coordinated a tactical war against the Canadian-British General John Burgoyne and Henry Clinton. Following both battles, the Continental Army were victorious in controlling the Hudson River, improving their morale, and encouraging France to join the war.

Meanwhile the campaign in Philadelphia was not as successful for the Continentals. It began in the cold winter of 1777, where George Washington had stationed his troops at Valley Forge. On September 11th, the Continental Army was defeated at the Battle of Brandywine, which opened the city of Philadelphia for British occupation. On October 4th, Washington lost another assault at the Battle of Germantown, and retreated once again to Valley Forge. It was as this time however, that the Continentals had achieved a turning point in the war with their victory at Saratoga. The British army had no choice but to relinquish their control of Philadelphia, and shift their focus back on New York.

At this point General William Howe relieved his command, and was replaced by General Clinton. As Gen Clinton marched his army eastward towards New York, he was followed by Gen Washington's army. The two sides then engaged at the Battle of Monmouth in June of 1778. This was another victory for Gen Washington, Gen Nathaniel Green, and the Continental Army.

Global War and Civil War

From the onset of the Revolutionary War, the Continental Congress had began numerous diplomatic envoys to aid their cause. The Continental Army had support from the French, Spanish, and Dutch all of whom were enemies of the British empire. Yet in order to defeat the British army, they would need more than just supplies,; they would need experienced European soldiers, arms, and especially a navy.

Of all the diplomats in the early years of the American Revolutionary War, there is no one else who could quite compare to the cunning style of Benjamin Franklin. At the time of the war, he was already a well known inventor, writer, and polymath, making his presence in the French court all the more appealing. He was able to convince the French monarchy that victory in America was possible, and that French alliance would make it certain. Therefore, finally in February of 1778, France officially signed an alliance with the Americans, and entered war against the British.


By 1778, King George III realized this revolution had now become a world war, and had to reconsider his strategy. He therefore shifted his attention against the French and Spanish fleets, while hoping that America would destroy itself through civil war. In achieving this, he began to supply and encourage resistance amongst British loyalists, Native-Americans and African-Americans. At this time, Continental Gen Benedict Arnold notoriously switched sides because he had not been appreciated by Congress. In 1779 George Washington responded to this new conflict of civil struggle with the Sullivan Expedition, led by Gen John Sullivan. The Continental army easily defeated the loyalist and Iroquois armies, and drove them out to Canada.

The Siege of Yorktown

By 1781 the Northern and Southern continental armies began squeezing the British army into Yorktown, Virginia. By this point the French fleets had arrived on the eastern coasts of Virginia, and had defeated the British army, led by Gen Cornwallis, at the Battle of the Chesapeake. Gen Washington arrived a few days later to lay siege on the dwindling British army at Yorktown. Having nowhere to escape, Gen Cornwallis had no other choice but to surrender to George Washington, however was to proud to show up in person. This was the final decisive victory of the American Revolutionary War. In 1783, the war finally came to an end and the Treaty of Paris acknowledged the United States of America as a free state. The next step was to establish a transitional democratic government.

Historical Look: Taxation without Representation

This has been long overdue; an in-depth historical study of my nation's foundation. It's a topic I've always been interested in, yet haven't had a chance to study since high school. It's not because I don't think it's important, but because my mind has been elsewhere; (WWII, Movies, Music, The Russian Revolution, Cosmology, Art, the History of Christianity, and so forth.) One thing I love about my blog is that I write about whatever captivates me at the time. I write about topics of interest, that consume my mind for days and weeks, in a natural phase of inspiration.

At this time, I have recently been inspired by the American Revolution and the foundation of the United States of America. It is most likely because of our upcoming family vacation to New England, the historical roots of our liberty. I would like to be somewhat fresh on my patriotic history and culture, and find this to be a conveniently timed lesson. I will thus make three separate posts on the subject; the revolution, the war, and the foundation of a government.

Seven Years War

The Thirteen Colonies were established by the British Empire, in the early 1600s, as a new territory to conduct mercantilism and global trade. This eastern coast quickly became a thriving economic society for both the colonists and the British. However it also grabbed the attention of enemies such as the French and Dutch. As a result, the Seven Years War began in 1754, between Britain and the French/Spanish Bourbons, disputing trade territories.

The war became a world-wide conflict, on numerous theaters within the colonies. One of the most significant of these theaters was the French and Indian War, an alliance of French and Native Americans against the British. The final result of the Seven Years War, was a British victory that strengthen their territory and grip on the colonies.

British Revenue Acts

However following the costs of this global conflict, Great Britain fell into debt and King George III began a new campaign of taxes on the colonists. This would of course outrage colonists and inspire talk of an American Revolution. The British parliament began passing a variety of legislation, such as the Sugar Act, the Stamp Act, the Townsend Act, and so forth to tax the colonists and increase revenue for the British empire. This idea of taxation without representation infuriated the local colonists, and the fever of revolution began to spread throughout the land. On March 5, 1770 five civilians were killed by British officers, in the Boston Massacre, which intensified the growing sentiment of anti-British rule.

