Noah Webster - Father of “American” Culture and Image in the New United States
For many of us today, the name Noah Webster Jr. is mainly remembered as the author of An American Dictionary of the English Language,”...
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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.
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- Dec 16, 2022
- 11 min
Eggnog – Origins, History, and How it Caused a Riot
Christmas is just over a week away and so; it is time once again to think about “Christmas traditions.” One of those traditions...
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- Dec 2, 2022
- 17 min
Wrestling and Pugilism – Entertainments and Self Defense in 18th and Early-19th Century America
In our last post, we talked about some of the methods that people used to defend themselves, their loved, and their property against...
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- Jul 2, 2022
- 17 min
Celebration: Patriotic Holidays in Colonial America and the Early United States
On June 17, 2021, President Biden signed legislation making Juneteenth (June 19th) our 11th Federal holiday. Of these there are four...
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- Mar 11, 2022
- 12 min
A Revolution in Travel – early steamboat travel in the James River and the Chesapeake Bay
For the first 180 years of the English colonies in North America, most people traveled by foot, horse, canoe, or wagon/carriage. Along...
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- May 7, 2021
- 15 min
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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- Mar 26, 2021
- 19 min
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, 2021
- 13 min
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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- Feb 1, 2021
- 36 min
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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- Jan 4, 2021
- 17 min
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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- Dec 4, 2020
- 8 min
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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- Nov 20, 2020
- 11 min
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,...
415 views1 comment
- Oct 23, 2020
- 9 min
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....
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- Apr 9, 2020
- 13 min
Recreational Fishing in England and America - Part 1
Spring is arriving here in Virginia. The sun is coming out, the weather is beginning to warm, and we are all feeling the urge to get out...
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- Feb 28, 2020
- 9 min
Testing the New Federal Government: The Whiskey Rebellion
The early US central government, under the Continental Congress and later under the Articles of Confederation had been unable to levy...
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- Nov 23, 2019
- 10 min
The Wine of the Elite in Colonial America and the Early Republic
Madeira! Jefferson toasted with it, Hancock smuggled it, and Washington greeted voters with a healthy glass of it. But how did this...
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- Oct 10, 2019
- 8 min
The Only Senator Ever Impeached by the House of Representatives
In the last several posts, we have focused on the efforts by France and Spain to affect US alliances and foreign policy and the US...
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- Sep 12, 2019
- 13 min
Defusing a Dangerous Situation - The Jay Treaty
On 1 February 1793 Revolutionary France declared war on Great Britain, expanding a conflict already raging on the European continent . . . .
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- Aug 30, 2019
- 10 min
The French Threat in the Mississippi Valley in the Early Republic
One of the greatest threats to the country at this time . . . . . the scheming and plotting to involve America in war against Spain.
132 views0 comments
- Aug 16, 2019
- 7 min
The Citizen Genet Affair: Foreign Influence in the Early American Republic
Although one of the first tasks of the new government was to strengthen the domestic economy and make the nation financially secure, the...
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