On this day in 1883, American and Canadian railroads instituted standard time zones (Eastern, Central, Mountain, and Pacific). Prior to this standardization, each town set its own time by when […]
On this day in 1831, 20th president James A. Garfield was born in Orange, Ohio. Though he served in the House of Representatives for nearly two decades, his presidency was […]
On November 19, 1863, Abraham Lincoln gave his famous Gettysburg Address as part of a dedication ceremony for the national cemetery at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. 🇺🇸🪦🇺🇸🪦🇺🇸 Despite his remark that “The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here” his brief speech went down in history as one of his most famous. The […]
On this day in 1877, Thomas Edison announced the invention of the phonograph. The phonograph ushered in a new era in which recordings could be made, saved, and played back. […]
On November 21, 1789, North Carolina ratified the Constitution, becoming our 12th state. The state offers a variety of landscapes, encompassing sub ranges of the Appalachian Mountains, swampland, and Atlantic coastline. 🌄🏖 Did you know? The first successful airplane flight took place in North Carolina at the windy dunes of Kitty Hawk. There, the Wright […]
On November 22, 1744, First Lady Abigail Adams was born in Weymouth, Massachusetts. She may be best remembered for her remark to her husband, founding father John Adams, to “remember the ladies” while making laws for the emerging United States. 🙋♀️🙋♀️🙋♀️ Abigail was keenly interested in the development of the new country, and the 1000+ […]
On this day in 1804, 14th president Franklin Pierce was born in Hillsboro, New Hampshire. During his administration, Pierce encouraged and supported the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Act, which allowed […]
On this day in 1784, 12th president Zachary Taylor was born in Orange County, Virginia. A war hero and general in the Mexican American War, Taylor’s presidential term lasted less […]
Happy Thanksgiving from JMC! Thanksgiving, one of our country's oldest holidays, has roots in both Native American and European traditions. The Wampanoags and other Native American tribes traditionally held ceremonies […]
Happy Thanksgiving from JMC! Thanksgiving, one of our country's oldest holidays, has roots in both the Native American and European traditions. The Wampanoags and other Native American tribes traditionally held ceremonies of thanksgiving for successful harvests and instances of good fortune. Long before coming to North America, Europeans too gave thanks for good harvests with […]
Today is Black Friday, one of the busiest shopping days of the year! 🛍🛍🛍 Did you know? It’s believed that the term “Black Friday” was first used in reference to the day after Thanksgiving by Philadelphia police officers in the 1950s to describe the mayhem of tourists visiting the city each year to shop and […]
On this day in 1924, the first Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade took place in New York City. Famous for its marching bands, floats, musical performances, and (of course) huge balloons, […]
On November 28, 1925, the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee began broadcasting. 🎤🪕🎸The longest running radio program in U.S. history, the weekly country music concert began as the one-hour “Barn Dance” broadcast. Since then, the Opry has become famous for showcasing some of the biggest names in country music, including Patsy Cline, Dolly Parton, […]
On November 29, 2022, the Missouri Debate Union at the University of Missouri, a JMC partner program, will host an interview and Q&A with Former Columbia, Missouri Mayor Brian Treece: […]
On November 29, 2022, the Center for Constitutional Liberty at Benedictine College will host faculty partner Michael Zuckert for a discussion of Abraham Lincoln and the Kansas-Nebraska Act. Tuesday, November […]
On this day in 1835, American author Mark Twain (né Samuel Clemens) was born in Florida, Missouri. Popular for his colorful and humorous style, Twain nonetheless tackled serious issues in […]
On this day in 1955, Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to surrender her seat on a public bus to a white man, a breach of city segregation laws. The […]
Reflecting Americans’ love for holiday decorating, today is National Christmas Lights Day! 💡🎄💡 Did you know? The small strands of bulbs commonly called “Christmas lights” were first invented by Thomas Edison in the 1880s – he decorated outside his Menlo Park Laboratory with the little lights for the holiday season. Two years later, Edison’s friend […]
St. Joseph's University will host alumnus and JMC Editorial Officer Elliott Drago for a talk on his new book, Street Diplomacy: The Politics of Slavery and Freedom in Philadelphia, 1820-1850. […]
