James Madison had a prolific political career. Some critics feel, that, the fact that he was unencumbered by a large family helped in maintaining his focus and contributed toward his productivity. […]
The Articles of Confederation were, for the states, not ratified and at times ignored. James Madison noticed that they also saw them as nothing more than a treaty of amity, of commerce, and of alliance, between independent and sovereign states. […]
James Madison took time out to study other confederacies and compared them with the current system. He read Hume’s observation that a state having large communities act as a system of checks and balances against one faction becoming dominant. Keeping that in mind he proposed a new framework of governance. […]
The Great Plains was a region that had seen profound environmental, demographic, and cultural transformations long before Capt. Meriwether Lewis and Lieut. William Clark showed up. And yet, the westward sojourn of Lewis and Clark holds a special place among the many origin myths about the making of America. […]
The Awakeners imparted to Patrick Henry a suspicion of authority, including the authority of the Church of England in Virginia. Thus, despite being deeply religious, he, as defense lawyer, fought for the Two-Penny Act against the clergy in Virginia. […]
The Church of England appointed parsons to its colonies of North America. It also expected complete conformity to its ‘Thirty-nine Articles of Religion’ which applied to non-Christians as well. This was challenged by the Presbyterian movement, the Great Awakening. […]
Enlightenment believes in reason. If its not vitiated by any authority and control, it is a capable tool for understanding the mysteries of life. […]
When it came to reasons as to why the Black Death was spreading, medieval scholars thought of them all. From earthquakes to planetary conjunctions to bad weather. […]
The theory of the four humors in the body was proposed by a Greek physician but it was still accepted in the Middle Ages. It was widely used to treat people and try to balance their humors. […]
When the Black Death spread throughout Europe, the French King, Philip VI, ordered the medical college at the University of Paris to explain what was going on. Since they didn’t know anything about germ transmission, they looked up to the sky. […]
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