America250 Book Collection Grants

1776

McCullough, David G.


Based on extensive research in both American and British archives, 1776 is the story of Americans in the ranks, men of every shape, size, and color, farmers, schoolteachers, shoemakers, no-accounts, and mere boys turned soldiers. And it is the story of the British commander, William Howe, and his highly disciplined redcoats who looked on their rebel foes with contempt and fought with a valor too little known. But it is the American commander-in-chief who stands foremost -- Washington, who had never before led an army in battle.
Date Published:2005

Based on extensive research in both American and British archives, 1776 is the story of Americans in the ranks, men of every shape, size, and color, farmers, schoolteachers, shoemakers, no-accounts, and mere boys turned soldiers. And it is the story of the British commander, William Howe, and his highly disciplined redcoats who looked on their rebel foes with contempt and fought with a valor too little known. But it is the American commander-in-chief who stands foremost -- Washington, who had never before led an army in battle.

Date Published:2005

Alexander Hamilton : the graphic history of an American founding father

Hennessey, Jonathan, 1971-


Includes index. Let candid men judge -- The terms on which these lands were really dispensed -- There are strong minds in every walk of life that will rise superior to the disadvantages of situation -- No man can command the winds -- A friend to America -- Where danger is the most pressing and imminent -- By virtue of powers from his excellency General Washington -- The line of conduct proscribed to us -- Amidst my amorous transports -- Those solid arrangements of finance, on which our safety depends -- A scene of blackest treason -- In the enthusiasm of heroic valor -- The universal reluctance of these states to do what is right -- To make our independence a blessing -- Rearing the superstructure of American Greatness -- Some concert between the husband and the wife -- The machinations of factious and intriguing men -- Means of intimidation -- The circumstances disclosed -- Great souls care little about small matters -- The cup of sorrow -- My life must be exposed to that man. "This complete graphic novel-style biography presents the life and legacy of one of the most influential figures in United States history. Alexander Hamilton was on hand for the Revolutionary War, the development of the Constitution, and the establishment of the Treasury and banking as we have come to know them today. Cut down by a bullet from political rival Aaron Burr, Hamilton may have faded into the background among other great American leaders like George Washington or Thomas Jefferson. However a recent resurgence of interest in Hamilton, thanks in no small part to the hit Broadway musical Hamilton has returned the formerly forgotten Founder to prominence, not just in a historical context but in terms of his lasting impact on American society today. Author Jonathan Hennessey and comic book illustrator Justin Greenwood team to bring the world of Alexander Hamilton to life in this fully-illustrated, graphic novel style biography that captures the period, people, and places of the birth of the United States. Along the way, they help readers contextualize Hamilton, showcasing his impact on history beyond his life, including his policies' shaping of the Civil War and how his ideas on the economy led to America's rise as a superpower. From the Trade Paperback edition"--
Date Published:2017

Includes index. Let candid men judge -- The terms on which these lands were really dispensed -- There are strong minds in every walk of life that will rise superior to the disadvantages of situation -- No man can command the winds -- A friend to America -- Where danger is the most pressing and imminent -- By virtue of powers from his excellency General Washington -- The line of conduct proscribed to us -- Amidst my amorous transports -- Those solid arrangements of finance, on which our safety depends -- A scene of blackest treason -- In the enthusiasm of heroic valor -- The universal reluctance of these states to do what is right -- To make our independence a blessing -- Rearing the superstructure of American Greatness -- Some concert between the husband and the wife -- The machinations of factious and intriguing men -- Means of intimidation -- The circumstances disclosed -- Great souls care little about small matters -- The cup of sorrow -- My life must be exposed to that man. "This complete graphic novel-style biography presents the life and legacy of one of the most influential figures in United States history. Alexander Hamilton was on hand for the Revolutionary War, the development of the Constitution, and the establishment of the Treasury and banking as we have come to know them today. Cut down by a bullet from political rival Aaron Burr, Hamilton may have faded into the background among other great American leaders like George Washington or Thomas Jefferson. However a recent resurgence of interest in Hamilton, thanks in no small part to the hit Broadway musical Hamilton has returned the formerly forgotten Founder to prominence, not just in a historical context but in terms of his lasting impact on American society today. Author Jonathan Hennessey and comic book illustrator Justin Greenwood team to bring the world of Alexander Hamilton to life in this fully-illustrated, graphic novel style biography that captures the period, people, and places of the birth of the United States. Along the way, they help readers contextualize Hamilton, showcasing his impact on history beyond his life, including his policies' shaping of the Civil War and how his ideas on the economy led to America's rise as a superpower. From the Trade Paperback edition"--

