American Essence

Making a Toast to America on the Eve of Her 250th Birthday

Taking inspiration from Revolutionary War-era toasts as America celebrates its landmark anniversary.
Making a Toast to America on the Eve of Her 250th Birthday
Fraunces Tavern, established in 1762, is New York’s oldest bar and restaurant. Above, a negotiation table used by the Department of Foreign Affairs is displayed at the Fraunces Tavern Museum. Courtesy of Fraunces Tavern Museum
Jeff Minick
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On the evening of Nov. 25, 1783, New York Gov. George Clinton and over 100 guests gathered at Fraunces Tavern in present-day Manhattan to honor Gen. George Washington and to celebrate Evacuation Day, the departure of the last British troops from the city.

The toasts made that evening were the result of careful consideration and not only honored the 13 Colonies but also those friends who had made independence possible. Below is the list of toasts that has come down to us.

Jeff Minick
Jeff Minick
Author
Jeff Minick has four children and a growing platoon of grandchildren. For 20 years, he taught history, literature, and Latin to seminars of homeschooling students in Asheville, N.C. He is the author of two novels, “Amanda Bell” and “Dust on Their Wings,” and two works of nonfiction, “Learning as I Go” and “Movies Make the Man.” Today, he lives and writes in Front Royal, Va.