“Run Away!” – Revolutionary Deserters

One of the fundamental problems with the Continental Army was that the State Legislatures were reluctant to establish a European-style professional army with long-term enlistments for fear of a strong military leader seizing the government. Without a professional attitude, soldiers were much more likely to be casual about remaining in ranks for the full term …

How Did Americans Actually Transfer Money To France For The Louisiana Purchase?

Closing on a real estate deal is a lot of paperwork and promissory notes. Even if you pay “cash,” no one (except perhaps a mafia boss) will accept a suitcase filled with several hundred thousand dollars in cash.  It’s just too easy to counterfeit.  So, how did James Monroe and Robert Livingston, who concluded a …

Tell your doctor to give you the vaccines you need!

The Tenth Amendment to the US Constitution is clear: “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.”  NOWHERE in the Constitution is there ANY MENTION of powers to regulate the health and wellbeing of the …

Historical Tidbits — Battle of Eutaw

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. September 8, 1780           Battle of Eutaw After receiving reinforcements, Major General Nathanael Greene of the Continental Army resumes offensive action against Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Stewart and the British soldiers …

America’s First PLANNED City

Having witnessed plague in London in 1665 and the famously calamitous fire of 1666, Penn wanted his Philadelphia to be ‘a greene countrie towne, which will never be burnt, and allways be wholsome.’ The way he proposed to achieve this was by planning the city so that it was ordered and regulated.   Orderly space, Penn …

“Uncle Sam” and “G.I.” were Appropriated Terms for Ordinary Things.

Samuel Wilson, a meat packer in Troy, New York, supplied barrels of beef to the United States Army during the War of 1812. To segregate barrels that were shipped to the Army from those he shipped to his other customers, he stamped the barrels with “U.S.” for United States.  Soldiers receiving the shipments began referring …

Its Counterintuitive but High Tax Brackets Actually BUILD Wealth in a True Capitalist Economy

Okay, this is a rant. If that offends you, delete this email or skip this blog article. It is unfortunately, election season and I have some tags left. <<< === Good Hunting! Its Counterintuitive but High Tax Brackets Actually BUILD Wealth in a True Capitalist Economy Modern capitalist theory is traditionally traced to the 18th-century …

Historical Tidbits — The Republic of Vermont

Four of the current United States were independent republics – Texas, California, Hawaii and Vermont.  Vermont declared itself an independent republic in 1777 and remained so until 1791 due to ongoing disputes with neighboring New York, which claimed the land as part of the new state of New York.  The Republic of Vermont adopted its …