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AMAC Yesteryear

Echoes of Exceptionalism

The people and moments that made America exceptional, and what they ask of us now.

A column by Phill Kline Every week · 37 essays

Photo: Kean Collection/Archive Photos/Getty Images

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The Battle of Yorktown and the Men Who Stayed

On the afternoon of October 19, 1781—245 years ago today—the British army that had expected to crush the American Revolution marched out of Yorktown, Virginia, and surrendered. Some 7,000 British and Hessian soldiers grounded their arms between two lines of French and Americans who had no business, by the arithmetic of empires, still being there.

37 essays · newest first

2026

  1. A Country, Not a Capital In the spring of 1777, the American rebellion was poorly funded, unevenly supplied, and led by a general who seemed to specialize in strategic retreats. But it had something the British could never match.
  2. The Pine Tree Riot and “An Appeal to Heaven” Two years before the Boston Tea Party, a lesser-known uprising against British tyranny in New Hampshire helped light the flame of independence – and gifted the nation an enduring symbol of liberty.
  3. George Mason, James Madison, and the 15-Year-Old Who Walked the Truth On September 25, 1789, Congress sent 12 amendments to the states; ten would become the Bill of Rights and set the stage for the flourishing of individual liberty in the United States.
  4. A House, Not a Hope On September 18, 1793, Washington laid the Capitol cornerstone, but its silver plate never promised to keep Americans free — that job fell to those who came after.
  5. The Heroes of Flight 93 Twenty-five years after 9/11, the courage of Flight 93 still echoes. Faced with certain death, ordinary Americans chose to fight back, turning “Let’s Roll” into an enduring testament to sacrifice, duty, and American exceptionalism.
  6. The Defiant Twelve and the Birth of the First Amendment While Americans today may take the First Amendment for granted, its important to remember just how exceptional the freedom of speech and the press are.
  7. The Dignity That Makes Argument Possible The incredible story of the men who hammered out the United States Constitution over the long, hot summer of 1787 reminds us of what it takes to preserve a republic.
  8. Refusing to Live by Lies In Moscow, Russia, on August 19, 1991, history arrived on a gray morning in a steady late-summer rain in the form of a column of tanks moving through ordinary Moscow traffic.
  9. The Ledger of Liberty On August 7, 1782, Washington cut a purple cloth heart to honor common soldiers, not generals. Only three men received it, the forerunner of today's Purple Heart.
  10. General George Washington and Power Constrained by Duty On December 23, 1783, General George Washington did something extraordinary - he handed Congress his commission and walked away from power.
  11. The Long Walk That Saved Washington’s Army Lydia Darragh risked everything to warn George Washington of a British surprise attack, helping save the Continental Army.
  12. The Midnight Ride of Caesar Rodney Caesar Rodney’s midnight ride through a violent storm, despite crippling illness, helped secure Delaware’s vote for independence and became a lasting symbol of courage, sacrifice, and American exceptionalism.
  13. “Proclaim Liberty Throughout All the Land” The first public reading of the Declaration of Independence transformed a congressional document into the voice of a nation, reminding Americans that liberty endures through faith, courage, and the commitment of ordinary citizens.
  14. How Fresh Eyes Restore the Hope of America America’s greatest strength is found not in headlines but in everyday life. By rejecting manufactured outrage and embracing gratitude, community, and personal engagement, we can rediscover the nation visitors still see with fresh eyes.
  15. The Limping Lady from Maryland Who Defied Nazi Tyranny Hunted by the Gestapo, Virginia Hall crossed the Pyrenees on a failing prosthetic leg, returned to occupied France, and became one of the most effective Allied spies of World War II.
  16. The Wounded Boy Who Defied an Empire Before he became a general and president, Andrew Jackson was a wounded teenage prisoner who endured British captivity, disease, and loss during the Revolutionary War—and never broke.
  17. The Quiet Greatness of a Nation America’s strength has always come from ordinary citizens, not Washington. The story of Rhode Island’s Constitution ratification reminds us that self-government depends on character, community, and civic responsibility.
  18. Lt. John Robert Fox and the Stories That Keep a Nation Free The story of Lt. John Robert Fox reminds us that Memorial Day is about real sacrifice, real courage, and the Americans who gave everything to defend freedom.
  19. The Men Who Bring Them Home From the frozen hell of Chosin Reservoir to modern rescue missions, America’s promise to leave no one behind defines the nation’s moral character and military courage.
  20. Ira Hayes, Johnny Cash, and America’s Eternal Debt of Gratitude The story of Ira Hayes reveals the sacrifice behind America’s most iconic wartime photograph.
  21. Maynard “Snuffy” Smith and the Fire in the Sky The story of Maynard “Snuffy” Smith highlights extraordinary courage during World War II, showing how one airman’s bravery saved lives and exemplified the enduring spirit behind American freedom.
  22. Dr. Joseph Warren and the Call of Liberty Joseph Warren’s courage at Lexington, Concord, and Bunker Hill reminds Americans that liberty survives through citizens willing to act decisively and serve selflessly.
  23. The Day Before the Shot Heard Round the World A tribute to the ordinary patriots whose courage at Lexington and Concord turned resistance into revolution and helped launch the American experiment in liberty.
  24. The Spark of Liberty at the Foot of the Cross An exploration of Thomas Jefferson’s life, contradictions, and legacy, showing how flawed individuals can still shape enduring truths about liberty, equality, and human dignity.