"It is a sound and important principle that the representative ought to be acquainted with the interests and circumstances of his constituents. But this principle can extend no further than to those circumstances and interests to which the authority and care of the representative relate." James Madison, Federalist Paper No. 56

Abraham Lincoln In 1766, Francis Lightfoot Lee signed the Westmoreland Resolves (aka, the Leedstown Resolutions), that was drafted by his brother, Richard Henry Lee. In 1776, at the Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge , North Carolinian revolutionaries defeated loyalists during the American Revolution , thwarting a British invasion of the southern colonies. In 1776, Washington issued  orders reminding his men of the stakes of the coming campaign. Any soldier skulking or retreatin

AI rendered pencil drawing of the Pneumatic Subway in NY In 1732, the First Mass was celebrated in the first American Catholic church, St. Joseph's, Philadelphia In 1776, Washington fixed his attention on Dorchester Heights, the key to Boston. He issues  orders to consolidate entrenching tools—axes, shovels, pick-axes—and  writes John Hancock, explaining that the army is quietly preparing to seize the Heights. The move is meant to force the British to fight or abandon the

"As there is a degree of depravity in mankind which requires a certain degree of circumspection and distrust, so there are other qualities in human nature which justify a certain portion of esteem and confidence. Republican government presupposes the existence of these qualities in a higher degree than any other form." James Madison, Federalist Paper No. 55

Hancock-Clarke Parsonage The Hancock-Clark House is located in Lexington, Massachusetts, and is the boyhood home of John Hancock. Many of you will know that he and Samuel Adams were at this home from April 18th until April 19, 177,5 when the American Revolution began. History books record that they were warned by Paul Revere around midnight that the British were coming and should leave. Then, in a standard history class, we learn that Hancock and Adams leave around 4 am to

Fort Sackville Memorial In 1776, Washington set his mind on medical readiness. He  order ed a formal examination of every surgeon and mate in the Continental Army. Inventories of instruments, medicines, and bandages are demanded at once. In 1779, Fort Sackville surrendered , marking the beginning of the end of British domination in America’s western frontier. In 1782, the Battle of Tydiman's Plantation took place in South Carolina. In 1804, Thomas Jefferson was nominated for

"It is the fundamental principle of the proposed constitution, that as the aggregate number of representatives allotted to the several states, is to be determined by federal rule, founded on the aggregate number of inhabitants; so, the right of choosing this allotted number in each state, is to be exercised by such part of the inhabitants, as the state itself may designate." James Madison, Federalist Paper No. 54

In 1761, James Otis voiced opposition to English colonial rule in a speech before the Supreme Court of Massachusetts. In 1776, Washington  authorize d regimental commanders to apply for $500 warrants to send trusted officers into the countryside to purchase arms. Only sound muskets, preferably “Kings Musquets” with bayonets, are acceptable. Washington warns officers not to compete with Massachusetts county committees, whose parallel buying could inflate prices. In 1803, Marb

"No man can be a competent legislator, who does not add to an upright intention and a sound judgment, a certain degree of knowledge of the subjects on which he is to legislate." James Madison, Federalist Paper No. 53

Nicolas Cooke In 1776, Washington  writes to Nicholas Cooke, the governor of Rhode Island, introducing Frederick William, Baron de Woedtke, a Prussian-born former officer who has been driven ashore by bad weather on Cape Cod. Woedtke is traveling from St. Domingo to Philadelphia with the specific purpose of offering his military service to the American cause and delivering letters of introduction to several members of Congress. Washington urges Cooke to extend hospitality an

"Frequent elections are unquestionably the only policy, by which this dependence and sympathy can be effectually secured." James Madison, Federalist Paper No. 52

First Lady "Lemonade" Lucy Hayes In 1630, Indians introduced pilgrims to popcorn at Thanksgiving. In 1732, President George Washington was born. In 1776, on his 44th birthday, from headquarters at Cambridge, Washington studies returns, orders discipline , and waits on news from distant fronts.  Additionally. Brigadier General William Heath  writes to explain that several chaplains have been appointed only on a temporary basis. Uncertainty about how long they can remain with

