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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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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- Mar 25, 2022
- 12 min
America’s Unplanned Expansion – The Louisiana Purchase
In 1803 the United States unexpectedly added the largest increase in land area in its history. How did this come about? Why was the...
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- Dec 30, 2021
- 9 min
Wine in Early-19th Century America
New Year’s Eve is upon us. Although it is a time usually associated with champagne and other sparkling wines, we thought we would take...
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- Nov 5, 2021
- 9 min
The Formal Visit and the Calling Card
In our last posting, we talked about the Etiquette of the Ballroom in late-18th and early-19th century America and how it was both...
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- Jun 18, 2021
- 14 min
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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- Jun 4, 2021
- 19 min
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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- 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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- 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 18, 2021
- 15 min
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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- 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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- 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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- Oct 9, 2020
- 12 min
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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- Jun 5, 2020
- 10 min
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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- May 21, 2020
- 11 min
Volcanoes, Weather, Food Shortages and Westward Migration
“We have had the most extraordinary year of drought and cold ever known in the history of America. In June, instead of 3 ¾ inches, our...
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- May 9, 2020
- 14 min
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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- 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 24, 2019
- 7 min
Alien and Sedition Acts: legislation that led to the defeat and destruction of the Federalist Party
Alien and Sedition Acts: This legislation led to confrontation between the Jeffersonian Democratic-Republicans and the Federalist Party
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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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