"The time is now near at hand which must probably determine whether Americans are to be freemen or slaves; …. The fate of unborn millions will now depend, under God, on the courage and conduct of this army. Our cruel and unrelenting enemy leaves us only the choice of brave resistance, or the most abject submission. We have, therefore, to resolve to conquer or die." —George Washington, addressing the Continental Army before the Battle of Long Island, August 27, 1776 Check out the Additional Questions, Hot Links, Internet Activities, and Self-Tests for this unit using the navigation bar at the left.

PART 1: VOICES FOR FREEDOM
Comparing Literary Works
Benjamin Franklin	from The Autobiography	Nonfiction	140
	from Poor Richard's Almanack	Nonfiction	146
Comparing Literary Works
Thomas Jefferson	The Declaration of Independence	Nonfiction	156
Thomas Paine	from The Crisis, Number 1	Nonfiction	160
Comparing Literary Works
Phillis Wheatley	An Hymn to the Evening	Poem	172
	To His Excellency, General Washington	Poem	174
PART 2: FOCUS ON LITERARY FORMS: SPEECHES
Comparing Literary Works
Patrick Henry	Speech in the Virginia Convention	Speech	186
Benjamin Franklin	Speech in the Convention	Speech	191
PART 3: DEFINING AN AMERICAN
Comparing Literary Works
Abigail Adams	Letter to Her Daughter from the New White House	Letter	204
Michel-Guillaume Jean de Crèvecoeur	from Letters from an American Farmer	Letter/ epistle	208