AMERICAN HISTORY AWARD ESSAYS...ENJOY
AVA BUNCH RESPONSIBLE FOR DEMOCRACY
Ava's Topic : Good Citizens Strengthen Democracy
“Our nation will celebrate the 250th birthday of the United States of America on July 4, 2026. Describe how the characteristics of a good citizen help to renew and strengthen the democracy achieved by the Patriots of the American Revolution.”
As our country approaches its 250th birthday it is important that we as citizens help to renew and strengthen the democracy that was achieved by the Patriots of the American Revolution. We can do this through our patriotism, leadership, and service, which are characteristics of a “good citizen”. Almost 250 years ago, thousands of Patriots used these same characteristics to start a revolution that led to the birth of a democracy that remains strong today.
In order for this democracy to continue to be successful we as good citizens must use these characteristics to uphold democracy.
Patriotism is an important characteristic of a good citizen that is necessary to strengthen and renew the democracy that was created 250 years ago. Patriotism is the pride and devotion that one has for their country, this is something that all good citizens of the United States should have.
This country may have its issues, but it is still a place where freedom is sustained and the ideas that the country were founded on remain. The Patriots of the American Revolution had an extreme sense of pride and devotion for this nation as they went to battle in order to preserve it’s identity and future. They put their lives on the line to protect our country’s values and freedom. This responsibility has now been passed down to us as citizens of this democracy.
Imagine how discouraged they would be if they found out that their democracy has become weak and everyone has lost respect for their country. In order to make them proud we have to restore our love and devotion to this country. Having an extreme sense of pride, devotion, and respect for this country is a major way that we can renew and strengthen the democracy.
This is where leadership also becomes important as it is a key part of strengthening the democracy. Being a leader requires you to show other people the right way and guide them through difficult things. A good leader is able to get everyone on the same page and has the trust of their peers. Our country was founded because of strong leaders who stood up and led the revolution.
Without key leaders like George Washington the revolution may have failed and our nation would not be the strong, thriving country that it is today. Standing up and leading the movement is a necessary step that must be taken by a good citizen in order to preserve all that this country stands for.
Service is another important characteristic of a good citizen that can be used to help strengthen the democracy. The American Patriots that came before us always looked out for the interests of the entire nation rather than themselves. They were able to put aside any differences and fight for the common goal, serving and helping each other in many ways. In the same way it should be our main goal to serve our country and assist others however we can. Finding ways to help others succeed is an idea that can be continued through our acts of service and one that will help strengthen our country.
As good citizens of the United States of America we must renew and strengthen our 250-year democracy by demonstrating patriotism, leadership, and service.
GRADY SWEENEY, SAM ADAMS ENJOY LUNCH
GRADY'S Topic: Lunch with Samuel Adams
If I could go back in time and have lunch with one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, I would choose Samuel Adams. Samuel Adams was an important figure in American independence because of his bravery, his ability to unite people around a common cause, and his role in key events that sparked the American Revolution.
Samuel Adams is often referred to as the Architect of the American Revolution and is credited with starting the “revolution” that led to the Revolution. Before there were battles, there were arguments, speeches, and organized acts of protest. Adams saw the injustice that was taking place against the colonists and was willing to risk his own life and reputation to speak out against
it. He boldly used his voice and his writing abilities to communicate revolutionary ideas. That took real courage! He engaged fellow Bostonians directly about unlawful search and seizure and used his strong writing skills to publish opposition articles in which he brought forth the early ideas of revolution against British authority. I imagine him sitting at a wooden desk, by candlelight, writing,
determined to make a difference for people he may never meet, including future generations like mine. Adams also helped organize the resistance group called the Sons of Liberty in 1765 in response
to unfair tax policies such as the Stamp Act of 1765. This group used tactics such as civil
disobedience, public protests, and propaganda to rally support for the cause of liberty and stand up against tyranny. The formation of the Sons of Liberty was a major step in unifying people from all 13 colonies against the British. One famous event they were connected to was the Boston
Massacre on March 5 of 1770. This was a major event that led to the revolution in which five townspeople were killed and six others were injured at the hands of a British soldier during a public dispute.
On December 16th, 1773 the Sons of Liberty planned and carried out the Boston Tea Party to protest the Tea Act of 1773. The Boston Tea Party is the most famous protest in history. At the Boston Tea Party, the Sons of Liberty, in disguise as Native Americans, dumped 342 chests of British tea into the Boston Harbor in protest. This act of rebellion helped shape public opinion and contributed to the escalating tensions that led to the American Revolution.
