More Stories
We came up with over 100 stories while working on the American Heritage New Testament. But there's only room for about half of them. So we thought we'd put some of those that couldn't fit on this web page.
The First State to Ban Slavery
Vermont holds a special place in American history as the first state to ban slavery. In 1777, during the American Revolution, Vermont declared its independence. Its constitution boldly states that no person could be held as a slave. This happened even before Vermont officially joined the United States.
Key figures in this move were the drafters of the Vermont Constitution. While specific names are hard to pinpoint due to limited records, the spirit of the time was driven by individuals who valued freedom and equality. People like Thomas Chittenden, who became the first governor of Vermont, and other members of the Constitutional Convention, were essential. They believed in the principles of liberty which were being fought for in the American Revolution.
The decision to ban slavery was influenced by several factors: First, the Revolution was a fight for freedom, and many people began to question the contradiction of fighting for liberty while holding others in bondage. The Quakers had a strong presence in the region and were vocal opponents of slavery. Their beliefs in equality and human dignity contributed to the anti-slavery sentiment. In addition, many Vermonters simply believed that slavery was wrong. They recognized the inherent injustice of owning another human being.
Vermont's bold move sent a powerful message. It demonstrated that it was possible for a society to reject slavery and uphold the principles of freedom and equality. Slavery was practised in nearly every country back then. While the fight to end slavery in the rest of the United States would be long and difficult, Vermont's example provided a beacon of hope and a testament to the power of moral conviction.
The Mayflower Compact
The Mayflower Compact is one of the foundational documents of American self-government. Signed on November 11, 1620 (November 21 by the modern Gregorian calendar), aboard the ship Mayflower off the coast of Cape Cod, it was the first written framework for civil government created by English settlers in North America.
Aboard the vessel were 102 passengers, including the English Separatists known as the Pilgrims, who had fled religious persecution in England and Holland, as well as “strangers”—non-Separatist adventurers and servants. Their original patent from the Virginia Company authorized settlement in the northern Virginia territory. When storms and navigational error forced them to anchor far north of that jurisdiction, the group faced potential chaos: without legal authority, the non-Pilgrims threatened to “use their own liberty.”
To prevent anarchy and secure mutual survival through the coming winter, 41 adult male passengers drafted and signed a brief covenant. In just 200 words, the Compact declared the signers’ loyalty to King James I and formed themselves into “a civil body politic” for the “general good of the Colony.” They pledged to enact “just and equal laws, ordinances, acts, constitutions, and offices” by mutual consent, and to obey them.
Though simple and provisional, the document embodied the radical idea that legitimate government derives from the consent of the governed—an early expression of social-contract theory that would echo through later American founding documents.The Mayflower Compact governed Plymouth Colony until it merged with Massachusetts Bay in 1691. Its principles of ordered liberty and majority rule helped shape the political culture of the emerging United States.
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In the name of God, Amen. We, whose names are underwritten, the loyal subjects of our dread Sovereigne Lord, King James, by the grace of God, of Great Britaine, France and Ireland king, defender of the faith, etc. having undertaken, for the glory of God, and advancement of the Christian faith, and honour of our king and country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the Northerne parts of Virginia, doe by these presents solemnly and mutually in the presence of God and one of another, covenant and combine ourselves together into a civill body politick, for our better ordering and preservation, and furtherance of the ends aforesaid; and by virtue hereof to enacte, constitute, and frame such just and equall laws, ordinances, acts, constitutions and offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most meete and convenient for the generall good of the Colonie unto which we promise all due submission and obedience. In witness whereof we have hereunder subscribed our names at Cape-Codd the 11. of November, in the year of the raigne of our sovereigne lord, King James, of England, France and Ireland, the eighteenth, and of Scotland the fiftie-fourth. Anno Dom. 1620.
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John Carver
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William Bradford
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Edward Winslow
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William Brewster
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Issac Allerton
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Myles Standish
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John Alden
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Samuel Fuller
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Christopher Martin
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William Mullins
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William White
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Richard Warren
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John Howland
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Stephen Hopkins
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John Goodman
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Degory Priest
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Thomas Williams
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Gilbert Winslow
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Edmund Margeson
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Peter Browne
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Richard Britteridge
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George Soule
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Richard Clarke
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Richard Gardiner
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John Allerton
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Thomas English
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Edward Dotey
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Edward Leister
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Edward Tilley
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John Tilley
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Francis Cooke
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Thomas Rogers
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Thomas Tinker
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John Rigdale
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Edward Fuller
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John Turner
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Francis Eaton
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James Chilton
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John CrackstonJ
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ohn Billington
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Moses Fletcher
Timothy Dwight
When Timothy Dwight IV became Yale’s president, his Christian faith was a fire against skepticism. At 43, he was no stranger to challenge. A preacher, poet, and scholar, Dwight’s Christian faith burned bright, rooted in a belief that God called him to save souls and shape a nation.
America was young, its people drifting toward doubt and rebellion. Dwight saw Yale—initially started as a college to train young pastors, but now riddled with skepticism—as his battleground.
