One of the most tragic events at the Jamestowne Colony in its early years was the Massacre of 1622, in which many settlers lost their lives. One of them was George Thorpe, who had worked tirelessly since his arrival in Virginia in 1620 to establish a college at which the
While it was only one paragraph long, the Prohibitory Act of 1775 was a bombshell for the American colonists who were now at war with their mother country, Great Britain. In the Fall of 1775, Americans were still British citizens, and still owed their allegiance to King George III—at least
We’ve written before about some of the greatest Native-American warriors of the 19th century: Crazy Horse, Chief Joseph, and Quanah Parker, to name a few. Today we write about another of the great warriors of that era: Red Cloud, who died this day on December 10, 1909. During the Indian
Months after the “Shot Heard ‘Round the World” kicked off the American Revolution in April 1775, a large number of colonists—a very large number– were still reluctant to declare independence from Great Britain, or to renounce their allegiance to the King of England, George III. Among those still hoping for
Handwritten text of Monroe’s State of the Union Address, Dec. 2, 1823 It was called the “Era of Good Feelings.” The first term of the presidency of James Monroe was a period of economic growth, western expansion, and infrastructure improvements, and President James Monroe became a revered figure in American
When the Pilgrims arrived at Cape Cod in the Fall of 1620, they were immediately faced with the task of starting a new colony in North America with only the barest of essentials to sustain them as winter approved. They lived at first in makeshift shelters in what Governor William
On November 24, 1807, one of the most famous Native-American warriors and political leaders of the 18th century died at the age of 64, after a life spent battling for the sovereignty of the Mohawk and Iroquois peoples, and fighting alongside the British Army against American “rebels” in the Revolutionary
How the Jay Treaty of 1794 Unleashed a National Debate Over American Trade and Commerce with Its Former Foe, Great Britain. In the decades following the end of the American Revolution in 1783, our nation’s political leaders grappled with a wide array of domestic and international issues that would define
In the first two decades of the 17th century, the Jamestowne Colony in Virginia was struggling. Settled in 1607, the Colony had experienced Indian attacks, famine, disease, and a host of other challenges. Yet, by 1619, the Colony was stabilizing, and with the help of its financial backers at the
During this Thanksgiving season, we commemorate the coming together of English settlers and Native-Americans at Plymouth Colony, for what historians have dubbed “The First Thanksgiving.” This signal event brought the first Plymouth settlers and their Native-American neighbors together to feast, following a harrowing year that witnessed the deaths of half
Americans almost always view the Civil War of 1861-65 as a war between North and South, and specifically between the anti-slave states of New England and the mid-Atlantic, and the slave states of the South. During the war itself, some of the fighting occurred in the western areas of the
Between 1865 and 1869, over 12,000 Chinese laborers were instrumental in building the Central Pacific Railroad through the Sierra Nevada mountains. Recruited largely from southern China, these workers fled poverty and unrest, arriving in California during and after the Gold Rush. Initially met with skepticism, they soon proved indispensable, comprising
Few Civil War officers were more colorful than Captain James (Paddy) Graydon. He was a hard drinking, daring and unconventional Union captain with a short fuse, particularly remembered for his fearless exploits in the Southwest. His legacy is marked by bold tactics, a volatile personality, and a reputation as a
When thinking about “Old West” characters, many come to mind – Wyatt Earp, Jesse James, Billy the Kid among others. While people tend to categorize these characters as “good” or “bad”, the reality is that most were both. Time and those who write about history tend to exaggerate. For example,
On this day in 1818, one of the pre-eminent women of the Revolutionary War era passed away in Quincy, Massachusetts—Abigail Adams, wife of Founding Father and President of the United States, John Adams. She first met John when she was fifteen years old. At the time, John was a practicing
As we commemorate the history of the American Revolution, which began 250 years ago in 1775, much of the focus has been on battles—Lexington & Concord (April 1775), Bunker Hill (June 1775), etc. – and the military exploits of various generals, most prominently General George Washington, appointed in June 1775