This Day in History: A Widow Sacrifices Her Home for the Patriot Cause
On this day in 1781, a female hero makes a little-known sacrifice for the Patriot cause. A widow, Rebecca Motte, gave Brigadier General...
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- May 11
- 3 min
This Day in History: The Second Continental Congress gets down to business
On this day in 1775, delegates from the American colonies convene in a Continental Congress. They’d met the day before to appoint...
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- May 10
- 3 min
This Day in History: The Tea Act of 1773
On this day in 1773, Parliament passes the Tea Act. The decision was the catalyst for a memorable pre-Revolutionary War event: the Boston...
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- May 5
- 2 min
This Day in History: Origins of the National Day of Prayer
On this day in 1988, President Ronald Reagan signs a law designating the first Thursday in May as the National Day of Prayer. Of course,...
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- May 3
- 3 min
This Day in History: Isaiah Thomas, “most wanted” by the British
On this day in 1775, the first newspaper account of the Battles of Lexington and Concord appears. The printer was a Patriot that you’ve...
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- May 1
- 3 min
This Day in History: The Battle of Crooked Billet
On this day in 1778, American militia are handily defeated at the Battle of Crooked Billet. It was the latest in a string of disasters...
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- Apr 27
- 3 min
This Day in History: The British hire Hessians to fight American colonists
On this day in 1776, Lord George Germain informs British General William Howe that Hessian troops are on their way to America. What are...
tara
- Apr 22
- 3 min
This Day in History: Raid on Danbury, Connecticut
On this day in 1777, a British force under Major General William Tryon heads toward Connecticut. Its goal? Raid the military supplies in...
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- Apr 19
- 2 min
This Day in History: The “Shot Heard Round the World” is fired at Lexington Green
On this day in 1775, the “shot heard round the world” occurs at Lexington Green! It had been mere hours since Paul Revere ended his...
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- Apr 18
- 3 min
This Day in History: Paul Revere makes his famous ride
On this day in 1775, Paul Revere makes his famous ride. I am so sorry to tell you that he did not really yell “the British are coming!”...
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- Apr 13
- 3 min
This Day in History: James Rivington, Patriot Spy or Loyalist?
On this day in 1775, a mob hangs James Rivington in effigy. A few weeks later, they attacked his home and office. But were they insulting...
tara
- Apr 10
- 2 min
This Day in History: Andrew Jackson captured
On this day in 1781, future President Andrew Jackson is captured by the British. He was only 14 years old. His older brother Robert was...
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- Apr 5
- 2 min
This Day in History: HMS Bolton captured
On this day in 1776, a fledgling Continental Navy captures HMS Bolton. She was the second British ship to be captured in only two days....
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- Mar 31
- 3 min
This Day in History: Timothy Bigelow, little-known hero
On this day in 1790, a little-known American Patriot passes away. Timothy Bigelow was a founder of Montpelier, Vermont, a Colonel in the...
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- Mar 29
- 2 min
This Day in History: George Taylor, Signer of the Declaration
On or around this day in 1716, a signer of the Declaration of Independence was born. Or maybe his birthday wasn’t in March after all....
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- Mar 23
- 2 min
This Day in History: “Give me liberty or give me death!”
On this day in 1775, Patrick Henry gives a stirring speech. You’ve almost certainly heard of this one! Henry closed the speech with the...
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- Mar 17
- 3 min
This Day in History: George Washington's victory at Boston
On this day in 1776, the British army evacuates Boston. A bedraggled band of colonists had kept the city under siege for nearly a...
tara
- Mar 15
- 3 min
This Day in History: George Washington squashes a military coup
On this day in 1783, George Washington brings the so-called Newburgh Conspiracy to an end. The potential military coup had been festering...
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- Mar 12
- 3 min
This Day in History: Elizabeth Burgin, unsung Revolutionary War heroine
On this day in 1776, a public notice appears in Baltimore, Maryland. It beseeches the help of “our humane ladies” in the American cause....
tara
- Mar 8
- 3 min
This Day in History: Wentworth Cheswell: Grandson of a slave, Elected official—Patriot!
On this day in 1817, an American Patriot passes away. Wentworth Cheswell was the grandson of a slave, and yet he lived life as a free...