Boston Tea Party

The first most significant rebellious act, came during the Boston Tea Party of 1773. The action was a response to the newly imposed Tea Act, by the British parliament, that gave British tea merchants superiority over local merchants. This was the final straw for many colonists, and the Boston Sons of Liberty began a political protest, that caught everyone's attention. The protesters boarded the British merchant ships, disguised as Indians, and threw all their tea supplies into the harbor.

This was a major act of resistance that infuriated the British monarchy, and resulted in stricter laws such as the Intolerable Acts, yet also stronger patriotism amongst the colonists. The First Continental Congress was formed shortly after this patriotic action, as a means of organizing leadership for the growing movement. Many of America's founding fathers were a part of this early group, such as John Adams, Patrick Henry, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and Samuel Adams. Their creed was best summarized by Patrick Henry's famous quote; "Give me Liberty or Give me Death".

Continental Congress

With the Continental Congress, patriots of all kind were able to establish a political and united voice against their British suppressors. The committee essentially called for a pardon from these economic taxes, yet received no British acknowledgement. This then led to a Second Continental Congress, in 1775, which began to organize militias and an army to oppose the British. This became a de facto government, of military, political, and diplomatic strategizing. The congress appointed George Washington, a Virginian general with experience from the French and Indian War, to command the newly established Continental Army. On July 4, 1776 the Continental Congress produced a Declaration of Independence from the British Empire, written by Thomas Jefferson. This was the ultimate act of independence and war against the British.

Grandpa Enoch's 100th Memorial

This past weekend we went up to Battle Creek, Michigan for a much anticipated celebration of Enoch's 100th Memorial. Fourth of July is our usual summer family reunion, however this year was quite special, since it was 100 years ago that our grandfather, Enoch, was born. Our aunts and uncles decided to plan a whole weekend of events to commemorate his life. It was a very fun, educational, and quite a memorable weekend!

We arrived early Saturday morning at Willard Beach to spend the afternoon. The weather was perfect, and all my cousins, aunts, and uncles began arriving. Nearly everyone in our family was in attendance minus a few cousins. Although there was a heat warning on the beach, it did not stop us from a day full of games and sports; bocce ball, soccer, baseball, and football made the swimming all the more refreshing! For lunch we ate pulled pork sandwiches, beans, and an amazing Taco Salad made by Jenny. Then came the main event of the day, the Enoch Olympics.

This event was planned by Uncle Marc, Carl, and my dad to commemorate Grandpa Enoch's athletic lifestyle. He was a weightlifting extraordinaire, passionate about exercise and fitness. The events of the day were all Enoch specialties, such as push-ups, sit-ups, jump-rope, handstand, plank, and swimming. We would then tally the total points of each event to determine the winner. Most of our cousins participated; Geoff, Danny, John, Connor, Marc, Jennifer, Ingrid, Kathy Bell, myself, Philip, Gabriel, and Andres.  Here are the results;

Push-Ups: Who could do the most push-ups in two minutes. Geoff was first with 76. I finished fourth with 44.

Sit-Ups: Who could do the most sit-ups in two minutes. Danny won first, and I once again finished fourth.

Jump-Rope: Who could do the most jump-ropes, without messing up. Danny won first with over 200. I think I finished fifth or sixth on this one.

Handstand: Who could walk on their hands the longest time. I won first on this one, walking for over 11 seconds. I think I suprised everyone when I beat the favorite, Kathy Bell, who walked for 8 seconds.

Plank: Who could hold a plank position for the longest time. Ingrid won gold on this one.

Swimming Race: A swimming race from one point to another. Geoff won gold on this one.

Underwater Swim: Who could swim the furthest underwater. Uncle Marc shocked everyone and swam the longest distance underwater to win gold.

Cousin Danny won the most points to win the Enoch Olympics, and was awarded a golden 10-lb dumbbell as a trophy. It was a very well organized event, and some good fun competition.

Later that night we continued the festivities at my aunt Cathy's house. We drank some beer and played a Corn-Hole tournament. Marc was my partner, and we made it to the second round, however lost a heart-breaker, by one point, to Jenny and her boyfriend Chris who went on to win the championship. Afterwards we had an award ceremony in the garage, followed by some Enoch Trivia. Then our aunts and uncles began sharing stories and famous Grandpa quotes. Here we got to learn alot about our grandfather's interesting life.


How he traveled on trains for 7 years during the Great Depression, moving from job to job to survive. He had many jobs throughout his life, working as an extra in Hollywood, a car salesman, a gym owner, a tomato farmer, and many others. He met our grandmother, Hilda, in this tomato farm. He was a fitness enthusiast, and his gym was his greatest passion. This would surely explain how our family came to be so athletic and competitive.

The next morning, dad, Andres, and myself drove up to Lansing for baby Brett's baptism. We went to church in the heart of Michigan State, which was a very modern mass. Afterwards we went over to Aunt Laurie's house for a barbecue, and spent the day sitting and talking. It was fun catching up with Marc, Laura, and Jennifer. I finally got back home around 8ish. It was a very eventful and memorable weekend with the family.