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History
Dive into columns, discoveries, and thoughtful and informative essays from the past and present, penned by Eli Lake, Niall Ferguson, and others.
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This Week in American History: Forged Letters, Fake Prisoners, and a High-Value Target
Long before the Maduro raid, a scrappy U.S. general ran a special operation to catch Philippine rebel leader Emilio Aguinaldo—a scheme so bold it still…
Jonathan Horn
You’re Not Protesting Like Dr. King
For my uncle, protest wasn’t a moral stance alone—it was a strategy, a discipline, and a craft. Today, we’ve lost all three.
Isaac Newton Farris Jr.
This Week in American History: The British Bang a U-ey
Two hundred fifty years ago this week, Washington and his Continentals liberated Boston.
Jonathan Horn
This Week in American History: Tariff Wars
One hundred ninety-three years ago this week, a truce of sorts on tariffs brought the country back from the brink of civil war.
Jonathan Horn
This Week in American History: The Fortress Washington Built Overnight
On this night 250 years ago, George Washington and his men ingeniously surprised the British in Boston—and paved the way for their first great victory…
Jonathan Horn
This Week in American History: Jefferson’s Words for a Fractured Country
Two hundred twenty-five years ago this week, America’s third president reminded us that freedom is what makes our country ‘the world’s best hope.’
Jonathan Horn
This Week in American History: Washington’s Civil War
In 1861, the North and South battled over the father of our country.
Jonathan Horn
This Week in American History: Just Call It Washington’s Birthday
Presidents’ Day sounds all too much like a participation trophy for heads of state.
Jonathan Horn
This Week in American History: The First War for Hearts and Minds
At the start of the Revolutionary War, a diplomat and a general believed rebellion could be ended by persuasion rather than punishment. History had…
Jonathan Horn
This Week in American History: A City on the Brink
Long before Minneapolis, Americans argued over the authority to send in forces to cities in crisis. One revolutionary war standoff shows how old—and…
Jonathan Horn
How Holocaust Denial Became Mainstream
As memory of the atrocity fades, the war over its meaning is more important than ever.
Simon Sebag Montefiore
This Week in American History: The Unlikeliest Hero of the American Revolution
Self-taught, overweight, and missing two fingers, Henry Knox pulled off one of the most decisive feats of the American Revolution.
Jonathan Horn
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