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  • Dutch Subversion, British Aggression, and the First US Ambassador

    Dutch Subversion, British Aggression, and the First US Ambassador
    2025/04/14
    The Dutch began their colony 400 years ago, but it would not last long. While other imperial powers accumulated colonies, the Dutch found power through a different method, and it was one that would greatly assist the new country of America. The incidental arrival of one statesman ensured the United States received what it needed, while also establishing a first for the nation.Recommended reading: Papers of John Adams: Volume 13 - May to October 1782Cited sources:Date of recognition - https://history.state.gov/countries/netherlands#:~:text=Dutch%20Recognition%20of%20U.S.%20Independence,Adams%20on%20April%2019%2C%201782.Brief on Adams - https://nl.usembassy.gov/embassy-consulate/the-hague/history/Adams and Dutch - https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/john-adams-was-united-states-first-ambassador-well-its-second-president-180962891/Dutch colony - https://www.nps.gov/mava/learn/historyculture/new-netherland.htm#:~:text=The%20first%2031%20families%20arrived,Amsterdam%E2%80%9D%20began%20to%20be%20formed.Adams revisits Netherlands 1786 - https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Adams/06-18-02-0228 The Adams in Dutch Republic - https://www.nationaalarchief.nl/en/dutch-american-stories-johnny-goes-dutchAdams Hague info - https://www.masshist.org/publications/adams-papers/index.php/view/ADMS-01-03-01-0005Early Dutch - https://academic.oup.com/book/11024/chapter-abstract/159364830?redirectedFrom=fulltextAmsterdam finance capital - https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/financial-history-review/article/abs/amsterdam-and-london-as-financial-centers-in-the-eighteenth-century1/8B23F8D271B1BCD05594064523600E85Dutch in the Am Revolution - https://blog.dar.org/dutch-influence#:~:text=On%20May%2017%2C%20Adams%20secured,million%20guilders%2C%20or%20%2412%20million.Dutch in the Am Rev - https://www.amrevmuseum.org/the-netherlands-and-the-american-revolution80 Years War - https://historischmuseumdenbriel.nl/en/collection/stories/eighty-years-war/Dutch Republic map - https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/abs/dutch-navy-of-the-seventeenth-and-eighteenth-centuries/map-of-the-dutch-republic/623E8313B8AC2DF0C9D67841F2775B7FNew Amsterdam surrender - https://www.mcny.org/petrus-stuyvesantRichard Nicoll - https://history.nycourts.gov/figure/richard-nicoll/Adams diplomacy - https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/adams-diplomatic-missions/Treaty of Alliance - https://www.archives.gov/milestone-documents/treaty-of-alliance-with-france#:~:text=According%20to%20this%20first%20military,behalf%20of%20the%20American%20Colonies.Adams influence - https://www.mass.gov/guides/john-adams-architect-of-american-governmentCharles Gravier - https://www.battlefields.org/learn/biographies/charles-gravierAdams appointed Dutch minister - https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Adams/06-10-02-0258Proposed Treaty of Amity and Commerce - https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Adams/06-10-02-0260
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    11 分
  • A Physicist, Telephotography, and the Advent of Television

