On this day in 1783, the British finally evacuate New York, which had been their headquarters during the American Revolution. Maybe you won’t be surprised to hear that the British took one last stab at insulting Americans before they left? They hoisted the Union Jack up a flagpole and greased the pole. The grease would make it difficult for Americans to switch out the flag for one of their own. A young sailor, John Van Arsdale, was undeterred. He put on some cleats and climbe

On this day in 1787, Federalist Paper No. 11 is published. The Federalist Papers are a collection of essays that were published in New York newspapers in late 1787 and early 1788. They argued FOR the new Constitution, then being considered for ratification by the states. As you can see, creation of a new American republic was no small task. The founding generation took the matter very seriously—so seriously that there was an audience for these numerous papers. Federalist Pape

On this day in 1969, a hero receives the Medal of Honor. Webster Anderson once said that “[p]art of a man’s duty is to continue fighting until he can’t fight any more.”   He’d lived up to those words on October 15, 1967, during the Vietnam War.   Then-Staff Sergeant Anderson was serving with an artillery battery of the 101st Airborne Division in Quang Tin Province when his base was attacked. It was about 3:00 in the morning, and the Vietnamese had attacked with overwhelming n

On this day in 1787, Federalist Paper No. 10 is published. The Federalist Papers are a collection of essays that were published in New York newspapers in late 1787 and early 1788. They argued FOR the new Constitution, then being considered for ratification by the states. This particular paper was written by the Father of the Constitution, James Madison! He is writing under the pseudonym “Publius.” Madison continues a discussion begun in earlier papers: Why is a formal Union b

On this day in 1787, an author writing under the pseudonym “Cato” writes his fifth contribution to the anti-Federalist Papers. These papers argued against the new Constitution, then being considered for ratification by the states. Cato is worried that portions of the Constitution are too vague: Indeed, “inexplicitness seems to pervade this whole political fabric.” He is unimpressed by claims that Americans will always prevent encroachments upon their liberty. “[Y]ou must reco

On this day in 1787, Federalist Paper No. 9 is published. These papers argued FOR the new Constitution, then being considered for ratification by the states. I am impressed that so many of you are persevering through the Federalist Papers with me! Today marks the anniversary of Federalist Paper No. 9. Yes, even though Hamilton just did one yesterday! And will do another tomorrow! Where did these guys find time for this?! Today’s paper again defends the importance of Union. An

On this day in 1780, a force led by Benjamin Tallmadge silently crosses the Long Island Sound. You might know Tallmadge for his association with the Culper Spy Ring, but on this occasion, he was on a different sort of mission: George Washington had authorized him to attack a British fort.   The attack came mere weeks after Benedict Arnold’s treason, and Tallmadge would write that “my former scheme of annoying the enemy on Long Island came fresh upon my mind” in the wake of Ar

On this day in 1787, Federalist Paper No. 8 is published. These papers argued FOR the new Constitution, then being considered for ratification by the states. In this paper, Publius argues that European-style wars can be avoided in America, if we remain united. Consider what was happening in Europe at the time: Nations were close together, and these European nations always shared boundaries with some other country. As a result, standing armies and standing fortifications were

On this day in 2009, a Medal of Honor recipient passes away. Alejandro Ruiz had perhaps been an unlikely hero? Indeed, he might never have been at Okinawa but for a somewhat humorous legal scrape that he got himself into.   A 20-year-old Ruiz had been transporting cows across Texas in 1944 when he made a spur-of-the-moment decision to propose to his girlfriend, Eliza Martinez. He was supposed to take the cows to Carlsbad, but he detoured to Barstow to find Eliza instead. Perh

On this day in 1969, Pete Conrad and Alan Bean become the third and fourth humans to walk on the Moon. But did you know that they almost didn’t make it to the Moon at all?  Apollo 12 nearly ended in disaster because of a lightning strike.   Apollo 12 tends to get lost in the shadows of the more famous Apollos 11 and 13.  The former, of course, put Neil Armstrong on the Moon. The latter struggled to return to Earth after an oxygen tank exploded in space.   Too bad, because the