Dwight wasn’t just a leader; he was a spark. Students mocked religion, quoting French thinkers like Voltaire. Dwight didn’t scold—he engaged. In chapel he preached sermons that felt like stories, challenging students to think for themselves. “Does God guide us, or are we alone?” he asked, his words cutting through arrogance. His faith wasn’t cold doctrine; it was alive, urging love for God and neighbor. By 1796, his preaching stirred Yale’s Second Great Awakening, a revival that turned doubters into believers. Students prayed, formed Bible study groups, and spread the fire to nearby towns.
Dwight’s influence grew. His hymns and poems, like Columbia, tied faith to patriotism. His book Greenfield Hill envisioned a godly America. He trained ministers, like Lyman Beecher, who fueled nationwide revivals. He taught theology and backed women’s education (radical for the time), showing faith in action.
Some saw him as rigid, but his courage shone. By 1802, a third of Yale’s students embraced faith. Dwight’s faith shaped colleges and America’s soul. When he died in 1817, his sermons and students had fanned a revival, proving one man’s faith could light a nation.
Oaths
The Importance of Oaths – 562The idea of an oath is very old. People have been making promises to governments or gods for thousands of years. In the United States, the oath is important because it's a way for officials to publicly show they're serious about their job and the Constitution. It also helps people believe that their officials will act fairly and follow the law. In addition, the oath is a reminder that they're working for the people and the country, not just for themselves.
In the United States, almost anyone who works for the federal government in a position of power has to take an oath. This includes: The President, Senators and Representatives, Federal Judges, including Supreme Court Justices. Also, the President’s Cabinet Members and others who lead national departments, and those who lead the Military.
The oath is usually taken in a public ceremony. For example, the president takes the oath during his inauguration ceremony. It's a serious moment that marks the beginning of their term. The oath also serves as a legal reminder. If an official breaks their oath by doing something against the Constitution, they can face serious punishment, like being impeached or removed from office.
Putting one’s hand on a Bible while taking an oath goes back a long time. It's connected to religious beliefs, especially Christianity. The Bible represents truth and honesty. By placing their hand on it, they're saying they're telling the truth, and they're asking God to hold them responsible.
Even though the "so help me God" part of some oaths isn't always required by law, the Bible itself is often used in courtrooms and other official settings. It's a reminder to everyone that honesty and integrity are important.
The President’s Oath: – “I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.”
The Oath for Most Others Officials - "I do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic, that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same: that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion, and I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God."
Members of the U.S. Armed Forces also take a special oath, a promise to defend their country. This oath isn't just words; it's a commitment to uphold the Constitution against all enemies, both foreign and domestic.
The oath, taken by every soldier, sailor, airman, marine, and guardian, reads: "I, [name], do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God."
This oath signifies a dedication to service and sacrifice. It stresses the military's role in protecting the nation's central values. It's a basic part of military culture, making clear the importance of duty, honor, and loyalty.
David Brainard
David Brainerd, 27, prayed in a New Jersey forest, his Christian faith was a beacon amid sickness. Orphaned at 14, he found Christ at 21. His life had been shaped by the Great Awakening. Expelled from Yale, he bonded with his siblings. John was a pastor and urged him through letters to trust God. His faith in God strengthened their resolve.
In 1742, he was sent to evangelize Native Americans. He preached at Kaunaumeek with no success. In 1745, at Crossweeksung, his faith in God won over 100 Delaware Indians for the Lord. He built a church and school. His diary captured his zeal: “I burn for souls.”
He died in Jonathan Edwards’ home in 1747. His diary was published in 1749 as The Life and Diary of David Brainerd. Its honest account of his personal relationship with God amid suffering inspired John Wesley who urged, “Let every preacher read it.” Missionaries like William Carey, and Jim Elliot, and many more, drew courage from it, launching global missions.
David’s example fueled the Great Awakening, with revivalists preaching his call to sacrifice. His work helped found Princeton and Dartmouth Colleges, where his example encouraged scholars to train missionaries. By 1800, his diary helped shape America’s churches, urging believers to seek God’s kingdom over comfort.
David’s life, though brief, left a legacy. His diary, still in print, and the mission works it inspired, stand as proof of a man whose love for Christ lit a fire that warmed a nation.
Patrick Henry
Despite having no funds to attend college, Patrick Henry studied law on his own. He was admitted to the bar in 1760, and later served in Virginia’s lower house of legislature, the House of Burgesses.
His speeches opposing British taxes and supporting justice and liberty roused support from colonial leaders such like Samuel Adams and John Hancock, His voice was like a thunderclap for resistance.
In 1775, at St. John’s Church, Patrick’s faith shone brightest. His “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death” speech urged Virginia to arm against Britain. He asked, “Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery?” His speech, blending Christian conviction and defiance, sparked the Revolution, inspiring for the formation of militias.
As Virginia’s first governor (1776–1779, and again in 1784–1786), he urged laws rooted in “Christian virtue,” shaping a free state. His speeches fueled the Declaration of Independence, his 1788 push for a Bill of Rights ensured religious freedom, reflecting his faith.