Former political science professor and writer Tom Lindsay argues that the Declaration of Independence’s claim that “all men are created equal” wasn’t meant to reflect society at the time, but what it could be.
Category Archives: Building a Democracy
Poems of the American Revolution
Throughout history, poets have attempted to interpret the nation’s founding.
Why President? How The U.S. Named Its Leader
This radio piece covers the disagreement the Senate and House of Representatives had in 1789 about how to refer to the United States’ newly-elected leader.
Gibson: Madison was no party animal
In this opinion piece, Bob Gibson, the executive director of the Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership at the University of Virginia, argues that James Madison serves as a unifying figure in a divisive political climate.
The Epidemic That Revolutionized Medicine And American Politics
In 1721, an outbreak of smallpox in Boston led to the introduction of inoculation, which created political division.
Patrick Henry Biography
Read this biography of Virginia lawyer, politician, and statesman Patrick Henry, an influential leader in the forming of the United States.
Patriotism on Broadway
The timelessness and universality of Alexander Hamilton’s story is explored in this review of the popular hip-hop musical Hamilton.
Top 10 Ben Franklin Inventions
A statesman, writer, and publisher, Benjamin Franklin also invented many practical products.
The day the Constitution was adopted
Read about the battle to ratify the Constitution in at least nine states, the number required to officially adopt it.
The Stamp Act Riots, 250 Years Ago
Read this overview of the Stamp Act, which was passed by England’s Parliament in 1765 and led American colonists to rebel.
Phillis Wheatley
American Colonial poet Phillis Wheatley was brought from Africa to the United States as a child. Though a slave, she was taught to read and write and became a renowned poet for a time.
Just A Few Important Words About The Declaration Of Independence
Stephen Lucas, a professor of humanities, analyzes the language of the Declaration of Independence.
The Food that Fueled the American Revolution
Today we celebrate Independence Day with backyard barbecues of hot dogs and hamburgers, but the soldiers who fought for our freedom in the American Revolution got by on very little.
The Sharpened Quill
An outcast among the other Founding Fathers, Thomas Paine lived a fascinating life and sought to reach a wide audience through his writing.
Louisiana Purchase
In 1803, President Thomas Jefferson arranged to buy the Port of New Orleans and over 800,000 million square miles of land from France, which doubled the size of the country.
Alexander Hamilton: The nation’s founding blogger
Before the signing of the Constitution, Federalists and anti-Federalists each wrote a series of essays debating its key points. As the primary author of the Federalist Papers, Alexander Hamilton’s opinions are still regarded today.
What’s Wrong With This Picture?
John Trumbull’s famous painting of the signing of the Declaration of Independence portrays a scene that did not happen. Read the article to learn about the inaccuracies, and click the online extra to explore the painting by hovering over faces to see who is depicted.
Dunmore’s Proclamation: A Time to Choose
We tend to talk about the American Revolution in terms of two sides: the colonists and the British. But for enslaved people living in the colonies, the issue was far more complicated, especially after the Dunmore Proclamation was issued in 1775. Read this summary of the proclamation, the issues it raised, and its consequences.