On December 2, 1763, the first and oldest synagogue in the United States, the Touro Synagogue, was dedicated in Newport, Rhode Island. ✡️🇺🇸✡️🇺🇸 The congregation was famously addressed by President George Washington in a 1790 letter affirming religious liberty in the new nation: “All possess alike liberty of conscience and immunities of citizenship. It is […]
The Straus Center at Yeshiva University, a JMC partner program, will host a series of panels on rights and the Israeli and American Declarations of Independence. Panelists will include JMC […]
On December 3, 1818, Illinois was admitted to the Union as our 21st state. The most populated state in the Midwest, Illinois boasts the famous city of Chicago, as well as flat, fertile farmland. 🏙🌾 Did you know? Illinois proudly sports the nickname, “Land of Lincoln” because the 16th president called the state home for over […]
It’s National Cookie Day! 🍪 🍪 🍪 Did you know? Cookies in colonial America were made from simple ingredients like sugar and butter. These butter cookies were close relatives of […]
It’s National Cookie Day! The first cookies in America were made from simple ingredients like sugar and butter. These butter cookies were close relatives of teacakes and shortbread of the Old World. With progress in shipping and transportation, cookie varieties eventually exploded – in modern times we enjoy cookies made with coconut, cinnamon, and (of […]
On this day in 1782, 8th president Martin Van Buren was born in Kinderhook, New York. He was the first president born a U.S. citizen (as opposed to a British […]
On December 6, 1907, the worst mining accident in U.S. history occurred at the Monongah Mine in West Virginia. An explosion in the mines killed 350+ coal miners. With a lack of regulation and poorly followed safety guidelines, mining deaths were tragically common in the United States in the 1800s and early 1900s. Did you […]
Today marks the 80th anniversary of the Japanese attack on the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor in Oahu, Hawaii. On this morning in 1941, hundreds of Japanese bombers descended […]
On December 7, 1787, Delaware was the first state to ratify the Constitution, earning it the title of “The First State.” Did you know? Delaware has no sales tax and is well-known in the business world for its clear and up-to-date approach to corporate law. Over 60% (!) of Fortune 500 companies are incorporated in […]
On this day in 1830, American poet Emily Dickinson was born in Amherst, Massachusetts. Reticent during her life, Dickinson’s prolific and touching poetry wasn’t published under her name until after […]
On December 10, 1817, Mississippi was admitted to the Union as our 20th state. Did you know? Blues music has a prominent place in Mississippi history – many of the most prominent blues musicians were from Mississippi, including John Lee Hooker, B.B. King, and Muddy Waters. 🪕🎹🎤 What’s in a name? What a name! Notoriously […]
On this day in 1725, founding father George Mason was born in Fairfax County, Virginia. Mason was at the forefront of political activity during the Revolutionary War era and penned […]
On this day in 1745, founding father John Jay was born in New York, New York. A sometimes forgotten founder, Jay was a patriot, important diplomat, and author of five […]
On December 12, 1787, Pennsylvania ratified the Constitution, making it our second state. The state has hosted many historical events, perhaps most notably the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitutional Convention. 🇺🇸📜🇺🇸 Philadelphia (home of the Jack Miller Center!) also served as the meeting place for the First Continental Congress in 1774. […]
On December 13, 1818, First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln was born in Lexington, Kentucky. The wife of Abraham Lincoln, Mary endured many tragedies in her life. Aside from her husband’s famous assassination and the general stresses of the Civil War, she lost three of her four children at a young age. Did you know? Mary […]
Happy Bill of Rights Day! 📜 🖋 📜 🖋 📜 On this day in 1791, the Bill of Rights was ratified, consisting of the first ten amendments to our Constitution. […]
Happy Bill of Rights Day! 📜📜📜 On this day in 1791, the Bill of Rights was ratified, consisting of the first ten amendments in our Constitution. Inspired by such documents as the Magna Carta and Virginia Declaration of Rights, the Bill of Rights explicitly protected such basic American rights as freedom of speech, religion, and […]
On this day in 1773, the Boston Tea Party occurred as American colonists protested the Tea Act and British “taxation without representation” by dumping over 45 tons of tea into […]
