At the beginning of July I wrote down the names of all of the signers of the Declaration of Independence that I could think of off the top of my head. My list only had 6 names on it. I realized I needed to learn more about the people who signed the Declaration of Independence.
I saw this book by Douglas MacKinnon and thought it would provide some insightful information about each of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. I was also drawn in by the subtitle Liberty Lessons.
MacKinnon outlines why he wrote the book in his introduction. He writes about the 4th of July:
“Will the day which represents the act of those 56 men coming together as one to declare our independence from tyranny and our right to exist as a sovereign nation and a free people soon be altered, smeared, or outright cancelled?” Flash ahead approximately 246 years from that historic and sacred time period and the answer seems quite obvious.”
An example of the liberty lessons that MacKinnon writes about come in the chapter about Richard Henry Lee. MacKinnon writes:
“beginning early in 2020 it was the reaction to the pandemic not the pandemic itself that gave birth to instant overreach that robbed so many of their rights, freedoms, and livelihoods. But you may ask how could so many first world countries around the world fall victim to such one sided power hungry group think?”
MacKinnon does a good job of proving an outline of each of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. He does have several references to movies and comic books such as National Treasure and Batman, which probably were not necessary in this book. I would like to have seen a little bit more information about each of the signers.
Overall I rate this book 3 out of 5 stars.
Great literature should do more than entertain us. It should provide a roadmap to improving our lives.
In A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens introduced readers to Sydney Carton, one of literature's most compelling and deeply flawed characters. Dickens also gives him an unusual title: the Jackal.
His struggles raise questions that remain relevant today.
Are we defined by our past mistakes? Can we overcome our weaknesses? What separates the people we are from the people we could become?
Lessons From the Jackal is a 25-day character study exploring these questions through Sydney Carton’s life, decisions, relationships, and personal development.
This is not a traditional course on A Tale of Two Cities. Our reading assignments will focus specifically on Carton, with sufficient background provided to understand his story. No previous knowledge of the novel is necessary.
Each day will feature selected readings, historical comparisons, reflection questions, discussions, and practical challenges ...
In 1781, London’s Inner Temple was one of England’s four Inns of Court, institutions responsible for admitting and training barristers. Situated near the River Thames, between Fleet Street and the river, the Inner Temple had been associated with the English legal profession for centuries.
Its origins date to the medieval period, when the Knights Templar occupied land in this part of London. Following the dissolution of the order in the early fourteenth century, the area gradually developed into a center of legal education and professional activity.
By the eighteenth century, the Inner Temple was an established community of barristers, legal students, and experienced members of the profession. Its grounds contained chambers where lawyers could work, residential accommodations, a hall for communal dining, and the historic Temple Church.
For an ambitious young man, admission to the Inner Temple represented an opportunity to enter a respected profession. Students studied legal texts, observed court proceedings, and developed ...
“You’ve been at Doctor Manette’s house as much as I have, or more than I have. Why, I have been ashamed of your moroseness there! Your manners have been of that silent and sullen and hangdog kind, that, upon my life and soul, I have been ashamed of you, Sydney!”