    A Physicist, Telephotography, and the Advent of Television
    2025/04/07
    As Alexander Graham Bell’s company continues to grow, its research and development division continues to draw scientists from around the country to innovate and invent. One young optical physicist has an idea that will transform the way the world communicates. A high-profile American is selected to demonstrate history altering technology.Recommended reading: The Columbia History of American Television by Gary R. EdgertonCited sources:Phone patent - https://guides.loc.gov/chronicling-america-telephone-invention Phone patent - https://www.marquette.edu/news-center/2020/marquette-professor-settles-144-year-controversy-on-invention-of-the-telephone.phpPhone patent image - https://www.docsteach.org/activities/teacher/patent-analysis-alexander-graham-bells-telephone Patent SCOTUS - https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/128/315/Centennial Exhibition - https://collaborativehistory.gse.upenn.edu/stories/history-making-event-west-philadelphiaHerbert Ives - https://www.bairdtelevision.com/Ives.htmlHerbert Ives - http://waywiser.rc.fas.harvard.edu/people/9098/herbert-eugene-ives;jsessionid=77D7B248F7CA3DB32C275AA48BCF3219Ives bio - https://www.optica.org/history/biographies/bios/herbert-e--ives/ Bell Labs - https://www.nature.com/articles/s42254-022-00426-6Bell Labs - http://www.stat.columbia.edu/~gelman/research/published/bell.pdf TV History - https://www.cs.cornell.edu/~pjs54/Teaching/AutomaticLifestyle-S02/Projects/Vlku/history.htmlTV demo - https://www.poynter.org/reporting-editing/2015/today-in-media-history-in-1927-newspapers-introduced-television/TV demo - https://www.nytimes.com/1964/10/22/hoover-made-speech-on-television-in-1927.htmlTV demo - https://www.edn.com/hoover-joins-1st-american-demo-of-long-distance-tv-april-7-1927/TV demo - https://www.historyofinformation.com/detail.php?entryid=3986 Hoover as comm sec - https://library.doc.gov/digital-exhibits/hoover-digital-exhibit/aviationAir Commerce Act - https://www.faa.gov/sites/faa.gov/files/about/history/people/First_AGC1.pdfATT History - https://www.pbs.org/transistor/background1/corgs/att.htmlHalftone - https://gallery.lib.umn.edu/exhibits/show/pre-separated-art/press-halftoneIves Airplane Photography book - https://www.gutenberg.org/files/53508/53508-h/53508-h.htmWestern Electric history - https://www.westernelectric.com/company-historyTelephotography example - https://www.amazon.com/HistoricalFindings-Photo-Herbert-telephotograph-Explain/dp/B0844RWFZ3
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    10 分
  • How a US Naval Officer Opened the Closed Nation of Japan

    How a US Naval Officer Opened the Closed Nation of Japan
    2025/03/31
    Immediately after the Revolution, America makes its first trade agreement in Asia with China. Attempting to do the same with the closed country of Japan looks to be impossible. A timely opportunity and the right naval officer enables America to do what no other western power could.Recommended reading: Narrative of the Expedition to the China Seas and Japan by Commodore Matthew PerryCited sources:Opening Japan - https://history.state.gov/milestones/1830-1860/opening-to-japan#:~:text=The%20Japanese%20grudgingly%20agreed%20to,American%20ships%3A%20Shimoda%20and%20Hakodate.Opening Japan - https://www.jstor.org/stable/30209385Sakoku - http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/ps/japan/tokugawa_edicts_foreigners.pdfSakoku - https://users.wfu.edu/watts/w03_Japancl.html Christianity in Japan - https://www.historytoday.com/archive/feature/christianitys-bloody-history-japan Christianity in Japan - https://www.nippon.com/en/japan-data/h00597/a-timeline-of-christianity-in-japan.html Trade with China - https://china.usembassy-china.org.cn/history-of-the-u-s-and-china/Perry bio - https://www.history.navy.mil/research/library/research-guides/z-files/zb-files/zb-files-p/perry-matthew-c.htmlPerry bio - https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/museums/nmusn/education/educational-resources/to-the-ends-of-the-earth/commodore-perry-and-japan/biography--matthew-calbraith-perry.htmlPerry bio - https://library.brown.edu/cds/perry/people_Perry.htmlHideyoshi - https://www.worldhistory.org/Toyotomi_Hideyoshi/Warring States - https://www.worldhistory.org/Sengoku_Period/David Conner - https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/nhhc/our-collections/photography/us-people/c/conner-david.htmlMail ships - https://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/1939/september/navy-and-first-u-s-ocean-mail-shipsJohn Aulick - https://encyclopediavirginia.org/entries/aulick-john-h-ca-1791-1873/Webster quote and other islands - https://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/1952/march/commodore-perry-and-bonin-islandsTreaty of Kanagawa - https://www.archives.gov/exhibits/featured-documents/treaty-of-kanagawa#:~:text=On%20March%2031%2C%201854%2C%20the,forbidding%20commerce%20with%20foreign%20nations
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    14 分
  • How Political Infighting Produced the Bill of Rights and a Controversial Map