Date Published:2017

The American Revolution

Thompson, Ben, 1980-


"From George Washington crossing the icy Delaware, to Molly Pitcher fearlessly firing her cannon, the people of the American Revolution were some of the bravest and most inspiring of all time. Jump into a riot in the streets of Boston, join the Culper Spy Ring as they steal secrets in the dead of night, and watch the signing of the Declaration of Independence in this accessible guide to the birth of the United States."--Provided by publisher.
Date Published:2017

"From George Washington crossing the icy Delaware, to Molly Pitcher fearlessly firing her cannon, the people of the American Revolution were some of the bravest and most inspiring of all time. Jump into a riot in the streets of Boston, join the Culper Spy Ring as they steal secrets in the dead of night, and watch the signing of the Declaration of Independence in this accessible guide to the birth of the United States."--Provided by publisher.

Date Published:2017

The American spirit : who we are and what we stand for

McCullough, David G.,


Simon Willard's clock -- Civilization and the city -- The spirit of Jefferson -- Which way forward -- The animating spirit -- The lessons of history -- What's essential is invisible -- The first to reside here -- History, lost and found -- The bulwark of freedom -- Knowing who we are -- The ties that bind -- The love of learning -- The summons to serve -- A building like no other. "This timely collection of speeches by David McCullough, the most honored historian in the United States--winner of two Pulitzer Prizes, two National Book Awards, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom, among many other honors--reminds us of fundamental American principles. Over the course of his distinguished career, David McCullough has spoken before Congress, the White House, colleges and universities, historical societies, and other esteemed institutions. Now, as many Americans engage in self-reflection following a bitter election campaign that has left the country divided, McCullough has collected some of his most important speeches in a brief volume that articulates important principles and characteristics that are particularly American..."--Jacket.
Date Published:2017

Simon Willard's clock -- Civilization and the city -- The spirit of Jefferson -- Which way forward -- The animating spirit -- The lessons of history -- What's essential is invisible -- The first to reside here -- History, lost and found -- The bulwark of freedom -- Knowing who we are -- The ties that bind -- The love of learning -- The summons to serve -- A building like no other. "This timely collection of speeches by David McCullough, the most honored historian in the United States--winner of two Pulitzer Prizes, two National Book Awards, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom, among many other honors--reminds us of fundamental American principles. Over the course of his distinguished career, David McCullough has spoken before Congress, the White House, colleges and universities, historical societies, and other esteemed institutions. Now, as many Americans engage in self-reflection following a bitter election campaign that has left the country divided, McCullough has collected some of his most important speeches in a brief volume that articulates important principles and characteristics that are particularly American..."--Jacket.

Date Published:2017

The astonishing life of Octavian Nothing, traitor to the nation: taken from accounts by his own hand and other sundry sources; Volume 1, the Pox Party /

Anderson, M. T.


Various diaries, letters, and other manuscripts chronicle the experiences of Octavian, from birth to age sixteen, as he is brought up as part of a science experiment in the years leading up to and during the Revolutionary War.
Date Published:2006

Attack of the turtle

Carlson, Drew,


During the Revolutionary War, fourteen-year-old Nathan joins forces with his older cousin, the inventor David Bushnell, to secretly build the first submarine used in naval warfare.
Date Published:2008

Black heroes of the American Revolution

Davis, Burke, 1913-2006.


Crispus Attucks -- Oliver Cromwell -- William Lee -- Austin Dabney -- Prince Whipple -- Agrippa Hull -- James Forten -- James Armistead. An account of the black soldiers, sailors, spies, scouts, guides, and wagoners who participated and sacrificed in the struggle for American independence.
Date Published:1992

The Boston Tea Party

Freedman, Russell, 1929-2018.


