Category: The Historical Muse

Thoughts on history and the historical profession. Clio is the muse of history–this category title is a play on that concept.

Educating a New Generation

  

The Fourth of July used to be one of the premier American holidays. People celebrated it because they understood the principles behind the resistance to taxation without representation and the potential for government overreach. Those were lessons we used to know. Things have changed. But if you were to take a survey of our current knowledge of America’s founding and the principles upon which it was based, you might get a variety of responses, few of them heartening: If some… Read more »

The Inside Story of the Impeachment of President Clinton

  

Last week I talked about two of my books that I encouraged you to read. I have one more, then I’ll go on to more current events again, starting tomorrow. The saga of the Clinton impeachment needed to be told from the inside. That’s why when the impeachment proceedings ended in 1999, I decided to contact the thirteen House Managers who had argued before the Senate for the removal of Bill Clinton from office. They all received me graciously, I… Read more »

Noah Webster: Schoolmaster to America

  

Yesterday I encouraged those of you who need more information on how the Bible views government to purchase a copy of my book If the Foundations Are Destroyed: Biblical Principles and Civil Government. Today, let’s focus more historically. My doctoral dissertation was on a man who was highly influential in America’s formative years: Noah Webster. That dissertation was published as Defining Noah Webster: A Spiritual Biography. I’ve always thought the title was rather clever, given that Webster’s primary work for… Read more »

A Very Unusual Fourth of July

  

As I stated in a previous post, July 2 was the day independence passed in the Continental Congress. It was important, though, to come up with a statement that declared to the world the reasons for the decision. That statement, initially called “A Declaration by the Representatives of the United States of America in General Congress Assembled,” is the document we now simply entitle “The Declaration of Independence.” Since it was approved on July 4, 1776, people began to celebrate… Read more »

John Adams & Independence

  

When Americans think about our independence historically, they most often think of Thomas Jefferson, since he was the principal author of the Declaration of Independence. Yet Jefferson never really participated in the verbal battles at the Continental Congress. He was the quiet guy in the corner. The man who most forcefully forwarded the argument for independence was John Adams. Adams also was part of the committee that was tasked with coming up with a declaration should it become necessary. Since… Read more »

Celebrating Independence Day

  

Happy Independence Day to everyone. No, I haven’t lost my mind. July 2, 1776, is the date independence was approved by the Continental Congress. We get it mixed up with the day the Declaration of Independence was agreed upon. So the real birthday of the United States is July 2; July 4 just provided the proper wording to tell the world what had occurred. On July 1, word was sent to Delaware delegate Caesar Rodney to get back to Philadelphia… Read more »

American Wars: A Retrospective

  

I could have just relaxed today, put up a photo of Memorial Day, and said nothing more. But I thought instead this might be a good opportunity to provide some ponderings on the various wars in which America got involved. Perhaps this is the best way to remember those who sacrificed the most for us all. From the American Revolution to the various manifestations of the War on Terror, here is an abbreviated attempt to offer some thoughts on the… Read more »