    How Political Infighting Produced the Bill of Rights and a Controversial Map
    2025/03/24
    Differing political philosophies instigated the American Revolution, but after defeating the British, new, yet familiar philosophies butted heads. As Federalists and Antifederalists faced off in literary and verbal spars, a most important Founding Father switched sides. The ongoing political conflicts would soon result in one of the most controversial and enduring political maneuvers in American history.Recommended reading: Gerrymandering in America: The House of Representatives, the Supreme Court, and the Future of Popular Sovereignty by Cambridge University Press. Cartoon - ⁠https://www.si.edu/object/cartoon-gerry-mander-1813%3Anmah_509530⁠Brief history - ⁠https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/gerrymandering-explained?ceid=%7B%7BContactsEmailID%7D%7D&emci=946d3453-90d5-ed11-8e8b-00224832eb73&emdi=ea000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000001&utm_medium=PANTHEON_STRIPPED⁠Elbridge Gerry - ⁠https://prologue.blogs.archives.gov/2018/06/21/the-gerry-in-gerrymandering/⁠Gerry bio - ⁠https://www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/2006/spring/gerry.html⁠ Short Gerry bio - ⁠https://www.nga.org/governor/elbridge-gerry/⁠ First gerrymander - ⁠https://www.jstor.org/stable/23546676?read-now=1&seq=5#page_scan_tab_contents⁠Redistricting reform act - ⁠https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/2670⁠Madison timeline - ⁠https://www.loc.gov/collections/james-madison-papers/articles-and-essays/james-madison-timeline-1751-to-1836/1784-to-1807/⁠Washington gallows quote - ⁠https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/abs/political-writings-of-george-washington/to-joseph-reed-president-of-the-supreme-executive-council-of-pennsylvania-december-12-1778-excerpt/07E587064BF8A503DB32AD985D1F8BAA⁠Brutus - ⁠https://constitutioncenter.org/the-constitution/historic-document-library/detail/brutus-essay-no-1#:~:text=%E2%80%9CBrutus%E2%80%9D%20was%20the%20pseudonym%20for,a%20New%20York%20state%20judge⁠. Antifederalist essays - ⁠https://history.nycourts.gov/about_period/antifederalist-papers/⁠ 89-79 vote on pg 5 (785) - ⁠https://www.jstor.org/stable/23546676?read-now=1&seq=5⁠New York Convention - ⁠https://archive.csac.history.wisc.edu/ny_ratifies_the_constitution.pdf⁠Bill of Rights - ⁠https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/bill-of-rights/how-did-it-happen#:~:text=Introducing%20the%20Bill%20of%20Rights%20in%20the%20First%20Congress&text=But%20James%20Madison%2C%20once%20the,relentlessly%E2%80%9D%20to%20secure%20its%20passage⁠. Signers of Const - ⁠https://www.whitehouse.gov/about-the-white-house/our-government/the-constitution/#:~:text=On%20September%2017%2C%201787%2C%2039,slavery%20and%20the%20slave%20trade⁠.Unanimous rejection - ⁠https://www.loc.gov/exhibits/creating-the-united-states/demand-for-a-bill-of-rights.html#:~:text=In%20the%20final%20days%20of%20the%20Constitutional%20Convention%2C%20as%20delegates,little%20debate%2C%20the%20proposal%20was⁠ Mass 187-167 - ⁠https://www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/2006/spring/gerry.html⁠Madison first election - ⁠https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Madison/01-11-02-0219⁠ Madison to antifederalist voter - ⁠https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Madison/01-11-02-0297⁠Federalist resurgence - ⁠https://www.jstor.org/stable/24768844?read-now=1&seq=2#page_scan_tab_contents⁠Gerrymander - ⁠https://blogs.loc.gov/law/2017/02/elbridge-gerry-and-the-monstrous-gerrymander/⁠Patrick Henry short - ⁠https://www.lva.virginia.gov/exhibits/political/patrick_henry.htm⁠Virginia ratifying convention - ⁠https://edu.lva.virginia.gov/oc/stc/entries/virginia-ratifying-convention-journal-june-25-1788#:~:text=This%20broadside%20published%20Virginia's%20decision,of%20America%20to%20do%20so⁠.Madison as Secretary - ⁠https://history.state.gov/departmenthistory/people/madison-james⁠
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    14 分
  • A Legendary Constable Solves a Perfectly Executed Bank Heist

    A Legendary Constable Solves a Perfectly Executed Bank Heist
    2025/03/17

    On a Monday morning in 1831, it is discovered that approximately $245,000 is missing from the City Bank of New York. In a city without a police force, a Manhattan constable takes on a brilliantly executed bank heist conducted by professional thieves who escaped from Australia’s penal colony.

