Early US

Shays’ Rebellion


What Caused Shays’ Rebellion? The farmers who fought in the Revolutionary War had received little compensation, and by the 1780s many were struggling to make ends meet. Businesses in Boston and elsewhere demanded immediate payment for goods that farmers had previously bought on credit and often paid off through barter. There was no paper money […]

Gnadenhütten Massacre

Gnadenhutten Massacre: Background In 1772, Gnadenhutten, Ohio, was settled by Moravian missionaries who went on to convert local Indians, many of them Delaware and Mohican, to Christianity. When the Revolutionary War (1775‑83) broke out, the Indians and missionaries, who were pacifists, were accused by the British of aiding the Patriot cause by working as guides […]

Federalist Papers

Articles of Confederation As the first written constitution of the newly independent United States, the Articles of Confederation nominally granted Congress the power to conduct foreign policy, maintain armed forces and coin money. But in practice, this centralized government body had little authority over the individual states, including no power to levy taxes or regulate […]

Puritanism

How did the differences between Pilgrims and Puritans help shape the states of New England?

This Day in History Video: What Happened on July 11

This Day in History Video: What Happened on September 18

When Whiskey Was the Backbone of the US Economy

Whiskey—a liquor whose origins in medieval Scotland or Ireland remain murky—once was an uncommon, exotic liquor in the 13 colonies, where rum, gin and brandy were the strong drinks of choice. But during and immediately after the Revolutionary War, that all changed. Whiskey became a popular—and profitable—drink, and more than that, a crucial commodity in […]

New Study Debunks Tales of Mass Suicide at Custer’s Last Stand

It’s among the most famous and controversial battles ever fought on American soil. At Custer’s Last Stand, in June 1876, the U.S. Army was outnumbered and overwhelmed by Native American warriors, along the banks of the Little Bighorn River. By the end of the battle, some 268 federal troops were dead. But how many were […]

When Native Americans Were Slaughtered in the Name of ‘Civilization’

On a cool May day in 1758, a 10‑year girl with red hair and freckles was caring for her neighbor’s children in rural western Pennsylvania. In a few moments, Mary Campbell’s life changed forever when Delaware Indians kidnapped her and absorbed her into their community for the next six years. She was among the first […]