I can imagine sitting at lunch with Samuel Adams, and him laughing a little as he told the story of sneaking around the docks that night, nervous but excited to take a stand. This act of bravery showed Britain that the colonies wouldn’t back down.
If I could really have lunch with Samuel Adams, I would want to ask him how he found the courage to keep going when things got hard. I think he would tell me that
standing up for what’s right isn’t always easy, but it’s worth it. I would also like to ask him what kind of sandwich he would like, maybe something simple like a turkey sandwich and tea!
Samuel Adams played a big role in helping our country become free. I think it would be inspiring to sit down and have lunch with him because of how much I would learn about the early days of the American Revolution and the lessons I would learn about being courageous in the face of opposition. That’s why, if I could have lunch with any signer of the Declaration of Independence, I would choose Samuel Adams.
LILLI WELLS, ADDRESSES INDEPENDENCE
Lilli's topic: Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.”
The Declaration of Independence is America’s very core. The famous document has many signers, some of them include Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and James Madison. If I had to meet one of the signers of the Declaration, I would like to meet Benjamin Franklin. I would like to meet with him because I want to learn more about his life and how he managed to persevere even in the worst times, how he got to be one of the smartest men in the history of the United States of America, and I want to know exactly
what it was like to help make our country independent. He was very important as he was able to sign his name on the document that helped shape our country, also known as the Declaration of Independence.
The first and most important reason I would like to meet Benjamin Franklin is because I admire the way that even under the worst circumstances, he kept going and never gave up. In 1723, Benjamin Franklin ran away to Philadelphia at the ripe age of
seventeen with just a small amount of money and hardly any connections. In spite of that what he had in abundance instead was determination, wit, and an unsatisfied desire to make a name for himself. Benjamin Franklin was tasked with the job of composing the Declaration of Independence while he was on the Committee of Five. When he was in there, it was rumored that he was a bit of a prankster and that according to some sources, it is said that he was restricted from writing the Declaration. If that was true, I just know that he would keep the conversation light and humorous. I applaud him for his persistence and unwillingness to give up. Another reason I would want to meet him is because Benjamin Franklin was one of the smartest men ever. In 1731, Franklin created the first ever lending library in
Philadelphia, in 1736, he founded the Union Fire Company one of the earliest fire brigades. In addition to that in 1743, Franklin created the American Philosophical
Society and began investigating electricity, and in 1752, he tested his famous kite experiment.
On top of that, he researched intently about the ocean currents and mapped the Gulf Stream. He is one of most brilliant minds in the history of the United States and I want to know what went through his head, what he had to do to get where he was and I want to hear him tell it from his point of view.
Benjamin Franklin was a genius, and he played a major role in making the Declaration of Independence. Furthermore,
Franklin was involved with helping people get education and tending to society. He was a
kind, caring man and he was tremendously smart. That brings me to my third and final reason, I would like to meet Benjamin
Franklin because he had a very prominent role in making our country independent.
Benjamin Franklin contributed to the independence of our country in many different ways. In 1775, Benjamin Franklin was elected to the Second Continental Congress and was tasked with the job of drafting the Declaration of Independence. His editorial corrections refined the Declaration, giving the document the integrity it needed. Benjamin Franklin packed his bags and departed to France in 1776 to secure the French allies. His reputation and diplomatic skill along with the first American victory at Saratoga convinced France to acknowledge American independence and conclude analliance with the states in 1778. Benjamin Franklin stayed in France to help conclude the 1783 Treaty of Paris, arranging peace with England. Benjamin Franklin believed that
making the world a better place started with enlightening it beforehand and I admire that
philosophy. Franklin had a significant impact on our independence.
In conclusion, Benjamin Franklin was very influential to the country. I would want
to meet him because he never gave up even in hard times, he was remarkably smart, he
was crucial to the Declaration of Independence. Franklin believed that to make the world a better place started with teaching the world to be better. I believe that we need more people in this world like Benjamin Franklin. It would make this world significantly better. That’s why I would like to meet him because we desperately need his philosophies in this world at the moment.
VIOLET POLLOCK & JOHN HANCOCK
Violet's Topic: If I were to go back in time and have lunch with someone who signed the Declaration of Independence, I would choose John Hancock. I would ask him things
about his childhood first. He was born in 1737, became an orphan at quite a young age. I wonder what that was like! He was then raised by his wealthy uncle, Thomas. He
received an excellent education, and he graduated from Harvard at age 17 in 1754. That must have been hard!
