History
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My family first came to the America in the 1600's.
More came over in the early 1700's.
The final branch of my family arrived in the early 1800's.

With my 11 generation, family tree currently only 2/3 complete, I have discovered and verified at least 3 direct ancestors who fought in the Revolutionary War. More family history still remains to be discovered.

My birth state was one of the original 13 colonies and the second state to ratify the U.S. Constitution in 1787. Having only known the USA as my home, I am part of the fabric of the United States of America. At the time when the country gained its freedom to establish a democratic republic, my ancestors all still lived in the original 13 colonies. They directly participated in the founding of this country.

In 2022, descendants of my early ancestors have since migrated across what is now a much larger United States. Due to a job transfer, my husband and I eventually landed (by chance more than choice) in what was once - back in 1776 - the Missouri Territory, then owned by Spain.

It was not until 1821 that the Missouri Territory was admitted to the United States union as a slave state, under the "Missouri Compromise". At that time, US founding father & third president of the United States, Thomas Jefferson wrote that the "Missouri Compromise" & westward expansion of slavery would lead to the “[death] knell of the Union.” Unfortunately, a lasting impact of the Missouri Compromise can still be felt within the state. But that is all another discussion for another time; rather than on this day that Americans celebrate the birth of the United States. Missouri entered the Union as the 24th state. It was the first state located entirely west of the Mississippi River.

Before finally ending up here, I have also lived (and flourished) as an adult in 2 more states that were part of the original 13 colonies (the 3rd and 11th states to ratify the US Constitution). My heart and beliefs still belong to the home of my birth and younger years. I consider myself an American first. I currently merely reside in a state.

Bailey in the photo above was born in Hawaii.

On America’s birthdate in 1776. Captain Cook had not yet arrived in Hawaii. Hawaiians were living in the stone age. They had not yet invented the wheel, had no written language, and no clay pottery. They had only extremely small amounts of metal that washed up in driftwood from ships that had sunk hundreds of miles away. There was constant warfare among competing warlords. There was no concept of human rights — both slavery and human sacrifice were practiced. The death penalty was imposed on anyone who stepped on the shadow of a high chief, or any woman who ate a banana or coconut.

Things had functioned that way for a thousand years and would have remained unchanged except for the arrival of British explorers in 1778, followed by European and American whalers and businessmen, and then American missionaries in 1820. Hawaiians eagerly embraced reading and writing, Christian religion, human rights, private property rights, a market economy, the rule of law, etc. In 1893 a revolution led by a local militia with 1500 members put an end to a corrupt and ineffective monarchy, replacing it with a republic. Hawaiians now celebrate a triple holiday on July 4: for 1776 (U.S. independence) 1894 (Republic of Hawaii), and 1960 (50th star added to U.S. flag).

Hawaii is the 50th and final current State in the United States. Approximately 2,000 miles away from the west most "mainland" coastline, it officially became a state on August 21, 1959. Hawaiians felt it was necessary for them to be considered a state and not just a mere territory due to the loyalty it granted the United States during World War II. They pressed for admission to statehood status because they wanted to fully exercise their democratic rights. They did not want to be led and controlled without their participation.

The United States has a varied and very interesting history.