Yankee Doodle began as a British song meant to mock American colonists during the Revolutionary War. The tune poked fun at the rough appearance and perceived lack of sophistication of colonial militias. Instead of rejecting the insult, Americans embraced it turning Yankee Doodle into a bold anthem of defiance, unity, and national pride. That same spirit comes to life in Archibald Willard’s iconic painting, The Spirit of ’76 (1875). The artwork depicts three Revolutionary War musicians a drummer,