During the American War of Independence, the inhabitants of New York City, formerly New Amsterdam), celebrated the tradition of Sinterklaas as symbol of the city’s non-English past. In the 1770s the New York Gazetteer noted that the feast day of “St. a Claus” was celebrated “by the descendants of the ancient Dutch families, with their usual festivities.” Sinterklaas is …
Monthly Archives: December 2021
FEDERALIST No. 85: Concluding Remarks
We are on the eve of a very important election. Much has been said about the Constitution and what is Constitutional so let’s take a few weeks and look at the foundational letters written by Madison, Hamilton, and Jay arguing for the creation of the US Constitution. The comment tab is open. Please share your …
Antifederalist No. 84 — On the Lack of a Bill of Rights
By “Brutus.” When a building is to be erected which is intended to stand for ages, the foundation should be firmly laid. The Constitution proposed to your acceptance is designed, not for yourselves alone, but for generations yet unborn. The principles, therefore, upon which the social compact is founded, ought to have been clearly and …
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FEDERALIST No. 84: Certain General and Miscellaneous Objections to the Constitution Considered and Answered.
We are on the eve of a very important election. Much has been said about the Constitution and what is Constitutional so let’s take a few weeks and look at the foundational letters written by Madison, Hamilton, and Jay arguing for the creation of the US Constitution. The comment tab is open. Please share your …
No, He’s Not Carrying the Wrong Flag!
At last year’s “First Crossing” at Washington’s Crossing, I got into a conversation with a reporter from Malibu California who was trying to reconcile what he was with the well-known Washington Crossing the Delaware painting by Emanuel Leutze. I am amazed at the number of people who see things like this famous painting and fail to understand …
Antifederalist No. 83 — The Federal Judiciary and the Issue of Trial by Jury
By Luther Martin of Maryland. . . . . in all those cases, where the general government has jurisdiction in civil questions, the proposed Constitution not only makes no provision for the trial by jury in the first instance, but, by its appellate jurisdiction, absolutely takes away that inestimable privilege, since it expressly declares the …
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FEDERALIST No. 83: The Judiciary in Relation to Trial by Jury
We are on the eve of a very important election. Much has been said about the Constitution and what is Constitutional so let’s take a few weeks and look at the foundational letters written by Madison, Hamilton, and Jay arguing for the creation of the US Constitution. The comment tab is open. Please share your …
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Historical Tidbits
When reenacting or acting as a historical interpreter, its good to have a few historical dates and stories to share. This series will publish a few. December 23, 1783 Washington resigns as Commander in Chief “Having now finished the work assigned to me, I retire from the great theatre of action; and bidding an affectionate …
Rules of the House
This year, I posted a set of sayings and rules in our field pub and many have asked for copies of these witticisms. Well, I’m not going to print them but here they are for your entertainment. If you have to ask if it’s too early to have a beer, you are clearly an amateur …
Antifederalist No. 82 — The Power of the Judiciary. (Part 4)
Part 1: Part 2 of “Brutus” 14th essay (from the March 6, 1788, New-York Journal). Part 2: The final segment of the 15th essay (March 20, 1788 New York Journal). It may still be insisted that this clause [on appellate jurisdiction] does not take away the trial by jury on appals, but that this may …
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Michael Carver -- Historical Interpreter/Reenactor 