Political History

Here is where we publish articles about the social, political and military history of American society during the Colonial and Early Republic Eras. Where we feel it is needed, we also examine the origins of the subject. From time to time, we will also publish articles regarding Living History interpretative skills.

Please let us know in the comments if you enjoy our posts.

The War of 1812 – Part 8 - Diplomacy and the Treaty of Ghent

Oct 8
21 min

Military History

The War of 1812 – Part 8 - Diplomacy and the Treaty of Ghent

Initial Attempts at Diplomacy Throughout the last five months, we have posted a series of articles looking at some of the causes leading...

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The War of 1812 – Part 5 - The Attack on New Orleans

Aug 27
27 min

Military History

The War of 1812 – Part 5 - The Attack on New Orleans

In Part 1 of our series on the War of 1812, we looked at operations along the Canadian border. In Part 2 and Part 3, we looked at...

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The War of 1812 - Part 4 - The Southern Theater

Aug 13
18 min

Political History

The War of 1812 - Part 4 - The Southern Theater

In Part 1 of this series on the War of 1812, we looked at operations along the Canadian border. In Part 2, we looked at operations in the...

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The War of 1812 Part 3 - The Chesapeake Campaign, 1814

Jul 30
33 min

Political History

The War of 1812 Part 3 - The Chesapeake Campaign, 1814

In our last post we examined the action in the Chesapeake Bay theater of operations during 1813. As we learned, the British purpose for...

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Provocation Toward War: The Chesapeake-Leopard Affair

Jun 18
14 min

Political History

Provocation Toward War: The Chesapeake-Leopard Affair

In recent posts, we have talked about both Indian trouble in the Northwest Territories and the Embargo Act, and its successors as some of...

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Jefferson’s Embargo Act and the Depression of 1807-11

Jun 4
19 min

Political History

Jefferson’s Embargo Act and the Depression of 1807-11

Intro For the past couple of posts, we have been discussing issues met by our nation as we tried to expand westward over the Appalachian...

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May 21
19 min

Political History

Tecumseh and His Indian Confederacy

In our last post we talked about the Northwest Territory, the American push to settle it, and the Northwest Indian War. However, the...

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The Old Northwest Territory: America’s First Great Westward Expansion

May 7
15 min

Political History

The Old Northwest Territory: America’s First Great Westward Expansion

If I were to speak of the Northwest Territories today, most people would assume I was either talking about the Canadian province or the...

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Building the Republic: National Banking and Finance

Mar 26
19 min

Societal History

Building the Republic: National Banking and Finance

Today, most of us give little thought to banks. If we want to deposit our paycheck, get cash, a mortgage loan, a consumer loan, or...

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Mar 13
13 min

Societal History

Lotteries as Public Finance

These days, when we want to fund building a public project such as roads, bridges, schools, etc., governments usually to look to issuing...

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Dolley Madison: The Nation's "First" Lady.

Feb 27
20 min

Societal History

Dolley Madison: The Nation's "First" Lady.

Monday marks the beginning of Women’s History Month 2021. The focus of this blog is always history, and so, we do not usually theme our...

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The Naval Act of 1794 and the Resurrection of the US Navy - Part II

Feb 12
29 min

Political History

The Naval Act of 1794 and the Resurrection of the US Navy - Part II

In part 1 of this series, we looked at the reestablishment of the US Navy, The Naval Act of 1794, and the first three frigates built...

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The Naval Act of 1794 and the Resurrection of the US Navy - Part 1

Feb 1
36 min

Political History

The Naval Act of 1794 and the Resurrection of the US Navy - Part 1

On 13 October 1775, a resolution of the Continental Congress set up what is now the United States Navy by authorizing, "a swift sailing...

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EDUCATION IN VIRGINIA DURING THE COLONIAL ERA AND THE EARLY REPUBLIC

Jan 18
15 min

Political History

EDUCATION IN VIRGINIA DURING THE COLONIAL ERA AND THE EARLY REPUBLIC

Throughout 2020 and into the new year, our ideas of what education should look like here in Virginia have been challenged by the effects...

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Let Us Share a Bowl Together – Punch, the Forerunner of the Modern Cocktail

Jan 4
17 min

Societal History

Let Us Share a Bowl Together – Punch, the Forerunner of the Modern Cocktail

“A merry Christmas, Bob!” said Scrooge, with an earnestness that could not be mistaken, as he clapped him on the back. “A merrier...

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George Washington's 1791 Southern Tour - Part 2: The Way Home.

Dec 4, 2020
8 min

Political History

George Washington's 1791 Southern Tour - Part 2: The Way Home.

In our previous post, “George Washington’s Southern Tour – Part 1”, we wrote about the reasons Washington had for undertaking tours of...

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George Washington’s 1791 Southern Tour – Part 1: The Journey South

Nov 20, 2020
11 min

Political History

George Washington’s 1791 Southern Tour – Part 1: The Journey South

When he became President, George Washington wanted to learn as much as he could about the United States and its people. As president,...

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America's First Political Factions - Federalists and Anti-Federalists

Oct 9, 2020
12 min

Political History

America's First Political Factions - Federalists and Anti-Federalists

As we approach the November 2020 Presidential election, US voters find themselves sharply divided between the two candidates in a way I...

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Aaron Burr, Thomas Jefferson, and the Insurrection Act of 1807

Jun 5, 2020
10 min

Political History

Aaron Burr, Thomas Jefferson, and the Insurrection Act of 1807

The Insurrection Act of 1807 has been in the news quite a bit this past week with lots of people talking about what it is and whether it...

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Agrarianism, Jefferson, and Westward Expansion

May 9, 2020
14 min

Societal History

Agrarianism, Jefferson, and Westward Expansion

In Thomas Jefferson’s book, "Notes on the State of Virginia", he argued for a United States founded on an agrarian ideology. But just...

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