I never expect to see a perfect work from an imperfect man.-Alexander Hamilton
Much like Hamilton's assertion, the early history of the United States has been a story which continues to intrigue those studying it, as our Constitution still remains the only one in the world largely unchanged since its inception hundreds of years ago. Far from a "perfect work", the history of this nation is one which deserves more attention these days, as we face some of the same tough dilemmas our founding forefathers had to contend with in writing this Constitution. For example: What is the meaning of freedom, liberty, and equality? How can we balance the needs of the majority with the rights of the minority? Why should our past matter, and what does it say about our future?
Our journey into the early history of the United States will hope to address such questions as we span eras and time periods long since past. We will experience the first encounters between whites and Native Americans, sail on a slave ship jam packed with human "property", recount the bloody struggle for independence known as the Revolutionary War, and sigh as we watch this mighty nation tear itself to pieces over a Civil War. Along the way we will meet renown characters such as the fiery Samuel Adams, the wisecracking genius Benjamin Franklin, or the prophetic James Madison. Please join me in this journey, and never forget: ask questions!
Much like Hamilton's assertion, the early history of the United States has been a story which continues to intrigue those studying it, as our Constitution still remains the only one in the world largely unchanged since its inception hundreds of years ago. Far from a "perfect work", the history of this nation is one which deserves more attention these days, as we face some of the same tough dilemmas our founding forefathers had to contend with in writing this Constitution. For example: What is the meaning of freedom, liberty, and equality? How can we balance the needs of the majority with the rights of the minority? Why should our past matter, and what does it say about our future?
Our journey into the early history of the United States will hope to address such questions as we span eras and time periods long since past. We will experience the first encounters between whites and Native Americans, sail on a slave ship jam packed with human "property", recount the bloody struggle for independence known as the Revolutionary War, and sigh as we watch this mighty nation tear itself to pieces over a Civil War. Along the way we will meet renown characters such as the fiery Samuel Adams, the wisecracking genius Benjamin Franklin, or the prophetic James Madison. Please join me in this journey, and never forget: ask questions!