‘King Hancock: The Radical Influence of a Moderate Founding Father’

Independent scholar Brooke Barbier has a doctorate in American history from Boston College. The author of Boston in the American Revolution: A Town versus an Empire, she founded and operates Ye Olde Tavern Tours, a popular guided outing along Boston's renowned Freedom Trail. In a new biography of John Hancock, she sums up the influence …

How Mad Was King George III?

7 Minutes in History is a Youtube channel. This video is actually 8:42. "George III was King of Great Britain and of Ireland from 25th October 1760 until the union of the two kingdoms in 1801, after which he was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland until his death in 1820. …

Russia’s Legendary ‘Potemkin Villages’ May Have Relevance to War With Ukraine

The powerful czar or monarch Catherine the Great, who ruled Russia from 1762 to 1796, appointed one of her boyfriends, Grigory Potemkin, to rule over Ukraine and Crimea. He reported that the people were happy and flourishing and invited her to visit. In preparation for the visit, he created model, portable settlements along the Dneiper …

Catherine the Great: Enlightened Princess

"Catherine II, most commonly known as Catherine the Great, was the last reigning Empress Regnant of Russia (from 1762 until 1796) and the country’s longest-ruling female leader. She came to power following the overthrow of her husband and second cousin, Peter III." Wikipedia. Interestingly, she reigned at the time America was going through the Revolution and the …

Ben Franklin: A New Interpretation By Ken Burns

PBS has broadcast a two-part, four-hour series by Ken Burns on founding father Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790), which is creating discussion. Most school children learn that he was a "writer, scientist, inventor, statesman, diplomat, printer, publisher and political philosopher," as Wikipedia points out. The documentary is available via streaming. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJtYoq0HH9c Burns calls Franklin "the most interesting of …

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 …

BBC: Industrial Revolution Started in England After 1750

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYln_S2PVYA BBC Documentary: The Industrial Revolution was one of the greatest transformative moments in history, revolutionising the way humans worked, how they ordered their societies and how they thought about their lives all over the world. But was it really a happy coincidence that a handful of geniuses unleashed the fruits of their inventiveness on …

Now Part of Popular ‘Outlander’ TV Series: NC’s Regulator Rebellion, Battle of Alamance

North Carolina was the setting for a significant prelude to the American Revolution, and has now gotten star treatment in the popular time-traveling TV series "Outlander." The Fraser family and their associates become embroiled in the Regulator movement, a rebellion of farmers upset over high British taxes in the Carolina colony. The rebellion, which some …

Through Eyes of a 14-Year-Old Boy: North Carolina in the Revolution

NC Museum of History: "Through the eyes of 14-year-old Hugh McDonald and his friend, Anne Taylor, we learn about North Carolina during the American Revolution. The film is based on McDonald's actual journal that describes his experiences with the Continental Army. 2010 Best Historical Film Award winner, NCMC."

The Original Evil Corporation: When A Private British Company Ruled India

Waterstones: "However powerful Facebook or Google are today, they'd have to have a nuclear strike force to be as powerful as the East India Company was in the early 19th century.' William Dalrymple's fascinating new book, “The Anarchy: The Relentless Rise of the East India Company” was one of the best-reviewed histories of 2019. UK Guardian: "How …