Supreme Interpreter of the Constitution It was the political trial of the young century. In the Richmond, Virginia, federal circuit court room in 1807, Aaron Burr, President Thomas Jefferson’s former vice president, and killer, in a duel, of former Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton, was on trial for treason. Jefferson alleged Burr had conspired to detach … Continue reading
By the year 2011, the U.S. government carried a total national debt of $14 trillion, and also faced $46 trillion in future obligations of unfunded-liabilities for federal “entitlement” programs such as Medicare and Social Security. As it all began when our nation was founded in 1776, the federal government had a fair amount of public … Continue reading
Expedition for the Ages It was a rough slog for the 33 elite frontier soldiers, trekking across 2,572 miles of Missouri River wilderness. Sometimes the men had to haul their 55-foot keelboat and two pirogues, or riverboats, loaded with gear, across shallow water covering sand bars or out into the strong river currents. Thick clouds … Continue reading
North America’s Greatest Ever Real Estate Deal The two most powerful men on earth during this time in history, French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte, and the President of a small newly formed, fledgling power, Thomas Jefferson, were imbedded in a quandary over related pieces of real estate. The greatest land deal in history resulted. To Read … Continue reading
The two Founding Fathers–and bitter enemies–were cordial, but cool, at their elegant dinner in the nation’s temporary capital of New York City on June 20, 1790. To Read the Full Article, Download File: Alexander Hamilton And Thomas Jefferson … Continue reading
A Federal Blueprint Some major figures of the American Revolution, like George Mason, opposed it. From his diplomatic perch in France, Thomas Jefferson had grave doubts about the thing. So did Benjamin Franklin, in his seat at the 1787 Philadelphia convention drafting this constitution, or set of rules, for governing the 13 separate and newly … Continue reading
The World Turned Upside Down The bloody six-year war for independence had its ups and downs for the United States, but lately mostly downs. In the summer of 1781, the main American army, under the command of General George Washington, was encamped outside New York City, unable to dislodge the British army under Gen. Henry … Continue reading
Plymouth Rock is the traditional site of disembarkation of William Bradford and the “Mayflower” Pilgrims who founded Plymouth Colony in December 1620. It is a very important symbol in American history. There are no contemporaneous references to the Pilgrim’s actually landing on a rock at Plymouth, and it is not referred to in Edward Winslow’s … Continue reading
The Virginia Giant At the very heart of the fundamental right to life is a belief that every life is a gift and will make a contribution to society if given the chance. The old adage is as true today as it was at the beginning of our nation’s founding: God doesn’t make any mistakes. … Continue reading
South To America Church was the last place where these people expected to be run out of their own country. On a Sunday in August 1755, while many of them were attending church services, the expulsion order was read aloud to 12,000 French-speaking Canadians. To future Americans, they would become known for their spicy seafood … Continue reading