I would also like to ask him what it was like after he attended Harvard. He worked for his uncle’s import-export business, which was called “House of Hancock”. There, he
traveled to England and built relationships with his suppliers and customers. When his uncle passed away in 1764, it must have been hard for him. but I heard Hancock inherited the business, property, and wealth, making him one of the wealthiest in New
England by the age of 27. I would then ask him about how he got into politics, even though his uncle was
not in politics at all, John was drawn into politics and slowly got very much involved with the colonial cause! After the Stamp Act in 1765 (The Stamp Act was a British tax on the American colonies that made them pay money, shown by a stamp, on all sorts of paper products like legal documents, newspapers, and playing cards), His political career then started. John Hancock then became a leader who went against the British laws and policies. I would love to hear that from his side of the story! That led to his election to the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 1766, where he publicly recommended and supported the removal of British troops after the Boston Massacre. He kept contributing more and more! John Hancock was elected as a delegate to the Second Continental Congress in 1774, and he became the president in May 1775. That is such a big accomplishment, I wonder what it was like! I would definitely ask him about the Declaration of Independence! It is an
important document that the Continental Congress adopted on July 4, 1776. (Which John Hancock was president of this at this time) It stated that the thirteen American
colonies were going away from Great Britain to become independent. Mostly written by Thomas Jefferson, the Declaration showed why the colonies wanted to get away and showed different ideas about the American government, such as equality, freedom, and nthe right of the people to conduct the policy, actions, and affairs of themselves. This document is a really big part of the United States’s history and principles.
John Hancock was even the first to sign the Declaration of Independence.
Another question I would ask him is about after he signed the Declaration of Independence. I know the American Revolutionary War continued, leading to the creation of a new national government under the articles of the confederation. Some of
the events included the long and difficult war against Britain, the ratification of the Articles of Confederation in 1781, and the signing of the Treaty of Paris in 1783, which officially ended the war and granted the United States full independence. He contributed so much during this time as well.
I think that it’s cool that Hancock was elected as the first governor of Massachusetts in 1780 and was reelected multiple more times! He left office quickly in 1785 because of different health problems, but was reelected in 1786 again. Although
he didn’t really trust the new federal government’s power, Hancock played a very important role in getting Massachusetts to ratify the Constitution. He led the state’s convention and even supported it, which was key to its approval. In 1789
election, he was considered for vice president but received very few votes, and John Adams ended up winning the position. In his later years, Hancock’s health got a lot worse, and he often let his cabinet handle state matters that needed to be taken care of
while he stayed in bed and rested. He died on October 8, 1793, at the age of 56. A state funeral was held for him in Boston, where he was buried in the Old Granary Burying Ground. John was a very important person during this time. I think it would be such a privilege to interview John Hancock. And for that, he will forever be remembered.
THE CAROLINA COTTAGE OPENS
Sellers Purchases Amish Bird House
NEWS ALERT UPDATE- The Carolina Cottage opened on Friday to rave reviews. It only took moments for Mary Jo And Larry Sellers to offer their support to the new business. The lovely hand crated Amish artisan bird house the Carolina Cottage displayed on a lovely table in their front lawn flew the coup by 1 p.m. Larry swooped in as soon as he noticed the piece and it now sits on Blount St. WHAT A GREAT TOWN.
Aside from the Sellers support a hand full of other merchants and shoppers visited the new store throughout the day.
Edenton as a town and community obviously has a gravitational pull for many, however creative individuals who are in love with small towns are especially attracted to the historic prestige the town offers.
So is the case with Don Vaughan and William Payton who've been working diligently on rehabbing a cottage on Carteret Street, coming down from Delaware on the weekends, to address the task. While researching Don’s family history, they discovered Edenton. The family, Don found, has ties in Beaufort, New Bern as well as Washington.
For those driving down Queen St. past the Bridge Exxon a new sign sprouted last week, signifying a new business. Don and William's new business.
Spending more time in Edenton, they decided to open a similar business at 104 West Queen Street, to the one they own in Delaware.
The Carolina Cottage will be a mix of repurposed/up-cycled furniture, home decor and gift items and other found objects.
According to Don they plan on offering a selection of 'must have' items that are 'friendly to the wallet. William has been a small business owner and floral designer for over 30 years and has been honored a number of times as winning ‘Best of Delaware'. Don also has over 25 years of retail and business development experience.
“We are community minded and see the importance of supporting small and local business,” said Don. “We understand the value of supporting local businesses so that the money stays within our local community.”
The duo also own a business in Delaware and are in the process of selling the business to an employee. The look towards a March closing date, however, they plan on opening sooner in downtown soon.
"We hope for a soft opening on January 30,” said William, “We look forward to meeting the community. After that weekend, we will be open a few weekends a month as we navigate selling our current business in Delaware and establishing our full-time residence in Edenton.”