This Country Of Ours

by H.E. Marshall

Year 3
Year 4
Year 5

On this page I will be posting any maps or links I have found as I am going through the book.

I also use a cheat sheet written by Roxanne Ruffenach and posted in the AO Google “CheatSheetCreation” group. She has written one for each year. Included in the document are brief summaries, full summaries, years, new words, names, places, and approximate reading time for each chapter.

The American Battlefield Trust has detailed information for most battles and campaigns, including maps. The also have an 18 minute animation summarizing the entire American Revolutionary War.

Year 3 Readings

Chapter 6: How the Flag of England Was Planted on the Shores of the New World

John Cabot in traditional Venetian garb by Gusting Menescardi (1762)

There is a museum and replica of the Matthew in Bristol. The website includes factsheets about the ship.
A map of the possible route to Newfoundland.
Further information in the video: John Cabot – Explorer (2:32 min)
Poem quoted and referenced in the updated TCOO by Donna-Jean Breckenridge: Sabastian Cabot by William Wilfred. Readings on livribox.

Year 4 Readings

Ch 29: The Founding of Connecticut and War

National Geographic Map of Colonies in Connecticut in 1640s
National Geographic Map of New England Colonies in 1677
Library of Congress Map of Pioneer Hartford

Chapter 53: The First Thrust – The Battle of Bunker Hill

This map of Lake Champlain from Wikipedia shows many of the locations mentioned in the first part of this chapter.

Chapter 56: The Darkest Hour – Trenton and Princeton

I split this chapter into three readings and created a map to accompany the reading. The map document includes the links to battlefield information.

Chapter 57: Burgoyne’s Campaign – Bennington and Oriskany

This reading can be done in one sitting, but I will break it down into three parts for narration: After the Americans flee at Ft. Ticonderoga, When the British are defeated at Bennington, then the information about the American Flag. This map shows all of the locations in New York and includes links to reference material.

Chapter 58: Burgoyne’s Campaign – Bemis Heights and Saratoga

This map shows the locations mentioned and includes links to references. I split this chapter into the three distinct actions taken by Benedict Arnold: Using a British spy to trick the British into retreating ; The first battle of Bemis Heights and the Second Battle. I will require narrations after each section, but the reading is short enough to be done all in one sitting.

Chapter 59: Brandywine – Germantown – Valley Forge

This is a short chapter, but I’ll stop once in the middle for narration after Washington moves to Valley Forge.

Chapter 61: The Battle of Monmouth – The Story of Captain Molly

Washington Rallying the Troops at Monmouth by Emanuel Leutze (from wikipedia) – click picture to download document with map

Chapter 62: The Story of a Great Crime

This chapter is short, but I will stop after the discussion of General Lee for a narration since the rest of the chapter concerns Benedict Arnold.

West Point, from Phillipstown by William James Bennett click image for word document with map

Chapter 63: A Turning Point in the World’s History

We can finally celebrate the last TCOO reading of the year and the end of the Revolutionary War! There are fun musical links for this chapter!

Surrender of Lord Cornwallis by John Trumbull – it hangs in the U.S. Capitol rotunda (click image for word document with map)

Year 5

Chapter 63: Jefferson – How the Territory of the United States was Doubled

National Geographic map of the Louisiana Purchase showing who claimed the other territories.
Wikipedia map showing which states were covered by the Louisiana Purchase.

Chapter 68: Jefferson – About an American who Wanted to Be a King

This chapter is all about Aaron Burr, and begins with the story of his dual with Alexander Hamilton. So I added in a viewing of the dual scene from the Hamilton musical.

Click here for link to full musical (start at min 2:30:43)

Chapter 69: Madison – The Shooting Star and the Prophet

Ten-squat-a-way (The Prophet) by George Carlin, 1830 from the Smithsonian American Art Museum

Map and description of battle of Tippecanoe available on the American Battlefield Trust site.

Chapter 70: Madison – War with Great Britain

U.S.S. Constitution vs HMS Guerriere, attributed to John Trumbull 1820

This is a longer reading with multiple episodes that I will stop at for narrations. I will break the reading into two days, starting day two at the paragraph starting, “The war still went on…” After the day’s reading, we will look at the following links, time permitting:

U.S.S. Constitution Museum in Boston
Battle of Lake Erie
National Park Service: Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial at Put-in-Bay, Ohio
Fort McHenry, Baltimore (where the Star Spangled Banner waved)
The Original Star Spangled Banner at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History
Constitution Elm in Corydon, Indiana

Chapter 72: Adams – The Tariff of Abominations

Before I read this chapter, we will have a discussion about what a tariff is. I watched this short video to give me an idea of how to explain that the North made imports from other countries cost more so that people in the United States would want to buy what they were making since it was cheaper. A white board with circles and arrows may even be involved!