On this day in 1777, the first national Thanksgiving was celebrated to give thanks for the American victory at the Battle of Saratoga. The victory proved to be a crucial […]
This evening marks the first night of Hanukkah for Jewish communities around the world.🕯🕯🕯 Did you know? In comparison to the major holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, Hanukkah […]
On this day in 1732, Benjamin Franklin first published Poor Richard’s Almanack under the pseudonym of Richard Saunders. The best-selling almanac contained a calendar and weather predictions (as expected), but […]
On December 20, 1803, the Louisiana Purchase was completed as France officially transferred the Louisiana Territory to the United States. The Louisiana Purchase was one of the largest land transfers in history. Consisting of roughly 827,000 square miles west of the Mississippi River, the new U.S. territory nearly doubled the size of our young country. […]
Today marks the first day of winter and is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. Did you know? In the United States, several Native American tribes […]
On December 22, 1912, First Lady Claudia “Lady Bird” Johnson was born in Karnack, Texas. She may be best known for her efforts to beautify American highways with wildflowers and protect the environment. 🌼🌷🌾 Did you know? The First Lady received her nickname from a childhood nurse, who reportedly said “she’s as pretty as a […]
On this day in 1783, George Washington resigned as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army following the official end of the Revolution. The moment was a testament to Washington’s hopes for […]
On December 24, 1745, American patriot, founding father, and physician Benjamin Rush was born in Byberry, Pennsylvania. Rush put his medical knowledge to use during the Revolution, treating injured and sick soldiers on the field. He went on to represent Pennsylvania as a signer of the Declaration of Independence and a proponent of the Constitution. […]
Although the holiday is believed to date back to 336 A.D., Christmas did not catch on across the United States until the latter half of the 1700s. During colonial times, celebrations (or lack thereof) greatly depended on the predominant sect of each region. In Puritan New England, Christmas celebrations were often banned as non-Biblical and […]
Did you know? Although the holiday is believed to date back to 336 A.D., Christmas did not catch on across the United States until the latter half of the 1700s. […]
On December 26, 1935, Shenandoah National Park was established in Virginia. Extending along the Blue Ridge Mountains of the Appalachian Range, the park contains 100+ miles of the Appalachian Trail, as well as Skyline Drive, a particularly picturesque road running along the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains. 🌳⛰🌫🌳 Did you know? As it was […]
On this day in 1856, 28th president Woodrow Wilson was born in Staunton, Virginia. During Wilson’s administration, he was responsible for the United States abstention from (and subsequent entry into) […]
On December 29, 1845, Texas entered the Union as our 28th state. It is the largest state in the continental U.S. and the second largest state by population in the country. Reflecting its huge size, the state contains the largest ranch in the nation, King Ranch, which is bigger than the state of Rhode Island! […]
On this day in 1808, 17th president Andrew Johnson was born in Raleigh, North Carolina. The successor to Lincoln, Johnson had huge shoes to fill, wrestling with Reconstruction in a […]
On December 31, 1907, the first New Year's Eve "ball drop" in Times Square took place in New York City. The first ball was tiny, but heavy - only 5 feet in diameter, but 700 pounds, it was carefully lowered down a flagpole by pulley. Unlike the modern ball, which is famously covered in Waterford […]
On this day in 1907, the first New Year’s Eve “ball drop” in Times Square took place in New York City. The first ball was tiny but heavy – only […]
Happy New Year! 🎊🎉🎊 In colonial America, it was customary to exchange small gifts on New Year’s Day and visit with friends and neighbors. One common (and fragrant!) gift was […]
In colonial America, it was customary to exchange small gifts on New Year’s Day and visit with friends and neighbors. One common (and fragrant!) gift was an orange with cloves […]
On January 2, 1788, Georgia ratified the Constitution, making it our 4th state. It’s the largest state east of the Mississippi River and is famous for its peaches, pecans, and […]
On January 3, 1879, First Lady Grace Coolidge was born in Burlington, Vermont. A balancing presence to her reserved husband (“Silent Cal”) she was friendly, outgoing, and popular (the Secret […]
