The US History Anthem

THE US HISTORY ANTHEM: Nomads cross the land bridge, Columbus sails the ocean blue Smallpox, corn, horses, guns; God, gold and glory too Along comes King James I and the greed VA Co. They start a town and name it James, saved by tobacco Plymouth and the Separatists, the rest are all the same Came for God or money or land, not for all the fame North with all the Puritans, they didn't like dissent Annie H and Robbie Dubs thought twice and out they went The South grew rice and indigo on fertile, green plantations The Mid and Southern worshipers were of mixed affiliations The Great Awakening set Puritan pulpits on fire Indians refused to budge for white man's land desires Self reliance and republicanism, they both were on the rise As mercantilist King George III made new taxes to excise Seven years of war with France made British coffers light Colonies wouldn't give up representation without a fight Intolerable, Townsend, Stamp; especially the Tea Repeal was demanded by the Sons of Liberty The Boston Massacre led up to Lexington and Concord The Declaration made King George think colonists were bonkers Gray old men sat round to form a new Confederation With France's help, Cornwallis fell; up went a new nation No power for the feds made need for a solution With compromise, the colonies were bound by resolution Three-fifths, Bill of Rights, and bicameral legislature Colonies came together to set the government on paper Washington, Adams, XYZ, the French Revolution Hamilton and Jefferson debate the Constitution Louisiana stretches West, Monroe lays down his Doctrine But impressment boils US blood; the British come a-knockin' 1812 is over fast, slavery is on the rise the North goes for containment with the Missouri Compromise The reaper makes the factories grow, religion brings reform D. Dix and S. B. Anthony add thunder to the storm Jacksonian democracy sets up the spoils system The Dawes Act and the Trail of Tears--Indians can't resist 'em Manifest Destiny calls for expansive territory "54°40' or fight!": the battle cry for glory Kansas, Nebraska, Oregon, and popular sovereignty Pressures are on the rise with John Brown and Harper's Ferry Lincoln versus Davis, the Southern states secede The Union warns of plans for war, the South refused to heed The Confederates were cocky to rely on British aid But when help didn't come their troops began to fade Bull Run, Vicksburg, Gettysburg; the Appomattox end, The Emancipation frees the slaves, Reconstruction starts to mend While Johnson calls for union by only 10 percent Blacks become enfranchised with the 14th Amendment Freedmen were still suppressed despite Congress's intentions The KKK and Jim Crow Laws resisted intervention Monopolies are on the rise as steel and oil boom Labor takes the brunt of it--no health or hours or room. "Speak softly and carry a big stick," says the Roosevelt Corollary TR's Square Deal trust-busting makes corporations wary Europe spirals downward while America abstains But German U-Boat bombings make the US take the reins Wilson's 14 Points create the peaceful League of Nations But Congress will not ratify; Allies want reparations Sex and money, prohibition: hear the 20s roar Ads and entertainment make Americans want more Alas! This decadent decade was not made to last October 19, '29 destroys the upper class Hoovervilles and soup kitchens are signs of the times While FDR's New Deal shortens unemployment lines Unhappiness and fascism thrust Europe into war Despite Franklin's neutrality, the US can't ignore Cash and carry pulls a match that Pearl Harbor ignites December 7, '41: America stands and fights (see comment by author for the rest of the lyrics) Sources: http://lcweb2.loc.gov/master/pnp/cph/3a10000/3a12000/3a12200/3a12244u.tif http://www.cowboybooks.com.au/pictures/JohnAdams.jpg http://www.dodmedia.osd.mil/DVIC_View/Still_Details.cfm?SDAN=DNSC8905558&JPGPath=/Assets/Still/1989/Navy/DN-SC-89-05558.JPG