Tells the story of the Boston Tea Party of 1773 from the arrival of the ships full of controversial taxed tea in Boston Harbor, through the explosive protest meetings at the Old South Church, to the defiant act of dumping 226 chests of fine tea into the harbor on December 16.
Date Published:2012

D is for democracy : a citizen's alphabet

Grodin, Elissa, 1954-


Discusses the political processes, parties, and people of democracy, American style. Democracy - America has it and it seems like many other countries want it. But what exactly is a democracy and how easy is it to maintain? Despite the easy banter in today's media, many Americans are still in the dark when it comes to knowing and acting upon their rights and responsibilities as citizens of a democratic society. In refreshingly candid and straight-to-the-point language Elissa Grodin takes readers of all ages on an A-Z trip through our government's structure, from its earliest beginnings to definitions of basic components and concepts (including immigration and taxation). Engaging, disarming, and frequently thought-provoking artwork from illustrator Victor Juhasz emphasizes the magnitude of the subject. From founding fathers, first ladies, and the First Amendment to the presidential oath of office, D is for Democracy details the political processes, parties, and people of democracy, American-style.
Date Published:2004

Discusses the political processes, parties, and people of democracy, American style. Democracy - America has it and it seems like many other countries want it. But what exactly is a democracy and how easy is it to maintain? Despite the easy banter in today's media, many Americans are still in the dark when it comes to knowing and acting upon their rights and responsibilities as citizens of a democratic society. In refreshingly candid and straight-to-the-point language Elissa Grodin takes readers of all ages on an A-Z trip through our government's structure, from its earliest beginnings to definitions of basic components and concepts (including immigration and taxation). Engaging, disarming, and frequently thought-provoking artwork from illustrator Victor Juhasz emphasizes the magnitude of the subject. From founding fathers, first ladies, and the First Amendment to the presidential oath of office, D is for Democracy details the political processes, parties, and people of democracy, American-style.

Date Published:2004

The divided ground : Indians, settlers, and the northern borderland of the American Revolution

Taylor, Alan, 1955-


"Originally published in hardcover ... by Alfred A. Knopf ... in 2006"--Title page verso. Revolution -- Property -- Patrons -- War -- Lines -- Peace -- State -- Leases -- Confrontation -- Fathers -- Chiefs -- Crisis -- Limits -- Bounds -- Blocks -- Ends.
Date Published:2007

For which we stand : how our government works and why it matters

Foster, Jeff, 1971-


Includes index. What Is government anyway? -- What does the government look like? -- How does the government work in my community? -- How do you run for a political office? -- How does voting work? -- What does the President do? -- What happens in Congress? -- What Is the Supreme Court? -- Who else works in the government? -- What can I do? "Now more than ever, it's so important for everyone to understand our government: where it came from, how it works, and how we can bring about change. And, after all, in the words of author and government teacher Jeff Foster, "If you don't participate, you can't complain." This book is a comprehensive and entertaining guide that answers questions like: What is the Constitution? What are the branches of the government? What is the Electoral College? What are the political parties? What are the different responsibilities of the city, state, and federal governments? Plus, discover the complete backstory on some of our government's most important moments, like why we wrote the Declaration of Independence, and how people since then have worked with -- and protested against -- the government to improve the lives of all Americans"--
Date Published:2020

Includes index. What Is government anyway? -- What does the government look like? -- How does the government work in my community? -- How do you run for a political office? -- How does voting work? -- What does the President do? -- What happens in Congress? -- What Is the Supreme Court? -- Who else works in the government? -- What can I do? "Now more than ever, it's so important for everyone to understand our government: where it came from, how it works, and how we can bring about change. And, after all, in the words of author and government teacher Jeff Foster, "If you don't participate, you can't complain." This book is a comprehensive and entertaining guide that answers questions like: What is the Constitution? What are the branches of the government? What is the Electoral College? What are the political parties? What are the different responsibilities of the city, state, and federal governments? Plus, discover the complete backstory on some of our government's most important moments, like why we wrote the Declaration of Independence, and how people since then have worked with -- and protested against -- the government to improve the lives of all Americans"--

Date Published:2020

Founding mothers : the women who raised our nation

Roberts, Cokie.