On this day in 1883, railroad companies create the first time zones. Yes, you heard that right. Private individuals saw a problem and solved it without involving the federal government.   What a wonderfully American “do it yourself” mindset! Such determination and perseverance have always been at the foundations of our country, making our nation great.   Before time zones, Americans generally relied upon the local time in their communities. That local time was based upon the

On this day in 1948, a hero is born in Pennsylvania. William R. Prom would go on to become a Lance Corporal in the Marines and a Medal of Honor recipient. Prom may have been a hero, but he was also just an American boy who dreamed of being a professional baseball player. Or, if that didn’t work out, perhaps he could be a police officer. He put these dreams on hold when he signed up for the Marines late in 1967, just as his best friend was preparing to go to college. Prom soon

On this day in 1787, an author writing under the pseudonym “Brutus” writes his third contribution to the anti-Federalist Papers. These papers argued against the new Constitution, then being considered for ratification by the states. Brutus is very upset about the manner in which congressmen are apportioned among the states. He summarizes the constitutional provision: “Representatives are to be proportioned among the states respectively, according to the number of freemen and

On this day in 1787, Alexander Hamilton churns out yet another Federalist Paper. One had just been published the day before! These papers argued FOR the new Constitution, then being considered for ratification by the states. Let’s stop to think for a second about the decision facing the new nation at this moment in time. They could see that the weak Congress created by the Articles of Confederation was not working. Yet many also feared the creation of a new, stronger national

On this day in 1951, a hero engages in an action that would earn him the Medal of Honor. Pfc. Mack Jordan was just 22 years old when his “unflinching courage” stunned his fellow soldiers. He’d then been serving in Korea for just a few months. The Korean War has been called “the Forgotten War.” Many Americans are used to hearing about World War II and the Vietnam War, but they know very little about the conflict sandwiched in the middle. The heroes of that war thus receive rel

On this day in 1787, Federalist Paper No. 6 is published. Publius is STILL defending the proposition that a formal Union is needed; the then-existing loose coalition of states will not suffice. Five long essays, and he is still going on this point! Publius was nothing if not detailed, huh?! This particular essay argues that a formal Union will help to protect Americans from the problem of domestic insurrections. Two notable points: First, Publius relies heavily on the experie

On this day in 1789, George Washington returns from his first presidential tour. Our first President thought it important to visit every part of the country during his time in office. Surely a visit from the much-loved President would help unify the country under its new government and its new Constitution. Washington left New York City on October 15, 1789, not too long after the first Congress adjourned on September 29. This first trip would weave its way through New Englan

On this day in 1751, Revolutionary War patriot Margaret Cochran Corbin is born. Margaret is one of the patriotic women behind the folk hero “Molly Pitcher.”   “[Molly Pitcher] has held a revered place in the patriotic lore of the American Revolution,” one National Archives article concludes, “right next to Betsy Ross.” Yet no one is sure if one woman inspired the legend or if “Molly Pitcher is merely a persona created from numerous sources.”   Whether she was the true inspira

On this day in 1787, Federalist Paper No. 5 is published. In this paper, “Publius” was John Jay. It’s the last essay that Jay will write for a while. Instead, James Madison and Alexander Hamilton will take over most of the rest of the series. Remember: Eventually, there were 85 papers. They were lengthy articles, by modern standards. (Federalist Paper No. 5, for instance, is about twice the length of an average newspaper editorial today.) Moreover, the essays were well-organi

On this day in 1943, a former Detroit Lion engages in an action that would earn him the Medal of Honor. Yet Maurice “Footsie” Britt earned more than just a Medal. He was also the first American to earn the four highest U.S. Army combat decorations for valor, all during a single war.   Even better, he lived to tell his stories.   Britt had been an athlete in college, of course, but he’d also joined the Army Reserve Officer’s Training Corps during his time at the University of