On this day in 1870, construction began on the famed Brooklyn Bridge in New York City. The bridge was the longest suspension bridge in the world at the time of […]
One of the most famous (and rare) books of American birds is John J. Audubon’s Birds of America. Printed as a subscription from 1827 to 1838, the book contains over […]
On January 7, 1830, German-American artist Albert Bierstadt was born in Solingen, Rhine, Prussia. 🎨🎨🎨 A leading artist in the Hudson River School, Bierstadt focused on beautiful landscapes. His most […]
On this day in 1800, 13th president Millard Fillmore was born in Cayuga County, New York. His presidency was defined by the passage of the Compromise of 1850, which temporarily […]
On this day in 1790, George Washington delivered the first State of the Union Address to Congress at Federal Hall in New York City. Among other things, Washington presented the […]
On January 9, 1788, Connecticut ratified the Constitution, making it the 5th state. It was a patriot stronghold during the American Revolution and later, a hotbed of industry, producing such […]
On this day in 1913, 37th president Richard Nixon was born in Yorba Linda, California. His presidency, while marked by an end to the draft and American fighting in Vietnam […]
On January 10, 1776, Thomas Paine’s Common Sense was published. It was the best-selling printed work by a single author in American history up to that time, selling 500,000+ copies. […]
On this day in 1755 or 1757, founding father Alexander Hamilton was born on the island of Nevis in the British West Indies. He was fundamental in securing the ratification […]
On this day in 1741, Patriot hero turned traitor Benedict Arnold was born in Norwich, Connecticut. During the early years of the American Revolution, he was hailed as a brilliant […]
Happy National Hat Day! 🎩🧢👒 Hats are nothing new, but the United States has produced some unique pieces of headgear throughout its history, including the cowboy hat (inspired by Mexican […]
On this day in 1929, minister and activist leader Martin Luther King Jr. was born in Atlanta, Georgia. A figurehead of the American civil rights movement, he was a proponent […]
Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day! A figurehead of the American civil rights movement, Martin Luther King Jr. was a proponent of civil disobedience and non-violent protest. Persevering despite death […]
On this day in 1786, Virginia enacted the Statute for Religious Freedom. The statute disestablished the Church of England as Virginia’s official state-supported religion and implemented freedom of worship. 🙏 […]
Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day! Did you know? It took over 15 years for Martin Luther King Jr. Day to come into being. In the year after King’s death, […]
On January 16, 2023, the Politics Department at Ave Maria University will host William McCormick, SJ to deliver a lecture on, "Educating a Tyrant: Aquinas Against the Myths of Uncivil […]
On January 17, 1706, Founding Father Benjamin Franklin was born in Boston, Massachusetts. Franklin was instrumental in the formation of the new United States – he played key roles at […]
It’s National Popcorn Day! 🍿🍿🍿 Popcorn originated in the Americas and was first cultivated thousands of years ago – some of the earliest kernels were found in Peru and date […]
On this day in 1809, American suspense and horror writer Edgar Allan Poe was born in Boston, Massachusetts. Poe’s short stories and poems, including such classics as “The Raven”, “The […]
Today is the Lunar New Year! Based on the lunar calendar, it is an important holiday for many cultures, particularly those of East Asia. Revelers take time to celebrate new […]
It’s National Hot Sauce Day! 🌶🌶🌶 Did you know that hot sauce has deep American roots? Chilis were domesticated in present-day Mexico around 5000 B.C. The Aztecs and Mayans combined […]
On January 23, 1849, Elizabeth Blackwell became the first woman in the United States to earn a medical doctorate. Despite sexism, she succeeded not only in completing her coursework, but […]
On this day in 1737, founding father, successful merchant, and first signer of the Declaration of Independence John Hancock was born in Braintree, Massachusetts. Before the Revolution, Hancock was one […]
On January 24, 1848, gold was discovered at Sutter’s Mill near Coloma, California, triggering the California Gold Rush. As news of the discovery spread, thousands of would-be gold miners poured […]
Happy National Peanut Butter Day! 🥜 🥜 🥜 This uniquely American treat was first patented in the late 1800s, as Canadian Marcellus Gilmore Edson and American John Harvey Kellogg experimented […]
On January 26, 1837, Michigan was admitted to the Union as our 26th state. The state has the most coastline on the Great Lakes and is bordered by Lakes Superior, […]