Before 1775: The road to revolution -- 1775-1776: Independence -- 1776-1778: War and a nascent nation -- 1778-1782: Still more war and home-front activism -- 1782-1787: Peace and diplomacy -- 1787-1789: Constitution and the first election -- After 1789: Raising a nation cast of characters. Cokie Roberts's number one New York Times bestseller, We Are Our Mothers' Daughters, examined the nature of women's roles throughout history and led USA Today to praise her as a "custodian of time-honored values." Her second bestseller, From This Day Forward, written with her husband, Steve Roberts, described American marriages throughout history, including the romance of John and Abigail Adams. Now Roberts returns with Founding Mothers, an intimate and illuminating look at the fervently patriotic and passionate women whose tireless pursuits on behalf of their families -- and their country -- proved just as crucial to the forging of a new nation as the rebellion that established it. While much has been written about the men who signed the Declaration of Independence, battled the British, and framed the Constitution, the wives, mothers, sisters, and daughters they left behind have been little noticed by history. Roberts brings us the women who fought the Revolution as valiantly as the men, often defending their very doorsteps. While the men went off to war or to Congress, the women managed their businesses, raised their children, provided them with political advice, and made it possible for the men to do what they did. The behind-the-scenes influence of these women -- and their sometimes very public activities -- was intelligent and pervasive. Drawing upon personal correspondence, private journals, and even favored recipes, Roberts reveals the often surprising stories of these fascinating women, bringing to life the everyday trials and extraordinary triumphs of individuals like Abigail Adams, Mercy Otis Warren, Deborah Read Franklin, Eliza Pinckney, Catherine Littlefield Green, Esther DeBerdt Reed, and Martha Washington -- proving that without our exemplary women, the new country might never have survived. Social history at its best, Founding Mothers unveils the drive, determination, creative insight, and passion of the other patriots, the women who raised our nation. Roberts proves beyond a doubt that like every generation of American women that has followed, the founding mothers used the unique gifts of their gender -- courage, pluck, sadness, joy, energy, grace, sensitivity, and humor -- to do what women do best, put one foot in front of the other in remarkable circumstances and carry on.
Date Published:2005

Before 1775: The road to revolution -- 1775-1776: Independence -- 1776-1778: War and a nascent nation -- 1778-1782: Still more war and home-front activism -- 1782-1787: Peace and diplomacy -- 1787-1789: Constitution and the first election -- After 1789: Raising a nation cast of characters. Cokie Roberts's number one New York Times bestseller, We Are Our Mothers' Daughters, examined the nature of women's roles throughout history and led USA Today to praise her as a "custodian of time-honored values." Her second bestseller, From This Day Forward, written with her husband, Steve Roberts, described American marriages throughout history, including the romance of John and Abigail Adams. Now Roberts returns with Founding Mothers, an intimate and illuminating look at the fervently patriotic and passionate women whose tireless pursuits on behalf of their families -- and their country -- proved just as crucial to the forging of a new nation as the rebellion that established it. While much has been written about the men who signed the Declaration of Independence, battled the British, and framed the Constitution, the wives, mothers, sisters, and daughters they left behind have been little noticed by history. Roberts brings us the women who fought the Revolution as valiantly as the men, often defending their very doorsteps. While the men went off to war or to Congress, the women managed their businesses, raised their children, provided them with political advice, and made it possible for the men to do what they did. The behind-the-scenes influence of these women -- and their sometimes very public activities -- was intelligent and pervasive. Drawing upon personal correspondence, private journals, and even favored recipes, Roberts reveals the often surprising stories of these fascinating women, bringing to life the everyday trials and extraordinary triumphs of individuals like Abigail Adams, Mercy Otis Warren, Deborah Read Franklin, Eliza Pinckney, Catherine Littlefield Green, Esther DeBerdt Reed, and Martha Washington -- proving that without our exemplary women, the new country might never have survived. Social history at its best, Founding Mothers unveils the drive, determination, creative insight, and passion of the other patriots, the women who raised our nation. Roberts proves beyond a doubt that like every generation of American women that has followed, the founding mothers used the unique gifts of their gender -- courage, pluck, sadness, joy, energy, grace, sensitivity, and humor -- to do what women do best, put one foot in front of the other in remarkable circumstances and carry on.

