ACADEMY OF KNOWLEDGE | Norfolk Towne Assembly's Blog

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 2: The Chesapeake Campaign - 1813

Jul 16, 2021
15 min

Military History

The War of 1812 - Part 2: The Chesapeake Campaign - 1813

In our last post we examined the action in the War of 1812 along the US/Canadian border and in the Old Northwest Territories. As we saw,...

The War of 1812 - Part 1; The Northern and Western Theater

Jul 2, 2021
28 min

Military History

The War of 1812 - Part 1; The Northern and Western Theater

As we have discussed in previous posts, the real origins of the War of 1812 were in the conflict that raged in Europe for two decades...

Provocation Toward War: The Chesapeake-Leopard Affair

Jun 18, 2021
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...

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

Jun 4, 2021
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...

May 21, 2021
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...

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

May 7, 2021
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...

Identity for a New Nation: Federal Era Architecture and Design

Apr 23, 2021
10 min

Societal/Cultural History

Identity for a New Nation: Federal Era Architecture and Design

When the United States first broke away from Britain and established its independence as a nation we had no “national identity.” National...

"To Remake Society in God's Name": The Second Great Awakening and Its Effect on America

Apr 9, 2021
17 min

Societal/Cultural History

"To Remake Society in God's Name": The Second Great Awakening and Its Effect on America

Today, one of the great “wedge issues” in the culture wars is religion and its place in American society and our government. On one...

Building the Republic: National Banking and Finance

Mar 26, 2021
19 min

Societal/Cultural 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...

Mar 13, 2021
13 min

Societal/Cultural 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...

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

Feb 27, 2021
20 min

Societal/Cultural 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...

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

Feb 12, 2021
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...

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

Feb 1, 2021
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...

EDUCATION IN VIRGINIA DURING THE COLONIAL ERA AND THE EARLY REPUBLIC

Jan 18, 2021
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...

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

Jan 4, 2021
17 min

Societal/Cultural 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...

A Holiday Horror Story: The Richmond Theatre Fire of 1811

Dec 21, 2020
20 min

Societal/Cultural History

A Holiday Horror Story: The Richmond Theatre Fire of 1811

2020 has been very “different” compared to most other years and so, our Christmas post this year is going to be “different” as well. The...

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...

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,...

1804 - Mass Destruction and a "Snow Hurricane"

Nov 6, 2020
13 min

Societal/Cultural History

1804 - Mass Destruction and a "Snow Hurricane"

The 2020 Atlantic hurricane, now winding down, has arguably been one of the most active ever. With this in mind, I thought it might be...

The Unconquered Lord of the Card Room: Whist-its history and play

Oct 23, 2020
9 min

Societal/Cultural History

The Unconquered Lord of the Card Room: Whist-its history and play

In life, as in whist, hope nothing from the way cards may be dealt to you. Play the cards, whatever they be, to the best of your skill....

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...

All the World's a Stage: Theatre in Colonial and Early America

Sep 25, 2020
15 min

Societal/Cultural History

All the World's a Stage: Theatre in Colonial and Early America

Publisher’s Note: I originally authored this article in 2015 for another blog that I was writing for at the time. I have since rewritten...

“There we were entertained with scenes romantic and delightful beyond the power of description"

Sep 11, 2020
17 min

Societal/Cultural History

“There we were entertained with scenes romantic and delightful beyond the power of description"

The Amusement Parks of Early America; Pleasure Gardens in America and their roots in England Before we begin our discussion of Pleasure...

“We have made trial of our owne English seedes, kitchen hearbes, and rootes”:

Aug 15, 2020
12 min

Societal/Cultural History

“We have made trial of our owne English seedes, kitchen hearbes, and rootes”:

KITCHEN GARDENS IN COLONIAL AMERICA AND THE EARLY REPUBLIC This year, with shortages caused at least in part by the COVID-19 Pandemic,...