The First Tax on Newspapers

Posted by on Jan 25, 2010 in 18th Century, All Posts, Journalism Milestones, Major Historical Events | 3 Comments

In August, 1712, the first tax on newspapers was imposed, an attempt by English government to suppress the booming print media industry and eliminate small papers that were most vocal in opposition of the government — a less direct form of censorship. This uniquely untrimmed October 14, 1712 issue of the Spectator, published by Richard ...

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The Originial Flag of the Thirteen United States

Posted by on Jan 17, 2010 in 18th Century, All Posts, American Revolutionary War, Major Historical Events | 3 Comments

On June 14, 1777, the Second Continental Congress passed the Flag Resolution stating: “That the flag of the Thirteen United States be Thirteen Stripes, alternate red and white: That the union be Thirteen Stars white in a blue field, representing a new constellation.” The brief article pictured above was published in the lower right-hand corner ...

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Milestone Document: Washington’s Farewell Address

Posted by on Jan 17, 2010 in 18th Century, All Posts, Founding Fathers, Major Historical Events, Milestone Documents, Presidents | No Comments

The Declaration of Independence (1776), the Treaty of Paris (1783), the Constitution of the United States (1787), the Bill of Rights (1791) — all of these are widely recognized for being among the most important documents in American history. Another milestone document was President George Washington’s Farewell Address (1796), in which Washington declared he would ...

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The 12 Letters That Preceded The Burr-Hamilton Duel

Posted by on Jan 16, 2010 in 19th Century, All Posts, Founding Fathers, Major Historical Events | 5 Comments

On the morning of July 11, 1804, a sitting Vice President of the United States shot and subsequently killed a Founding Father. Imagine the headlines and talk shows if that happened today!? There are plenty of books and websites — even films and humorous web videos — to browse for background and analysis on the famous ...

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