    Recommended reading: The Irresistible Invitation of High Constable Jacob Hays by Patrick Bringley


    Most info - https://books.google.com/books?id=M_0-AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA85&lpg=PA85&dq=1831+city+bank+of+new+york+robbery&source=bl&ots=SZj-BeYLq9&sig=ACfU3U0Q1UKvPZOmCGWRfi694hV3UGR0_g&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjm3dT57eyEAxWbOkQIHU_-D2Q4FBDoAXoECAMQAw#v=onepage&q=1831%20city%20bank%20of%20new%20york%20robbery&f=false

    Good info - https://books.google.com/books?id=Ta9LDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT29&lpg=PT29&dq=1831+city+bank+of+new+york+robbery&source=bl&ots=Im5GjHMCl7&sig=ACfU3U123EMNQLWzlzMCJCyNBrmpYjlL7w&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjRxvWv5-yEAxW7IEQIHchLDIA4FBDoAXoECAIQAw#v=onepage&q=1831%20city%20bank%20of%20new%20york%20robbery&f=false

    First robbery - https://www.census.gov/history/www/through_the_decades/fast_facts/1830_fast_facts.html

    Robbery Info - https://www.saturdayeveningpost.com/2013/03/first-bank-robbery-in-united-states/

    Robbery info - https://books.google.com/books?id=ytwsCgAAQBAJ&dq=%22Edward+Smith%22+%22City+Bank%22&pg=PA14#v=onepage&q=%22Edward%20Smith%22%20%22City%20Bank%22&f=false

    Jacob Hays - https://www.nyc.gov/site/nypd/news/f0517/old-hays-his-descendants-legacy-the-last-high-constable-new-york-city#/0

    NY’s first real detective - https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1932/04/23/old-hays

    Detective method - https://www.nyjournalofbooks.com/book-review/new-yorkers-31-remarkable-people

    Hays bio - https://loebjewishportraits.com/biography/jacob-hays-2/

    Hays bio - http://famousamericans.net/jacobhays/

    First Fleet - https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/first-fleet-sets-sail-australia/
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    13 分
  • Unpaid Soldiers, Anonymous Letters, and George Washington’s Final Plea

    Unpaid Soldiers, Anonymous Letters, and George Washington’s Final Plea
    2025/03/10

    As the American Revolution nears its end, the question of compensation for the Continental Army remains in question. Strongly worded demands to Congress and mutinies regiments spell potential disaster. While peace negotiations are underway, a conspiracy among the officers unfolds. Only one man can stop it.

    Recommended reading: A Crisis of Peace by David Head

    Cited sources:

    The Continentalist - https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Hamilton/01-02-02-1186

    AOC and ratification - https://history.state.gov/milestones/1776-1783/articles

    Newburgh conspiracy - https://www.battlefields.org/learn/articles/newburgh-conspiracy

    Newburgh conspiracy - https://www.mountvernon.org/library/digitalhistory/digital-encyclopedia/article/newburgh-conspiracy/

    1781 mutinies - https://dcssar.org/resources/Documents/Publications/THE%20MUTINIES%20OF%201781.pdf

    Penn Line mutiny - https://allthingsliberty.com/2014/01/mutiny-pennsylvania-line/

    Wayne to Reed letter - https://digitalcollections.nyhistory.org/islandora/object/nyhs%3A65362

    Washington pay comment - “Washington: A Life” by Ron Chernow, pg. 188

    Soldier pay - https://www.battlefields.org/learn/articles/soldier-pay-american-revolution

    Cattle pay - https://www.battlefields.org/learn/articles/soldier-pay-american-revolution

    Washington to Armstrong letter 1797 - https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/05-21-02-0338

    Peace negotiations - https://history.state.gov/milestones/1776-1783/treaty

    Newburgh letters - https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/99-01-02-10818

    General Orders March 11 - https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/99-01-02-10811

    Incurable height quote - https://www.americanrevolutioninstitute.org/masterpieces-in-detail/george-washington-letter-to-david-rittenhouse/#:~:text=Henry%20Knox%20formed%20a%20committee,patience%20may%20have%20fatal%20effects.%E2%80%9D

    Five year pay - https://www.battlefields.org/learn/articles/newburgh-conspiracy
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    13 分
  • How a Quaker and a King Created a Land of Religious Freedom

