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 15, 1776 General Lee captured General Charles Lee left his army and rode to Widow White’s Tavern in Basking Ridge, New Jersey, with a minimal guard. The following …
Author Archives: Michael Carver
Antifederalist No. 45 — Powers of National Government Dangerous to State Governments; New York as an Example
Robert Yates, a delegate to the 1787 convention from New York, left on July 10, 1787. He became an Antifederalist leader. Under the nome de plume “Sydney” he wrote in the New York Daily Patriotic Register, June 13 and 14, 1788. Although a variety of objections to the proposed new constitution for the government of …
FEDERALIST No. 75: The Treaty-Making Power of the Executive
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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Bill of Rights Day — December 15, 1791
On December 15, 1791, the new United States of America ratified the Bill of Rights, the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution, confirming the fundamental rights of its citizens. The Bill of Rights draws influence and inspiration from the Magna Carta (1215), the English Bill of Rights (1689), and various later efforts in England …
Antifederalist No. 74 — The President as Military King
“Philadelphiensis,” who was influenced by Thomas Paine (in Common Sense), wrote the following selection. It is taken from 3 essays which appearing February 6 & 20, and April 9 of 1788 in either The Freeman’s Journal or, The North-American Intelligencer. Before martial law is declared to be the supreme law of the land, and your …
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Antifederalist No. 44 — What Congress Can Do; What a State Can Not
“Deliberator” appeared in The Freeman’s Journal; or, The North-American Intelligencer, February 20, 1788. A writer in the Pennsylvania Packet, under the signature of A Freeman, has lately entered the lists as another champion for the proposed constitution. Particularly he has endeavored to show that our apprehensions of this plan of government being a consolidation of …
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FEDERALIST No. 74: The Command of the Military and Naval Forces, and the Pardoning Power of the Executive.
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. 73 — Does the Presidential Veto Power Infringe on the Separation of Departments?
“William Penn,” an anonymous writer appeared in the [Philadelphia] Independent Gazetteer on January 3, 1788. . . . I believe that it is universally agreed upon in this enlightened country, that all power residing originally in the people, and being derived from them, they ought to be governed by themselves only, or by their immediate …
FEDERALIST No. 73: The Provision For The Support of the Executive, and the Veto Power
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 …
On December 13, 1636 our First “Citizen Soldier” were Mustered.
While several of our military branches can be justifiably proud of over 246 years of service to our nation, one component of the military goes back much further! The National Guard is the direct descendent of America’s first militias. The oldest regiments drilled for the first time on the village green in Salem, Massachusetts, on …
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Michael Carver -- Historical Interpreter/Reenactor 