Date Published:2005

The Gettysburg Address : a graphic adaptation

Hennessey, Jonathan, 1971-


A graphic adaptation of the Gettysburg Address explains the events of the War, drawing on first-hand accounts from soldiers, slaves, and key figures and providing an understanding of the speech that marked America's new path.
Date Published:2013

Hamilton and Peggy! : a revolutionary friendship

Elliott, Laura, 1957-


In the throes of the Revolutionary War, Peggy Schuyler finds herself a central figure amid Loyalists and Patriots, spies and traitors, friends and family. Among those friends, she develops a relationship with Alexander Hamilton, who becomes romantically involved with her sister, Eliza.
Date Published:2018

How to read the Constitution and why

Wehle, Kim,


Includes the complete text of the United States Constitution. "The Constitution is the most significant document in America. But do you fully understand what this valuable document means to you? In How to Read the Constitution--and Why, legal expert and educator Kimberly Wehle spells out in clear, simple, and common sense terms what is in the Constitution, and most importantly, what it means. In compelling terms and including text from the United States Constitution, she describes how the Constitution's protections are eroding--not only in express terms but by virtue of the many legal and social norms that no longer shore up its legitimacy--and why every American needs to heed to this "red flag" moment in our democracy. This invaluable--and timely--resource includes the Constitution in its entirety and covers nearly every significant aspect of the text, from the powers of the President and how the three branches of government are designed to hold each other accountable, to what it means to have individual rights--including free speech, the right to bear arms, the right to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures, and the right to an abortion. Finally, the book explains why it has never been more important than now for all Americans to know how our Constitution works--and why, if we don't step in to protect it now, we could lose its protections forever. How to Read the Constitution--and Why is essential reading for anyone who cares about maintaining an accountable government and the individual freedoms that the Constitution enshrines for everyone in America--regardless of political party."--Amazon.com
Date Published:2019

Includes the complete text of the United States Constitution. "The Constitution is the most significant document in America. But do you fully understand what this valuable document means to you? In How to Read the Constitution--and Why, legal expert and educator Kimberly Wehle spells out in clear, simple, and common sense terms what is in the Constitution, and most importantly, what it means. In compelling terms and including text from the United States Constitution, she describes how the Constitution's protections are eroding--not only in express terms but by virtue of the many legal and social norms that no longer shore up its legitimacy--and why every American needs to heed to this "red flag" moment in our democracy. This invaluable--and timely--resource includes the Constitution in its entirety and covers nearly every significant aspect of the text, from the powers of the President and how the three branches of government are designed to hold each other accountable, to what it means to have individual rights--including free speech, the right to bear arms, the right to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures, and the right to an abortion. Finally, the book explains why it has never been more important than now for all Americans to know how our Constitution works--and why, if we don't step in to protect it now, we could lose its protections forever. How to Read the Constitution--and Why is essential reading for anyone who cares about maintaining an accountable government and the individual freedoms that the Constitution enshrines for everyone in America--regardless of political party."--Amazon.com

Date Published:2019

I survived the graphic novel. Vol. 8, I survived the American Revolution, 1776

Ball, Georgia,


"Based on the novel in the New York Times bestselling series by Lauren Tarshis." Eleven-year-old Nathaniel Knox becomes caught up in a gunfight between American and British troops during the American Revolution.
Date Published:2023

