America Compared to History’s Great Empires

Introduction In this interview: “Americans invariably described their new polity, not just as a republic, but also as an empire… They used the word empire over and over and over again. Watch this segment in the video below (00:10:01) America was founded as a republic. So why did early Americans repeatedly describe it as an […]

Did American Colonists think about China?

Boston Tea Party: Why China Mattered to the American Revolution – Part I China wasn’t part of the American Revolution… or was it? In the 1760s and 1770s, American colonists weren’t just thinking about liberty—they were thinking about status, taste, and refinement. Tea, porcelain, and lacquerware weren’t trivial imports. They were tied to British culture […]

Boston Tea Party: Why China Mattered to the American Revolution

Introduction In this interview: “I should also say that part of what’s going on in the colonies, and part of what, you know, intersects with the revolution is that colonists are inveterate smugglers…” Watch this section in the video below (00:11:37). Most Americans don’t immediately link China to the Revolution—but trade with East Asia was […]

Christmas in the Revolutionary Era: Traditions, War, Nation-Building – Part III

Christmas Beyond Washington’s Crossing This post isn’t just about dramatic Christmas moments from the American Revolution, like Washington crossing the Delaware River, nor is it a light look at decorations, caroling, or festive foods. Instead, it explores the evolution of how we Americans have observed and celebrated Christmas, which, in many ways, is revealing of […]

Christmas in the Revolutionary Era: Traditions, War, Nation-Building – Part II

Christmas Beyond Washington’s Crossing This post isn’t just about dramatic Christmas moments from the American Revolution, like Washington crossing the Delaware River, nor is it a light look at decorations, caroling, or festive foods. Instead, it explores the evolution of how we Americans have observed and celebrated Christmas, which, in many ways, is revealing of […]

Christmas in the Revolutionary Era: Traditions, War, Nation-Building – Part 1

Christmas Beyond Washington’s Crossing This post isn’t just about dramatic Christmas moments from the American Revolution, like Washington crossing the Delaware River, nor is it a light look at decorations, caroling, or festive foods. Instead, it explores the evolution of how we Americans have observed and celebrated Christmas, which, in many ways, is revealing of […]