Explore American History through the news as it was written, including reporting, editorials, and published letters that captured pivotal moments, forgotten stories, and the events that shaped the nation.
Weeks before the Declaration of Independence was published, a Philadelphia essayist under the name ‘A Watchman’ put the Loyalists on blast — reminding Pennsylvanians that common people made up nine-tenths of the population, and making the case for the independence that would become official just weeks later.
In an August 1837 letter, a Native author warned of Europe’s progress, likening European immigration to colonization. As we face similar challenges today, understanding history is crucial.
Before bankruptcy laws existed, colonists settled debt through estate lotteries that bundled land, livestock, and enslaved people into prize lots. This 1768 Virginia Gazette notice shows how normalized that system was.
A 1772 Virginia Gazette essay argues that “patriotism” in Britain had become empty political theater and a mask for ambition, reflecting the growing colonial distrust that preceded the Revolution.
Ken Burns’ The American Revolution offers a powerful way to revisit America’s origins as the nation approaches its 250th year. This overview highlights what the documentary covers, how to watch it, and includes original 1770s news clips that show how the Revolution was first understood in real time.
A 1773 Virginia Gazette essay urged kings to rule with humility and justice, reminding them their power came from God and the people, not privilege or pride.
An 1793 Aurora General Advertiser article denounced monarchy as corrupt and outdated, calling for a republic grounded in reason and the consent of the governed—a powerful early echo of the era’s “no kings” sentiment.
An excerpt from The Pennsylvania Packet in 1780 reprints William Robertson’s History of America, depicting Indigenous peoples as free and self-governing while exposing how Columbus’s arrival sparked enslavement and suffering across the Americas.
A collection of historical newspaper articles, some praising, others revealing harsh truths, offering a deeper look at Christopher Columbus, the peoples he encountered, and evidence that the lands he reached were far from uninhabited.
An 1882 editorial warns that the unregulated sale of firearms, especially to boys, threatens law and order and urges restrictions on weapon sales.
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