On this day in 1892, Bessie Coleman, the first African-American and Native American woman pilot was born in Atlanta, Texas. Coleman gave speeches, and lessons, and toured across America and […]
On January 29, 1861, Kansas was admitted to the Union as our 34th state. Kansas’s statehood came with much controversy – its statehood was proposed under the policy of “popular […]
On this day in 1843, 25th president William McKinley was born in Niles, Ohio. His presidency was notable for an increase in protective tariffs and imperialist policies that led to […]
On this day in 1882, 32nd president Franklin D. Roosevelt was born in Hyde Park, New York. His presidency was marked by several momentous historical events, including the Great Depression […]
Happy National Hot Chocolate Day! ☕️☕️☕️Cocoa beans are native to South America and the first known hot chocolate was developed in Mexico by the Aztecs and Mayans. This hot chocolate […]
On this day in 1752, founding father Gouverneur Morris was born in Morrisania, New York (present-day New York City). Though less famous than other founders, Morris was considered the “Penman […]
On February 1, 1901, American poet Langston Hughes was born in Joplin, Missouri. Hughes was a leading light of the Harlem Renaissance and his short stories, poems, and novels about the […]
Today, the groundhog saw/didn’t see his shadow – six more weeks of winter! Groundhog Day was first officially celebrated on this day in 1887 in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. Members of the Punxsutawney […]
Today, the groundhog saw his shadow – six more weeks of winter! 🌨🌨🌨 Groundhog Day was first officially celebrated on this day in 1887 in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. Members of the […]
The Tocqueville Lecture Series at Jacksonville State University, a JMC partner program, will hold a hybrid in-person/virtual presentation and Q&A with faculty partner Lee Trepanier on "What is Political Civility […]
On this day in 1870, the 15th Amendment was ratified, giving all American men the right to vote, regardless of race or previous state of servitude. Significantly, this meant that […]
On February 6, 1788, Massachusetts ratified the Constitution, establishing itself as our 6th state. The state has deep revolutionary roots – Boston was a hotbed of patriot activity leading up […]
On this day in 1756, infamous American politician Aaron Burr was born in Newark, New Jersey. Though he may be best-known for his duel with Alexander Hamilton (which proved fatal […]
On February 8, 1820, William Tecumseh Sherman was born in Lancaster, Ohio. A commanding general for the Union Army during the Civil War, Sherman was key to northern victory. His tactics, […]
On this day in 1910, the Boy Scouts of America was founded by William D. Boyce in Washington, D.C. Boyce was inspired by the Boy Scouts movement in England after […]
On February 8, 2023, the James Wilson Institute and the Civitas Institute of the University of Texas at Austin will be holding an interactive webinar with John Mikhail and JMC […]
On this day in 1773, 9th president William Henry Harrison was born in Berkeley, Virginia. He served the shortest term of any president – a mere month – before expiring […]
On February 9, 2023, the John Marshall Project at Boston College, a JMC partner program, will host faculty partner Jeremy Bailey for a discussion of "The Empire of Liberty and […]
On February 9, 2023, the Matthew J. Ryan Center at Villanova University will host faculty partner Diana Schaub for a discussion of equality in the Constitution. The event is part […]
On February 9, 2023, the Lyceum Program at Clemson University will host Ronald J. Pestritto for a lecture on the administrative state: Dr. Pestritto's lecture will describe the nature of […]
On February 9, 2023, the Politics Department at Ave Maria University will host Dr. Joshua Bowman to deliver a lecture on, "Imagination and Environmental Politics". Dr. Bowman plans on discussing the […]
On February 11, 1847, American inventor and businessman Thomas Edison was born in Milan, Ohio. Edison was successful in obtaining a record-breaking 1,093 patents during his lifetime. He most famously […]
On February 12, 1809, 16th president Abraham Lincoln was born near Hodgenville, Kentucky. We particularly honor Lincoln for his leadership in steering the country through a civil war intact and for […]
On this day in 1809, 16th president Abraham Lincoln was born near Hodgenville, Kentucky. We particularly honor Lincoln for his leadership in steering the country through a civil war intact […]
On February 13, 1885, First Lady Elizabeth “Bess” Truman was born in Independence, Missouri. Though a private person, she actively served as her husband’s confidante and secretary during his time […]