    How a Quaker and a King Created a Land of Religious Freedom
    2025/03/03
    In England, Scotland, and Ireland, religiously and politically charged civil wars were fought, which led to the execution of a king and a short-lived English republic. With the restoration of the monarchy, a land grant was issued to a young English Quaker. It was a grant that would not only provide religious freedom in America, but would change the course of history.Recommended reading: William Penn: A Life by Andrew R. MurphyPenn - https://www.loc.gov/item/today-in-history/october-14/Penn gov for Penn - https://avalon.law.yale.edu/17th_century/pa04.aspCharter grant - https://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/pa07.aspCharles II - https://www.royal.uk/charles-iiJames I - https://www.nms.ac.uk/explore-our-collections/stories/scottish-history-and-archaeology/james-vi-and-i/James I - https://www.royal.uk/james-i#:~:text=James%20I%20(r.,%2D1625)%20%7C%20The%20Royal%20FamilyCharles I - https://www.nms.ac.uk/explore-our-collections/stories/scottish-history-and-archaeology/the-jacobite-challenge/the-jacobite-challenge/coronation-ampulla/Charles I - https://www.royal.uk/charles-iMary Queen of Scots - https://www.nms.ac.uk/explore-our-collections/stories/scottish-history-and-archaeology/mary-queen-of-scots/mary-queen-of-scots/life-and-deathline-of-mary-queen-of-scots/Cromwell - https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/how-did-oliver-cromwell-dieInterregnum - https://www.royal.uk/interregnum-1649-1660 British Civil Wars - https://www.nam.ac.uk/explore/british-civil-wars British Civil Wars - https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/learn/histories/the-english-civil-wars-history-and-stories/ Restoration - https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/restoration#:~:text=King%20Charles%20II%20has%20returned!&text=On%2025%20May%201660%20Charles,been%20suppressed%20under%20the%20Republic.Glorious Rev - https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofEngland/The-Glorious-Revolution-1688/Admiral Will Penn - https://www.britannica.com/biography/William-Penn-British-admiralAdmiral Will Penn - https://www.rmg.co.uk/collections/objects/rmgc-object-14419Quaker execution - https://www.loc.gov/exhibits/religion/rel01-2.html Roger Williams - https://www.loc.gov/exhibits/religion/rel01-2.html March 4, 1681 - https://hsp.org/blogs/question-week/march-4-1681-marks-which-important-event-pennsylvania%E2%80%99s-historyDelaware - https://www.loc.gov/item/today-in-history/august-24/#william-penn-acquires-the-lower-countiesLongest surviving written charter - https://www.senate.gov/about/origins-foundations/senate-and-constitution/constitution-day.htm#:~:text=Written%20in%201787%2C%20ratified%20in,surviving%20written%20charter%20of%20government.
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    11 分
  • Aviation, the Cold War, and the Pursuit of Perpetual Flight

    Aviation, the Cold War, and the Pursuit of Perpetual Flight
    2025/02/24

    Aviation boomed in 1920s America, as US pilots scored firsts for endurance and transcontinental flights. As aviation advanced and planes became faster and more powerful, the next challenge was to attain perpetual flight. With the end of World War II, America seemed to have just what they needed to accomplish the seemingly impossible.

    Recommended reading: Flight: The Complete History of Aviation by R.G. Grant

    Cited sources:

    Refueling history - https://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/Visit/Museum-Exhibits/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/197385/first-air-to-air-refueling/#:~:text=to%20Air%20Refueling-,To%20eliminate%20the%20fuel%20limitation%20problem%2C%20the%20fliers%20at%20Rockwell,Smith%20on%20June%2027%2C%201923.

    B-50 - https://planesoffame.org/aircraft/plane-B-50A

    Lucky Lady II - https://www.airandspaceforces.com/article/0399lucky/

    Lucky Lady II - https://www.edn.com/1st-nonstop-flight-around-the-world-lands-march-2-1949/

    LLII - https://www.defense.gov/News/Inside-DOD/Blog/Article/2091499/the-air-force-made-the-1st-nonstop-round-the-world-flight/

    Mackay Trophy - https://naa.aero/awards/awards-and-trophies/mackay-trophy/

    Mackay Trophy winners - https://naa.aero/awards/awards-and-trophies/mackay-trophy/mackay-1920-1929-winners/

    Fokker T-2 - https://airandspace.si.edu/collection-objects/fokker-t-2/nasm_A19240003000#:~:text=The%20T%2D2%20had%20flown,147%20kph%20(92%20mph).

    Fastest planes - https://aerocorner.com/blog/fastest-planes-of-ww2/

    B-29 - https://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/Visit/Museum-Exhibits/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/196252/boeing-b-29-superfortress/

    Soviet atom bomb - https://www.theepochtimes.com/bright/how-a-usaf-simulation-nearly-resulted-in-nuclear-disaster-5577558

    1924 flight around the world - https://www.theepochtimes.com/bright/donald-douglas-first-around-the-world-5497945

    Global Queen - https://www.fai.org/news/lucky-lady-ii-story-first-non-stop-round-world-flight

    Vandenberg Trophy - https://www.afhistory.af.mil/FAQs/Fact-Sheets/Article/458978/lucky-ladies-i-ii-and-iii/
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    12 分