The North Was Built on Slavery: New England’s Hidden History

"In the year 1755, a black slave named Mark Codman plotted to kill his abusive master. A God-fearing man, Codman had resolved to use poison, reasoning that if he could kill without shedding blood, it would be no sin. Arsenic in hand, he and two female slaves poisoned the tea and porridge of John Codman …

“Après Moi, Le Déluge”

This famous quote from French King Louis XV in 1757 could be repeated today by anyone who feels narcissistically and nihilistically that only he or she matters, only the here and now matter and there's no need to be concerned about the fate of our children, future generations or really anyone other than ourselves. Or …

Highland Clearances of Scotland in the 1750s Sparked Migration to North America

The Youtube Channel of Pilgrim Kat offers Scottish history and lifestyle content. In a 5-minute post, she examines the Highland Clearances, from the 1750s to the 1760s, which left many abandoned villages. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4iXM67OIlQ She writes: "The Highlands of Scotland – known for their immense beauty, legends of old, and one of the last wild, sparsely …

How Did India Fall To the Europeans?

Odd Compass, which produces animated history videos about under-appreciated events and people in Asian history, posted this 15-minute video: "European colonial history in Asia -- from the British in India to the Dutch in Indonesia -- is often misunderstood. We're (incorrectly) taught that the East India Companies dominated Asia early, giving rise to more direct …

How Did Portugal Happen?

Portugal may be one of Europe's most under-rated countries. It has a rich history and culture from its founding during the Christian Reconquest of the Iberian peninsula in the late 1400s. About the size of Indiana, it was once one of the world's most significant maritime powers. During the Age of Discovery (1400s through 1700s), …

French and Indian War of the 1750s Is Far More Significant Than Is Usually Taught

The French and Indian War, or Seven Years War, is generally taught as a prelude to the American Revolution, or in world history as one of a series of wars among empire-seeking European powers that advanced the British Empire. But it was far more than that. Some historians characterize it as the first world or global …

Phillis Wheatley, the First African American Author, Is Focus of Crash Course Lecture

Phillis Wheatley Peters (1753-1784), "also spelled Phyllis and Wheatly was the first African-American author of a published book of poetry. Born in West Africa, she was sold into slavery at the age of seven or eight and transported to North America. She was enslaved by the Wheatley family of Boston." Wikipedia https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3l9Pmza7Gs&t=1s Sources: Crash Course Black …

New Assessments of George Washington Reject the Plaster Saint

Probably what has deterred me from more curiosity about George Washington is that he has so often been portrayed as a plaster saint rather than a real live human with feet of clay. One cannot really appreciate his greatness without first recognizing his perceived faults. His flaws bring him down to earth, to real life. …

Backstory Behind Founding of the Carolina Colony in 1663, Up Until 1776

The date of the founding of North Carolina by the English is in some dispute. Some argue the birthday is July 13, 1584, when Croatan Indians first encountered English ships commissioned by Sir Walter Raleigh on Roanoke Island. Raleigh himself did not make a voyage to Carolina, despite providing the namesake for the eventual colony's …

Europe Between 1500-1750: Commerce, Agriculture, and Slavery

John Green in Crash Course European History has talked "a lot about kings, and queens, and wars, and religious upheaval for most of this series, but let's take a moment to zoom out, and look at the ways that individuals' lives were changing in the time span we've covered so far. Some people's lives were …