John Jacob “Rifle Jack” Peterson was a Revolutionary war era patriot of African and Kitchewan descent whose quick thinking helped repel British forces in Croton, New York. His actions threw Benedict Arnold’s treasonous plans into disarray and led to the capture of Major Andre. In September 1780, Peterson and a fellow private class soldier named Moses…
The Courage and Sacrifice of Female Patriots The American Revolutionary War, also known as the War of Independence, was not solely a tale of male valor and leadership. Women, though often overlooked in historical narratives, played crucial roles in shaping the destiny of the fledgling nation. These female patriots exhibited immense courage, resilience and ingenuity,…
In 1809, a clever lad wrote to his grandfather wishing him a “Merry Christmas”. Thomas Jefferson was pleased to receive the letter and most taken with the new phrase popular in the new country, “Merry Christmas”. Christmas observances in colonial and revolutionary America (1630s-1830s) were very different from our current practices. How one observed Christmas…
Although modern Thanksgiving is a national holiday which takes place on the fourth Thursday of November, the first Thanksgiving most likely happened between September and November 1621. The celebration took place over three days and included many recreational activities. Very little is actually known about the first Thanksgiving as there were only two firsthand accounts…
The Sons of Liberty were loosely organized revolutionary bands in the 13 Colonies. They were first formed in the 1760s. In 1765 the British began taxation of colonists in order to pay the costs for maintaining 10,000 British officers and soldiers living in the colonies. The motto for the Sons of Liberty became: “No taxation…
