Benjamin Franklin Mini-Series Starring Michael Douglas Debuts on Apple TV

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EA2Q4HfkNpk "Franklin," an eight-episode mini-series starring Michael Douglas, streams in April 2024 on Apple TV. In December 1776, Benjamin Franklin is world-famous for his electrical experiments, but his passion and power are put to the test when he embarks on a secret mission to France, with the fate of American independence hanging in the balance. …

US Begins 250th Anniversary Celebrations With Gusto

Boston Tea Party Reenacted on December 16, 2023. "Heading toward the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 2026, the United States has begun major observances and re-enactments of events leading up to that fateful day. These celebrations are not only a time to recall history but to reflect on how far …

1620: What Was It Really Like Aboard The Mayflower? A Journey Into Unknown

The American Story, US History Documentaries: "For many Americans, the journey of the Mayflower in 1620 symbolizes the birth of their nation. Led by William Bradford, the Pilgrim Fathers traversed the Atlantic to Plymouth, Massachusetts, in search of religious freedom. To this day, the Pilgrim Fathers are a glorified symbol of American virtue and Thanksgiving. …

‘Democracy Awakening’: Heather Cox Richardson’s New Book

On a road trip, I listened to "Democracy Awakening: Notes on the State of America" by Heather Cox Richardson. Splendid. Though I've taught American history and paid close attention to the news over the last seven decades, I still learned things from it. Richardson makes sense of this current moment and what's at stake in …

‘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 …

George Washington Was A Reluctant President. He Did Not Want To Seek Re-Election in 1792

The Premodernist YouTube Channel points out that "George Washington did not want to be reelected in 1792, but he was anyway." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CSkUqMddgo&t=1940s 0:00 Washington's decision to retire after one term 4:18 Hamilton's proposals: Funding 7:01 Hamilton's proposals: Assumption 7:57 Centralization vs. state autonomy 9:53 Hamilton's proposals: A national bank 11:21 The underlying cultural divide 14:10 …

The Constitution Was Signed on Sept. 17, 1787

"The Constitution was written during the Philadelphia Convention, which is now known as the Constitutional Convention. The Constitutional Convention convened from May 25 to September 17, 1787. "The Constitution of the United States was signed on September 17, 1787. THIS is an important day in our history. "Charles Pinckney was a principal author and signer …

New NYTimes Weekly History Quiz: Flashback

Flashback, a new New York Times weekly history quiz, in its first iteration, was extraordinarily easy for me, to place eight events over the last 2100 years in chronological order. See how you do. A relative who is not a history buff like me got 7 out of 8 correct. What's cool about the quiz …

Is US Democracy Broken? Majority Rule in Danger

Noting the differences between a democracy and a republic, I explain in my Substack column that the shift toward democracy in the U.S. since 1920 is now endangered, and we may be moving toward autocracy. Instead of expanding voting and other rights, we may be in a period of retrenchment. This is part of a …

Democracy Vs. Republic: What’s the Difference?

Illustrate to Educate: "In this video we take a brief look at the difference between the two forms of government - democracy and a republic. We first do an overview of the two terms, and look at their general definitions. Then we look at the history behind the first democracy in Athens Greece and the …