Give Me Liberty!: The Story of the Declaration of Independence - Softcover

Freedman, Russell

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0823417530 ISBN 13: 9780823417537

Publisher: Holiday House, 2002

Synopsis

Celebrated children’s historian Russell Freedman explores the tensions in colonial America that led to the creation of the Declaration of Independence and the birth of a nation.

This engaging account delves into the deep-rooted conflicts between the American colonies and the British crown, presenting the Revolution not as a sudden break between distant governments but an inevitable result of building pressure, spurred on by events and guided by the distinct personalities that would become the Founding Fathers.  

With a strong focus on cause and effect and the actions of important individuals, Give Me Liberty! traces the tensions that built up in the 1770s, including the Stamp Act, the Boston Tea Party, and the early battles of the Revolutionary War, culminating in the signing of the Declaration in 1776, and its spread through the new American nation.

Illustrated with historical paintings, prints, and document reproductions, Freedman weaves primary sources and contemporaneous accounts into his narrative, making it an immersive and eye-catching resource.

Perfect for students of American history, this introduction to the American Revolution also includes a final chapter on how the ideals expressed in the Declaration of Independence have persisted and evolved through the years, inspiring later generations to seek rights for more and more Americans.  Detailed backmatter includes a printed image and full text of the Declaration, a timeline of events, selected bibliography, and index.

About this title

About the Author:

Russell Freedman (1929-2018) transformed non-fiction for children through his insightful narrative, comprehensive research, careful selection of photographs, and deep understanding of his subject matter. He was well known for his riveting biographies and masterful accounts of the history of the United States. One of the most honored writers for children, his many awards include the Newbery Medal, three Newbery Honor Medals, the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award, the May Hill Arbuthnot Honor Lecture Award and a National Humanities Medal. Major works include Freedom Walkers; Lincoln: A Photobiography; Because They Marched; The Wright Brothers: How They Invented The Airplane; Vietnam: A History of the War. 

From Booklist:

Gr. 4-7. How does he do it? Once again Freedman takes a crucial moment in American history and imbues it with living grace and powerful tension. His account opens on the night of the Boston Tea Party as a 14-year-old apprentice escapes from his locked room, blackens his face, and sneaks aboard three ships in the harbor. Two hundred men and boys dumped the ships' cargo of tea in the water that night. "All that trouble over a three-cent tax on tea!" writes Freedman, who then explains the colonies' relationship to England, the reasons for colonists' discontent, and how the vision of freedom as a right evolved from English law and the oppression that brought the colonists to America. Using excerpts from newspapers, snatches of contemporary verse and letters, and an array of images, Freedman acquaints readers with Patrick Henry and Paul Revere, the first deaths at Lexington and Concord, Thomas Paine's Common Sense , and finally, the Continental Congress and the writing of the Declaration of Independence. Along the way, he frankly delineates the place of women, indentured servants, and African American slaves and freedmen, and explains their roles in the revolution. His account clearly shows what was at risk and the way the words of the Declaration have endured over time. The complete text of the Declaration and information on how to view the original document conclude a rich history. GraceAnne DeCandido
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About this edition

• Publisher: Holiday House
• Publication date: 2002
• ISBN 10: 0823417530
• ISBN 13: 9780823417537
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 96