Indigenous continent : the epic contest for North America

Hämäläinen, Pekka 1967-


There is an old, deeply rooted story about America that goes like this: Columbus "discovers" a strange continent and brings back tales of untold riches. The European empires rush over, eager to stake out as much of this astonishing "New World" as possible. Though Indigenous peoples fight back, they cannot stop the onslaught. White imperialists are destined to rule the continent, and history is an irreversible march toward Indigenous destruction. Yet as with other long-accepted origin stories, this one, too, turns out to be based in myth and distortion. In Indigenous Continent, acclaimed historian Pekka Hämäläinen presents a sweeping counternarrative that shatters the most basic assumptions about American history. Shifting our perspective away from Jamestown, Plymouth Rock, the Revolution, and other well-trodden episodes on the conventional timeline, he depicts a sovereign world of Native nations whose members, far from helpless victims of colonial violence, dominated the continent for centuries after the first European arrivals. From the Iroquois in the Northeast to the Comanches on the Plains, and from the Pueblos in the Southwest to the Cherokees in the Southeast, Native nations frequently decimated white newcomers in battle. Even as the white population exploded and colonists' land greed grew more extravagant, Indigenous peoples flourished due to sophisticated diplomacy and leadership structures. By 1776, various colonial powers claimed nearly all of the continent, but Indigenous peoples still controlled it--as Hämäläinen points out, the maps in modern textbooks that paint much of North America in neat, color-coded blocks confuse outlandish imperial boasts for actual holdings. In fact, Native power peaked in the late nineteenth century, with the Lakota victory in 1876 at Little Big Horn, which was not an American blunder, but an all-too-expected outcome--Publisher's description.
Date Published:2022

There is an old, deeply rooted story about America that goes like this: Columbus "discovers" a strange continent and brings back tales of untold riches. The European empires rush over, eager to stake out as much of this astonishing "New World" as possible. Though Indigenous peoples fight back, they cannot stop the onslaught. White imperialists are destined to rule the continent, and history is an irreversible march toward Indigenous destruction. Yet as with other long-accepted origin stories, this one, too, turns out to be based in myth and distortion. In Indigenous Continent, acclaimed historian Pekka Hämäläinen presents a sweeping counternarrative that shatters the most basic assumptions about American history. Shifting our perspective away from Jamestown, Plymouth Rock, the Revolution, and other well-trodden episodes on the conventional timeline, he depicts a sovereign world of Native nations whose members, far from helpless victims of colonial violence, dominated the continent for centuries after the first European arrivals. From the Iroquois in the Northeast to the Comanches on the Plains, and from the Pueblos in the Southwest to the Cherokees in the Southeast, Native nations frequently decimated white newcomers in battle. Even as the white population exploded and colonists' land greed grew more extravagant, Indigenous peoples flourished due to sophisticated diplomacy and leadership structures. By 1776, various colonial powers claimed nearly all of the continent, but Indigenous peoples still controlled it--as Hämäläinen points out, the maps in modern textbooks that paint much of North America in neat, color-coded blocks confuse outlandish imperial boasts for actual holdings. In fact, Native power peaked in the late nineteenth century, with the Lakota victory in 1876 at Little Big Horn, which was not an American blunder, but an all-too-expected outcome--Publisher's description.

Date Published:2022

John, Paul, George, & Ben

Smith, Lane.


The story of five little lads before they became our Founding Fathers.
Date Published:2006

Martha Washington : an American life

Brady, Patricia, 1943-


On the road to history -- Little Patsy Dandridge -- Courtship -- Young Mrs. Custis -- The widow Custis and Colonel Washington -- Gentry life at Mount Vernon -- Lady Washington and the American Revolution -- Valley Forge and eventual victory -- Mount Vernon and a new family -- The president's lady -- The torments of the second term -- "Under their vine and under their fig tree" -- The widow Washington -- The real Martha Washington. "Martha Washington is the invisible woman of American history, surviving in the popular imagination as a kindly frump and paragon of domestic support. But when George Washington fell in love with her, she was a wealthy and attractive young widow who could take her pick of the Virginia aristocracy. In the course of their marriage, Martha would become an able landowner, an indomitable patriot, and her husband's counselor and emotional mainstay. With painstaking research and formidable powers of empathy, Patricia Brady's important new biography brings Martha Washington out of the shadows and allows her to take her rightful place in history as the secret weapon of the American Revolution. Book jacket."--Jacket.
Date Published:2006

On the road to history -- Little Patsy Dandridge -- Courtship -- Young Mrs. Custis -- The widow Custis and Colonel Washington -- Gentry life at Mount Vernon -- Lady Washington and the American Revolution -- Valley Forge and eventual victory -- Mount Vernon and a new family -- The president's lady -- The torments of the second term -- "Under their vine and under their fig tree" -- The widow Washington -- The real Martha Washington. "Martha Washington is the invisible woman of American history, surviving in the popular imagination as a kindly frump and paragon of domestic support. But when George Washington fell in love with her, she was a wealthy and attractive young widow who could take her pick of the Virginia aristocracy. In the course of their marriage, Martha would become an able landowner, an indomitable patriot, and her husband's counselor and emotional mainstay. With painstaking research and formidable powers of empathy, Patricia Brady's important new biography brings Martha Washington out of the shadows and allows her to take her rightful place in history as the secret weapon of the American Revolution. Book jacket."--Jacket.

