Archive for the ‘to 1877’ Category

A Time Capsule was unearthed that was buried about 1850, from the news piece: Athol (Massachusetts) Historical Society President Susannah Whipps-Lee said the time capsule — which has yet to be opened — was made from an old glass container that looked like a pickle jar with a rusted metal screw top. It ... Full story

I have found out today that my efforts to start an early American History survey course has been approved. Some of you who already have such a thing might be saying, "So What." Thus, allow me to explain. Starting next year, here in our School District in Colorado, U.S. History A and B will start post-Reconstruction with ... Full story

Western Expansion involved themes such as American Excpetionalism, Manifest Destiny, and Racism. Full story

The period after the War of 1812 is a challenging time as an educator; at least it is for me. The excitement of the late 18th Century creates a lull that is hard to get out of and even the anticipation of the upcoming Civil War does not always help to generate ... Full story

I am just getting into an excellent book by Harry L. Watson titled, Liberty and Power: The Politics of Jacksonian America. In the introduction of the book, Watson recalls a story by a young Frenchman who visited America in 1834 and witnessed, among many things, a Democratic Party Parade. The event amazed the visiting European. ... Full story

...when New Hampshire became the 9th state to ratified it. The 55 writers of the U.S. Constitution consisted of: 26 Episcopalians, 11 Presbyterians, 7 Congregationalists, 2 Lutherans, 2 Dutch Reformed, 2 Methodists, 2 Roman Catholics, 2 Quakers and 1 Deist - Dr. Franklin, who called for prayer during the Constitutional Convention, June 28, 1787: "I therefore beg leave to move - that henceforth prayers imploring ... Full story

I have been taking notes from a great book that I have decided will be (along with my A.P. textbook) the cornerstone of my teaching of the American Colonial period in my Advanced Placement class. Alan Taylor's book American Colonies: The Settling of North America (The Penguin History of the United States, Volume1) (Hist ... Full story

In honor of its anniversary, here are some useless facts: James Madison was the only president to face enemy gunfire while in office. When the British invaded and burned Washington, D.C. in the War of 1812, Madison took command of a battery of artillery, exercising his authority as commander-in-chief. Even when the British attacking forces were nearing the White House, Dolly Madison refused to leave until she could take ... Full story

I've been doing a lot of reading concerning early American history, specifically the Colonial and Revolutionary periods as I have already started the process of game planning my lessons and handouts, ect. for AP U.S. History.  Here's the list of books I am reading: Gordon S. Wood, The Radicalism of the American Revolution... Full story

Thomas Paine's place in American History is secure but that wasn't always the case. He died in relative obscurity after having made the mistake of taking on the Federalists, who viciously attacked Paine. Also, his mistaken commitment to the French Revolution also contributed to his downfall. Though always a friend to Thomas Jefferson, when Paine ... Full story

As I have already noted historians have questioned whether Washington actually added the words "So Help Me God" to the Presidential Oath. Here are the arguments: Article 2, Section 1 of the Constitution states an oath: “I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to ... Full story

A Short History of the United States By Robert V. Remini $19.95; On Sale: 10/7/2008; Formats: E-Book | Audio | Hardcover; Available E-Book Formats: Adobe eBook Reader | Gemstar eBook | Microsoft Reader | MobiPocket | Palm Reader | Sony This is a wonderful book that I was surprised to receive from the review pool of ... Full story

I asked a few days ago, What was the Revolution About? Conservative, Radical, or maybe neither? This was during my viewing of "John Adams" the HBO mini-series which I thoroughly enjoyed. John Adams wrote after the Declaration (on July 2nd): Time has been given for the whole People, maturely to consider the great Question of Independence and to ... Full story

According to this MSN Encarta listing, the American Revolution was nothing more than "Colonial elites," landholders and plantation masters, continuing their "rule at home," but without outside interference. From there, the pursuit of “life, liberty, and property” still excluded, "White women" and "most white men without property," and of course not to mention Native Americans ... Full story

The current mortgage crisis and congressional buyout schemes point to the larger issue of fiscal irresponsibility on the part of big banking. I think the result is probably our own "Panic of 2008?" How many economic "panics" have been a direct result of bad practices by big banking? Let's see: the Panic of 1873 and the ... Full story

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I've been spending a lot of time reading Daniel Walker Howe's What Hath God Wrought: The Transformation of America, 1815-1848. This book is another outstanding contribution to the Oxford History of the United States series. Howe's work might be the best of the bunch so far, I don't know. Anyway, his handling of Andrew Jackson and his ... Full story

"If one drop of blood be shed in South Carolina in defiance of the laws of the U.S., I will hang the first of the nullifiers I can get my hands on." He went on to say he would do so on the first tree he could find. And what is also important to note, only the ... Full story

I must admit I had forgotten about it myself. Luckily I had programmed my planner to remind me about December 19, 1776. Do not worry if you have forgotten or never cared to remember this date. I don’t know where it ranks on the list of important dates, and frankly I don’t care. I have to go back ... Full story

Abraham Lincoln, the U.S. president who won the Civil War and ended slavery, topped a list of the 100 most influential American figures in shaping U.S. history, a survey released on Tuesday said. The Atlantic Monthly magazine asked 10 notable historians to rank the Americans they felt had the greatest impact on U.S. history. Other figures who made the top 10 ... Full story