250 Years Ago: The Forgotten Declaration that Set the Course for Independence
By: Michael Boldin “To these grievous measures, Americans cannot submit.” That bold declaration helped spark coordinated resistance across the colonies in 1774. Today marks the 250th anniversary of the Declaration ...
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Before Boston: The Tea Revolt That Began in Philadelphia
By: Mike Maharrey The Boston Tea Party is arguably the best-known event leading up to the war for independence, but a number of leading Revolutionaries, including Benjamin Rush and John ...
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Insights into the Constitution from English Social History
By: Rob Natelson If you want to understand the Constitution, you should know something of the social context that produced it. Very useful for this purpose are the chapters on ...
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War Powers: The True History of James Madison, the Constitution and the War of 1812
By: Mike Maharrey In the early years of the United States under the Constitution, James Madison made one of the most compelling constitutional arguments against unilateral presidential war powers. Through ...
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No Deal for Gun Control: How the American Revolutionaries Defied the Empire
By: Michael Boldin June 12, 1775 – less than 2 months after Lexington and Concord and the “shot heard ‘round the world,” General Gage made an offer he felt ...
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Free Speech on Trial: Jailed But Re-elected
By: Michael Boldin In a time of political turmoil, when criticism of the government could land you behind bars, Matthew Lyon, a congressman and fierce critic of the Federalist ...
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John Adams: Patriot and Tyrant?
By: Mike Maharrey Many revere John Adams as a great patriot. Others view him as a big-government tyrant. The truth probably lies somewhere in between. Adams was a prominent leader during ...
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Fight for Freedom: The Anthony Burns Affair
By: Mike Maharrey On May 24, 1854, federal marshals arrested Anthony Burns, kicking off one of the most famous fugitive slave – and nullification – cases in U.S. history. Burns ultimately ...
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James Madison’s Last Day in Office: Veto of the “Bonus Bill”
By: Dave Benner As his last official act as President, James Madison vetoed a bill that would provide federal funding for building roads and canals throughout the United States. Today in ...
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December Is a Good Time to Celebrate the American Revolution
by J. Kennerly Davis This month includes the anniversary of a historic action taken by the British Crown that contributed significantly to our American Revolution. No, the action was not ...
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