INTRODUCTION T IS with a sincere desire to help the many patri States to carry out their Americanization programs and assist them in educating the public along these lines that I have compiled this work. As an elementary course in Americanism, I believe, the foundation should be based upon the Constitution of the United States around which our entire government revolves: there are other important events leading up to and following the adoption of the Constitution which if understood generally would explain the principles set forth in it. The United States Flag is the living symbol of this great Amercan Republic and should be treated with the utmost honor and respect; education along this line would tend to increase the interest in what it represents; education concerning our National and local holidays; what they represent and why they are observed are also fundamentals. I have therefore set forth a brief history of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of the United States, the Flag Code, adopted by the National Flag Conference, and of the important Nationwide Holidays with the text of each. It has long been my desire to see a copy of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States in every American home and in such form as it could be readily referred to. I sincerely hope that my efforts will be rewarded, by this work finding its way into the heart of every American home, and that it will find a place in that home where each and every member of the home can find it. In conclusion I wish to make special reference to Beacon Lights of History, by John Lord, New York, 1920, and to The New International Encyclopaedia, by Dodd, Mead & Company, New York, 1924, whose work and bibliography I used to a very great extent. Fred A. Baughan. DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE A DOCUMENT proclaiming the independence of the thirteen English Colonies in America, and finally agreed upon by the Continental Congress, July 4, 1776. Early in 1776 several delegates in Congress were directed by their constituencies to vote for independence. Such a vote would be, in some particulars, no more than a recognition of the existing state of affairs, for already there existed in several provinces a complete independence of England so far as the administrative system was concerned. As a result of advice given by the Continental Congress, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and South Carolina had early established commonwealth organizations entirely regardless of any connection with England. This organization of commonwealth governments on a permanent basis was strongly urged by John Adams, largely as a result of whose work the Continental Congress passed the resolutions of May 10 and 15, 1776, recommending to all the Colonies the formation of independent governments. This action was generally indorsed; and gradually the various States placed themselves on record as favoring the step which had now indeed become virtually inevitable-the declaration of their absolute independence. On June 7, 1776, Richard Henry Lee moved in Congress that "these united Colonies are and of right ought to be free and independent States, that they |