From Tea to Treason: BPL's June 27 Presentation Explores How Ordinary Colonists Became Revolutionaries

 The first 50 attendees will receive commemorative gift bags featuring a 250th-birthday USA commemorative coin like this one above, pocket Constitution, and America 250 bookmark. Complimentary 20 ounce sweet tea from Milo's Tea Co. and refreshments provided by the Birmingham Genealogical Society.

What: "From Tea to Treason: How Ordinary Colonists Were Drawn into Extraordinary Rebellion"

When: Saturday, June 27, 2026 | 2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Where:  Birmingham Public Library’s  Central Location, 2100 Park Place, Birmingham, AL 35203

Presenter: Birmingham historian Terri Hicks

Admission: Free and open to the public

Presented By: Birmingham Public Library's Southern History Department

Partners: Birmingham Genealogical Society and America250AL

Special Giveaway: The first 50 attendees will receive commemorative gift bags featuring a 250th-anniversary United States commemorative coin, pocket Constitution, and America 250 bookmark. Complimentary sweet tea from Milo's Tea Company and refreshments provided by the Birmingham Genealogical Society.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — As communities across the nation begin commemorating America's upcoming 250th birthday, the Birmingham Public Library's Southern History Department is inviting residents to kick off the celebration early with a free Revolutionary War-era presentation, commemorative giveaways, and refreshments on Saturday, June 27.

"From Tea to Treason: How Ordinary Colonists Were Drawn into Extraordinary Rebellion" will take place from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at BPL's Central Library in downtown Birmingham.

The first 50 attendees will receive commemorative gift bags featuring a 250th-anniversary United States commemorative coin, pocket Constitution, and America 250 bookmark. Birmingham-based Milo's Tea Company is donating 20-ounce bottles of sweet tea for the first 100 attendees, while the Birmingham Genealogical Society will provide refreshments.

Presented by Birmingham historian Terri Hicks, the program will explore the stories, struggles, and turning points that transformed ordinary colonists into revolutionaries and helped forge a new nation.

The presentation is offered in partnership with the Birmingham Genealogical Society and funded through a grant from America250AL.

"The 250th anniversary of the United States offers a unique opportunity to reflect on the people and ideas that shaped our nation," Hicks said. "This program looks beyond the famous names to explore the experiences of ordinary colonists whose choices and sacrifices helped change the course of history."

"Give me liberty or give me death' was spoken by Patrick Henry, but it became the rallying cry of a generation.

Hicks' presentation explores how ordinary colonists were drawn into extraordinary acts of resistance, examining the events, people, and decisions that transformed growing unrest into revolution and ultimately gave birth to a new nation. Participants will learn about Henry's influential March 23, 1775, speech in Richmond, Virginia, the citizen-soldiers who endured the hardships of the Continental Army, the sacrifices made in pursuit of independence, and the enduring—and often complex—legacy of America's founding era.

The program will also encourage participants to consider how the debates over liberty, citizenship, and freedom that emerged during the Revolutionary era continue to influence American life 250 years later.

In addition to examining iconic figures and events, the presentation will explore lesser-known stories that reveal the contradictions and challenges of the revolutionary period, including the experiences of enslaved people who sought freedom during the nation's struggle for independence.

About the Speaker

Terri L. Hicks is a Birmingham historian who earned both her bachelor's and master's degrees in history from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, where her graduate thesis focused on "Early Birmingham, 1871–1913." A passionate advocate for preserving and sharing local history, Hicks is a frequent speaker for community organizations and media programs on Birmingham's founding, plus about the people and events that helped shape the Magic City.

Hicks has dedicated many years to preserving Alabama history, including organizing the first history tour of Oak Hill Cemetery. Hicks has become known for her portrayals of historical figures including Catherine Louise "Lou" Wooster, who played a vital role during Birmingham's 1873 cholera epidemic, and Emma Hawes, whose 1888 murder became one of the city's most notable early criminal cases. In 2013, the Birmingham City Council awarded Lou Wooster a posthumous commendation for her work during the cholera epidemic and asked Hicks to accept on her behalf.  

Hicks’ research and writing have been featured in Alabama Heritage magazine, including her article on the 1896 Cahaba Bridge Train Wreck, and she authored the Encyclopedia of Alabama entry on Oak Hill Cemetery. Hicks currently works for Kratos SRE in Birmingham and also serves as personal assistant to General Charles C. Krulak, the 31st Commandant of the United States Marine Corps.

For more information about “From Tea to Treason,” contact Birmingham Public Library's Southern History Department at (205) 226-3665.

Written by Roy L. Williams, Public Relations Specialist- Birmingham Public Library