THE WAR OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION BEGAN ON THIS DAY, APRIL 19TH, 1775
Today is April 19th, 2025. In the last few decades of my life, I foresaw a host of likely potentials that would make today a day in “interesting times.” A range of pollution and forever chemicals, nuclear weapons, diminishing resources everywhere were on my list of concerns. But now, today, the resurgence of authoritarianism in the world but especially here at home with Donald Trump’s war on everyone makes me want to remember how America began. Because on this day in 1775, the American Revolution began.
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THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION COST AS MANY AS 750,000 LIVES OVER 8 YEARS
It began today in 1775 with the Battles of Lexington and Concord, which is a link worth exploring. In fact, it’s worth exploring the total linear history of the entire American Revolution, as I was a little stunned at how much I didn’t know, and how much more context that provides for my dismay at American politics and identity in the world today. But I will be sure to point out that the war that was a seminal “moment” from 1775 to 1783 resulted in the deaths of between 620,000 and 750,000 deaths, many from disease. It still stands as the most costly American war in human terms, ever.
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TODAY IN 2025, IT’S A CHALLENGE TO KNOW WHAT LIBERTY AND FREEDOM MEAN TO ALL AMERICANS
Today, the costly, historically important American Revolution leads me to think a little harder about really popular terms the conservative Right has claimed as its own in recent years. Terms like “liberty,” “freedom,” “patriot” and most especially the comprehensive and nebulous, “American Values.” These terms should be easy for most Americans to find common meaning in. But today tens of millions of Americans are celebrating a war on science, reason, American allies, treaties, fair trade, gender identity, and the very foundational values that provided the birthright to be so…. un-American.
Has anything so sobering made you want a strong drink? Do take a look at the summary of the American Revolution. And have a drink on this special day in history, especially if you remember the horror of the Oklahoma City Bombing.