Date Published:2006

Never caught : the Washingtons' relentless pursuit of their runaway slave, Ona Judge

Dunbar, Erica Armstrong,


Betty's daughter -- New York-bound -- New York in black and white -- The move to Philadelphia -- The blacks in the family -- Life in Philadelphia -- The wedding -- The fugitive -- Slavery and freedom in New Hampshire -- A close call -- The negotiator -- Mrs. Staines -- The survivor -- Epilogue: Ona's sister : Philadelphia Costin. "A revelatory account of the actions taken by the first president to retain his slaves in spite of Northern laws. Profiles one of the slaves, Ona Judge, describing the intense manhunt that ensued when she ran away."--NoveList. "When George and Martha Washington moved from their beloved Mount Vernon in Virginia to Philadelphia, then the seat of the nation's capital, they took nine enslaved people with them. They would serve as cooks and horsemen, as house servants and personal attendants. The North was different for the entire household, free and enslaved, white and black. There was a new climate to adjust to, and new mores as well. Slavery, in Philadelphia at least, was looked down upon. Indeed, there was even a law requiring slaveholders to free their slaves after six months. Yet George Washington thought he could outwit and circumvent the law by sending his slaves south every six months, thereby resetting the clock. Among the slaves to figure out this subterfuge was Ona Judge, Martha Washington's chief attendant. Having interacted with Philadelphia's sizable free black community, Ona Judge observed and soon longed for liberation. And, risking everything she knew, leaving behind everyone she loved and had known her entire life, she fled. Here, then, is the story not only of the powerful lure of freedom but also of George Washington's determination to recapture his property by whatever means necessary. Never Caught is the only book that examines the life of an eighteenth-century fugitive woman in intricate detail, and it provides a new look at George Washington's relationship to slavery. An important new work on one of the world's most celebrated families, Never Caught is a must-read for anyone interested in American history."--Jacket.
Date Published:2017

Betty's daughter -- New York-bound -- New York in black and white -- The move to Philadelphia -- The blacks in the family -- Life in Philadelphia -- The wedding -- The fugitive -- Slavery and freedom in New Hampshire -- A close call -- The negotiator -- Mrs. Staines -- The survivor -- Epilogue: Ona's sister : Philadelphia Costin. "A revelatory account of the actions taken by the first president to retain his slaves in spite of Northern laws. Profiles one of the slaves, Ona Judge, describing the intense manhunt that ensued when she ran away."--NoveList. "When George and Martha Washington moved from their beloved Mount Vernon in Virginia to Philadelphia, then the seat of the nation's capital, they took nine enslaved people with them. They would serve as cooks and horsemen, as house servants and personal attendants. The North was different for the entire household, free and enslaved, white and black. There was a new climate to adjust to, and new mores as well. Slavery, in Philadelphia at least, was looked down upon. Indeed, there was even a law requiring slaveholders to free their slaves after six months. Yet George Washington thought he could outwit and circumvent the law by sending his slaves south every six months, thereby resetting the clock. Among the slaves to figure out this subterfuge was Ona Judge, Martha Washington's chief attendant. Having interacted with Philadelphia's sizable free black community, Ona Judge observed and soon longed for liberation. And, risking everything she knew, leaving behind everyone she loved and had known her entire life, she fled. Here, then, is the story not only of the powerful lure of freedom but also of George Washington's determination to recapture his property by whatever means necessary. Never Caught is the only book that examines the life of an eighteenth-century fugitive woman in intricate detail, and it provides a new look at George Washington's relationship to slavery. An important new work on one of the world's most celebrated families, Never Caught is a must-read for anyone interested in American history."--Jacket.

Date Published:2017