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 an orange with cloves stuck into it, which often formed designs. 🍊🍊🍊 Southern Americans traditionally ate black-eyed peas for New Year’s. The peas were thought […]
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 stuck into it, often forming designs. 🍊🍊🍊 In the American South, people traditionally ate black-eyed peas for New Year. The peas were thought to resemble […]
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 peanuts. 🍑🥜🥧 Did you know? Georgia was originally chartered as a felon colony – the colony’s founder, James Oglethorpe, wanted English debtors to find a […]
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 Service even nicknamed her “Sunshine.”) During her time at the White House, she worked to restore its historic furnishings, many of which had been sold […]
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 its opening and provided a much-needed thruway for New Yorkers commuting from Brooklyn to Manhattan. Did you know? Compartments in the bridge were used as […]
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 400 watercolor illustrations of North American birds that are still studied and admired today. Did you know? Audubon was likely the first person in North […]
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 famous works depict the American West, including several future national parks, and are still appreciated today (many Bierstadt works have been featured by this account!) […]
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 staved off disputes between pro-and anti-slavery factions. Though the Compromise abolished slavery in Washington D.C. and created a free state in California, it also included […]
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 young nation’s current affairs in foreign policy, the economy, immigration, and national defense. Informed by a requirement in Article II, Section 3 of the Constitution, […]
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 innovations as vulcanized rubber, cylindrical locks, and the combat submarine. 👟🔒⚓️ Did you know? Connecticut is home to the oldest continuously running newspaper in the […]
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 as well as improved relations with China and the Soviet Union, was overshadowed by the Watergate Scandal and ensuing impeachment trial. Nixon resigned before he […]
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. 📚📒📖 The pamphlet made a clear case for independence and directly attacked the political, economic, and ideological obstacles to achieving it. Paine relentlessly insisted that […]
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 of the Constitution and wrote the majority of the 85 Federalist Papers. In the early days of the new U.S. government, Hamilton founded the Treasury […]
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 tactician for his actions to fend off the British invasion of Canada. After being passed over several times for promotion and clashing with senior officers, […]
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 sombreros), the coonskin cap (made famous by Davey Crockett), and even the cheesehead (worn by Green Bay Packers fans). 🤠🧀 Did you know? During the […]
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 of civil disobedience and non-violent protest. Persevering despite death threats, abuse, and arrest, he rose to the national stage, directing the 1963 March on Washington […]
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 threats, abuse, and arrest, he rose to the national stage, directing the 1963 March on Washington (where he delivered his famous “I Have a Dream” […]
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. 🙏 ✝️ 🙏 ☪️ 🙏 ✡️ 🙏 Authored by Thomas Jefferson, the statute was an important precursor to the protection of religious liberty and separation of […]
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, Congressman John Conyers Jr. introduced legislation to create the federal holiday. Three years later, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference also presented Congress with a petition […]
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 Religion." Monday, January 16, 2023 • 6:00 PM EDT Ave Maria University William McCormick received his doctorate in political theory from the University […]
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 the Continental Congress, the Constitutional Convention, and as a diplomat to France. 🇫🇷🇺🇸 A man of many talents, he didn’t just distinguish himself in the […]
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 back 6,700 years (!) 🌽🌽🌽 Soon, European settlers loved popcorn just as much as their Native American neighbors. Mass consumption of popcorn didn’t begin until […]
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 Tell-Tale Heart” and “The Cask of Amontillado”, are still widely read and admired for their macabre themes and mysterious story-telling. Did you know? Poe was […]
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 beginnings and reflect on the qualities of the year’s assigned zodiac animal. 2023’s animal is the rabbit, which represents calmness, patience, and peace. 🐇🐇🐇 While […]
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 chili peppers with water to make an early hot sauce. With increased trade and colonialism in the 1500s, chilis soon spread across the world. Though […]
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 founding a hospital and training nurses during the Civil War. 🩹🩺💉 Did you know? Blackwell was inspired to pursue the medical profession after a dying […]
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 of the wealthiest men in New England and used his money and influence to forward the movement for American independence. He’s perhaps best known for […]
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 into California looking to strike it rich. 💰💰💰 Though many were unlucky in mining, the population boom helped propel California to statehood. Did you know? […]
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 with creating pastes out of roasted and raw peanuts. Kellogg’s easily digested paste was used as a healthy food for sanitarium patients. As a result […]
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, Huron, Michigan, and Erie. The state (and more specifically, its largest city, Detroit) are well known as the capital of the American auto industry – […]
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 Europe, encouraging other women to pursue flight and dazzling crowds with her daring air tricks. 🛩 🛩 🛩 She also publicly stood up against segregation, […]
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 sovereignty” which meant that the territory’s residents were to vote on the legality of slavery in the new state. With tensions over slavery high nationwide, […]
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 the annexation of the Philippines, Guam, and Puerto Rico. Tragically, McKinley was the third president assassinated – an anarchist shot him at the Pan-American Exposition […]
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 and the United States’ entry into World War II. Roosevelt also was a prominent progressive and under his guidance, new government programs such as the […]
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 was very different from what we enjoy today – early recipes included chili pepper and cornmeal and were often served cold, bitter, and frothy. 🌶🌽🍫 […]
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 of the Constitution,” and is credited with wording the famous preamble, “We the People of the United States of America…” Aside from his key role […]