This patriotic film commemorates the bicentennial of the American Revolutionary War. It depicts historical sites and figures following American military history up until Vietnam and the Cold War. It opens with portraits of Abraham Lincoln (:37) and George Washington (:55). It is presented by the US Department of Defense (:55). The Declaration of Independence, signed July 4th 1776, appears on screen and throughout the film quotes will be read from it (1:54). A painting depicts the British fleet in harbor at the start of the Revolutionary War (2:20). A montage ensues which switches between paintings from the Revolutionary War as well as more modern warfare footage (4:31). The surrender at Yorktown, follows. (5:21). A quote from Marquis de Lafayette is heard (5:46) as he questioned what British General would attempt to undertake the conquest of America now after the Revolutionary War had been won (5:46). Relations between Britain and the US were tense after the war (6:49). In 1812, the British fleet was again in American waters (6:53). The US beefed up their war effort for this (7:32) with citizens taking up local collections to build and launch frigates. The US won three years later (10:05). Senator Daniel Webster of Massachusetts’ quote of “liberty and Union, now and forever, one and inseparable” said in 1830 follows (10:27). A poster appears calling for sharp shooters to join the Maine regiments (11:05) signifying the beginning of the Civil War. A quote from Abraham Lincoln’s letter to Horace Greeley in 1862 is heard (11:15). The Civil War began in 1861 and lasted four bloody years (11:44). The president’s call for troops brought in 91,000 volunteers (11:57). Most of the high-ranking officials on both sides were graduates of West Point Military Academy (12:23). Ulysses S. Grant’s quote on the art of war, follows (12:36) and the innovations of him as well as William Sherman, Stonewall Jackson, Robert E. Lee, and of Admiral David Farragut became part of the framework of basic military strategy (12:52). After the battles of Gettysburg and Vicksburg, the unseasoned troops were well experienced and had formed brigades, divisions, and cores (13:53). An image of an all African American division is shown (14:00). Soldiers are photographed after they had returned to civilian life (14:23). The country’s spread westward follows (15:09) leading into the 1920’s (15:33). The Lusitania is pictured prior to (15:43), and after it was hit by German torpedoes during WW1 (15:51). A sign for the Patriotic Service League follows (16:03) as well as an Uncle Sam poster (16:08). Woodrow Wilson is seen whom had led the US through the first world war (16:16). Scenes from combat during this war are provided (16:46) with a specific point to the Air Force as this was the first major conflict involving the large-scale use of aircraft (17:13). Bombs are seen dropping from one of these early crafts (17:19). Shots of pilots throughout the ages, including astronauts, follow (17:90). John J. Pershing is quoted from 1919 (18:44). Soldiers are seen shaving and reading a small book while in trenches (19:01). As Germany surrendered and the first global conflict ended, crowds cheered and greeted the return of soldiers (19:16). Aircraft continued to advance and some flying stunts are shown from peacetime (19:33). One of Hitler’s speeches to the German public is seen (19:49) as well as Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s speech (20:07) declaring the US was entering the second world war after Japan dropped bombs on Pearl Harbor in 1941. The remains of Pearl harbor after it was hit follows (20:43). Women took up factory work as many of the men enlisted to join the war and the US industry became a war effort industry (21:07). The RMS Queen Elizabeth; the ocean liner operated by Cunard Line, appears on screen at (21:33). Flying Fortresses took to the air (22:28) and Amtrak’s unloaded marines for beach landings in the Pacific theater (22:37). Liberation footage follows (23:59) including an Allied soldier marching a German solider forward at gunpoint (24:05). Dwight Eisenhower (24:21) served as the Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Forces in WW2 (24:21). Japanese Foreign Affairs Minister Mamoru Shigemitsu is viewed while signing the Japanese Instrument of Surrender while General Richard K. Sutherland watches aboard the USS Missouri in September of 1945 (24:22). Harry S. Truman is quoted (24:50), JFK is seen (25:41) as well as Fidel Castro as the Cuban conflict erupted (25:48). The film concludes with a list of all those who were quoted throughout it (27:57). It was produced by Peter Rosen Productions Inc (28:38) for the Offices of Information for the Armed Forces (28:45).

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