Traveling through time is possible when you visit historic sites. These places tell stories of the past, revealing the lives, struggles, and achievements of those who came before us. I have always found that exploring these locations offers a unique way to connect with history. Each site holds layers of meaning, waiting to be uncovered by curious minds. It is not just visiting important sites, but learning about them through books, original documents, and drawings, seeing int

"When men exercise their reason coolly and freely on a variety of distinct questions, they inevitably fall into different opinions on some of them. When they are governed by a common passion, their opinions, if they are so to be called, will be the same." James Madison, Federalist Paper No. 50

Judge RIchard Peters In 1779, five hunters from Vincennes traveling in a boat were captured by George Rogers Clark and his band of Patriots. After questioning the hunters, Clark found that his small army had not yet been detected and that the people of Vincennes, Indiana, were still sympathetic to the Americans. In 1792, President George Washington  signed legislation that reestablished the United States Post Office as a cabinet department led by the postmaster general, guara

"As the people are the only legitimate fountain of power, and it is from them that the constitutional charter, under which the several branches of government hold their power, is derived, it seems strictly consonant to the republican theory, to recur to the same original authority, not only whenever it may be necessary to enlarge, diminish, or new-model the powers of the government, but also whenever any one of the departments may commit encroachments on the chartered authori

Charlotte May Pierstorff - Mailed as a child In 1776, Washington weighed the war in pounds. In a  letter to Jonathan Trumbull Sr., the governor of Connecticut, Washington writes that he expected to receive almost 8,000 pounds of gunpowder from Providence, but instead finds only 4,217 pounds.  In 1777, the Continental Congress  voted to promote Thomas Mifflin, Arthur St. Clair, William Alexander, Lord Stirling, Adam Stephen, and Benjamin Lincoln to the rank of major general.

"For this reason, that convention which passed the ordinance of government, laid its foundation on this basis, that the legislative, executive, and judiciary departments should be separate and distinct, so that no person should exercise the powers of more than one of them at the same time." James Madison, Federalist Paper No. 48

Flying cows In 1685, Fort St. Louis was established by a Frenchman at Matagorda Bay, forming the basis for France's claim to Texas In 1735, the first opera was performed in America, "Flora," in Charleston, South Carolina In 1776, B ritish forces remained bottled up in Boston, but scarce supplies and a chronic lack of gunpowder prevented Washington from turning the siege into an assault. In 1776, Lieutenant Henry Edwin Stanhope, a British army officer and prisoner of war,  wri

Only known portrait of Thomas Neale In 1691, Thomas Neale granted an English patent for the American postal service In 1776, Preparation defines today’s  General Orders . Washington directs that every regiment be fully supplied with 24 rounds of ammunition per man, each round accounted for through a chain of signed receipts, with deficiencies fined from a soldier’s pay.  In 1776. In the first cruise of a Continental Navy squadron, Commodore Esek Hopkins sails from Philadelphi

Benjamin Franklin In 1741, Benjamin Franklin began publishing "The General Magazine and Historical Chronicle for all the British Plantations in America". In 1760, Cherokee Indians held hostage at Fort St. George by South Carolina Governor Lyttleton were killed in revenge for Indian attacks on frontier settlements that broke a peace treaty of December 1759. In 1776, Washington convened a  Council of War to consider an assault on British-held Boston. He reports that reinforcem

"The accumulation of all power, legislative, executive, and judiciary, in the same hands, whether of one, a few, or many, and whether heredity, self-appointed, or elective, may justly be pronounced the very definition of tyranny." James Madison, Federalist Paper No. 47

Henry Highland Garnet In 1733,  James Oglethorpe and 114 colonists founded the colony of Georgia. This was the 13th and last colony of the original States and was named in honor of King George II. In 1776, in his  General Orders , Washington expresses astonishment that regimental officers have discharged men without authority. Washington warns that any colonel or commanding officer who repeats this will be arrested and tried. In 1776 , John Hancock , president of the Contine