THE BILL OF RIGHTS: A BRIEF HISTORY #4

Insurrections often are propagated upon misinformation.   So too are the most recent band of domestic terrorist who like to hide behind our most sacred American institutions.  In this series, I want to explore the Bill of Rights and why some of the hype and hyperbole thrown around by the extremist is not just wrong but …

French and Indian War ends (2/10/1763)

In the early 1750s, French trappers and traders began expanding their ranges into the Ohio River valley and with them came the necessary political and military structures of New France needed to support their safety and trade.  This naturally led to conflict with the British who also claimed this territory.  Eventually, these conflicts resulted in …

Okay, The East India Company is Really Famous for … Tea.

Tea is arguably the world’s most popular beverage. It is enjoyed by millions of people around the globe daily. But this wasn’t always so. In addition to trading in luxurious goods such as exotic spices, fine fabrics and bullion, The East India Company played a pivotal role in introducing tea not only to the British …

HOW THE EAST INDIA COMPANY INTRODUCED COCOA TO EUROPE

The Spanish first discovered cocoa beans during voyages to the New World.  English Privateers (AKA Pirates) – under authorization from Queen Elizabeth I – soon discovered this as well by looting of the Spanish ships. While the Aztecs had prized the cocoa that grew on their lands higher than gold – even using cocoa beans …

East India Company Breakfast Martini

Cocktails are traditionally thought of as an American innovation, but they were actually inspired by British punches—big bowls of spirits mixed with fruit juice, spices, and other flavors, consumed in punch houses in the 18th century. The term cocktail was even first seen in a British newspaper printed March of 1798. But the term wasn’t …

East India Company Hibiscus Fizz

Cocktails are traditionally thought of as an American innovation, but they were actually inspired by British punches—big bowls of spirits mixed with fruit juice, spices, and other flavors, consumed in punch houses in the 18th century. The term cocktail was even first seen in a British newspaper printed March of 1798. But the term wasn’t …

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. February 7, 1795              11th Amendment to the US Constitution was ratified The Eleventh Amendment was adopted to overrule the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Chisholm v. Georgia (1793). …

Can’t afford a painted portrait – Make a Silhouette

In the 1st century, Pliny the Elder told the story of Dibutade, a 5th century Corinthian girl, who traced her lover’s shadow, cast by candlelight, because she wanted to keep the image of her lover with her when he went away on a journey.  A renaissance of this art form occurred in the 18th century …

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. February 6, 1780 — The United States signed a Treaty of Alliance with France in 1778. As a symbol of this alliance, General Washington ordered his troops to wear …