The "real American Revolution," as John Adams said, took place in the minds and hearts of the American people in the years leading up to 1776. This Revolution of thought gave birth to a Revolution of words and deeds; and Revolutionary thought, word, and deed together became the American Founding, a "human event" unsurpassed in the history of the world. This Founding remains eternally the earthly source of all America's blessings of liberty. It is also America's eternal earthly measure of itself.