During the Civil War, when photography was a new medium, a minister and amateur historian raced to capture images of the last surviving veterans of the American Revolution.
Category Archives: Building a Democracy
Phillis Wheatley Biography
This biography outlines the life of Phillis Wheatley, who became a published poet despite being enslaved.
Patrick Henry Smells a Rat
As an anti-Federalist, Patrick Henry opposed the ratification of the Constitution. Read about his opposition to Thomas Jefferson and James Madison.
On this day, the Boston Massacre lights the fuse of revolution
This aticle explains what led to the Boston Massacre in March 1770 and what its effects were.
Revolutionary War army comes to life in newly discovered painting
Learn how an uncovered painting provided historians with new details of George Washington’s army.
Why the Colonies Most Galvanizing Leader Never Became a Founding Father
Learn how James Otis, Jr., inpsired early revolutionary thinking with fiery speeches against British rule.
10 Things You May Not Know About the French and Indian War
HISTORY has put together this list of interesting information about the French and Indian War.
John Dickinson during the Continental and Confederation periods
Read about this lesser-known contemporary of the founding fathers.
American history unfolds in ‘Assassin’s Creed 3’
Game-makers researched the events and settings of the 1700s to immerse players in the history of the American Revolution, the setting of Assassin’s Creed 3.
A New Museum of the American Revolution, Warts and All
Culture reporter Jennifer Schuessler reviews the Museum of the American Revolution, which opened in Philadelphia in April.
The Letter That Won the American Revolution
George Washington led an effort to create a network of spies to help win the American Revolution.
Philip Freneau
Philip Freneau is known as the poet of the American Revolution, having written poems and other works about that time in American history. Learn more about this prolific writer in this biography.
Thank Your Taxes
Law professor Adam Chodorow argues that a series of tax disputes is what eventually led to the formation of the United States.
Abigail Smith Adams
In this biography of Abigail Adams, you’ll learn how she helped shape the role of First Lady of the United States.
George Washington’s letter to Jewish community becomes musical call to action
An historic letter written by George Washington is the inspiration for a cantata recently performed at a Jewish congregation in Philadelphia. Read why the creators of the musical piece found the document to still be relevant and important.
Religion and the Founding of the American Republic
View these illustrations, photos, and objects collected by the Library of Congress to learn how the religious growth of the Great Awakening took shape in the 18th century.
How the Louisiana Purchase Changed the World
This article explains the ins and outs of the purchase of the Louisiana Territory and why it was significant to the future of the United States.
Federalist Papers
Three founding fathers wrote this series of articles to persuade at least nine of the thirteen states to ratify the Constitution.
Compromise 1: Philadelphia Story
Joseph Ellis, a Pulitzer Prize–winning historian, explores the issues of regional power and slavery that overshadowed the Constitutional Convention in 1789. Through hard bargaining, delegates such as Benjamin Franklin and James Madison drafted a Constitution that has endured for centuries. However, their compromises planted the seeds of the Civil War.
Does Philly, and not Boston, deserve credit as the Tea Party birthplace?
Read how citizens of Philadelphia also protested the British tax on tea.