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Firearms

The American Revolution was fought—and won—with guns, and the weapons have become ingrained in U.S. culture, but the invention of firearms started long before colonists ever settled on North American soil. The origin of firearms began with gunpowder and its invention, mostly likely in China, more than 1,000 years ago. Gunpowder Invented Historians estimate that […]

Whiskey Rebellion

What Caused the Whiskey Rebellion? During the American Revolution, individual states incurred significant amounts of debt. In 1790, Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton pushed for the federal government to take over that debt. He also suggested an excise tax on whiskey to prevent further financial difficulty. President George Washington was opposed to Hamilton’s suggestion of a […]

The HMS Jersey

The British in New York City In mid-1776, in the early months of the Revolutionary War, the British government sent General William Howe to New York with some 34,000 troops and a large fleet. Howe was authorized to negotiate for peace with the Americans; when these negotiations failed, he invaded Long Island, soundly defeating the […]

1780: Capture by Americans of John Andre (1751 - 1780) on his way to negotiate with turncoat Benedict Arnold with regard to the betrayal of Yorktown. The incriminating documents were hidden in his boot. (Photo by MPI/Getty Images)

The Culper Spy Ring

The Dangers of Spying In mid-September 1776, the American officer Nathan Hale was hanged without trial in New York City. British authorities had caught Hale when he was on his way back to his regiment after having penetrated the British lines to gather information. Hale’s death illustrated the grave dangers inherent in spying for the […]