The hottest Colonial America Substack posts right now

Boston’s occupation forced ordinary people and elites to pick sides between Loyalists and Patriots, often with real personal and economic risk.
Seizing and transporting heavy artillery from Fort Ticonderoga allowed Washington and Henry Knox to fortify Dorchester Heights, making the British position in Boston untenable and prompting their evacuation.
The British evacuation proved that coordinated civilian and military effort could defeat Britain’s forces, boosting Patriot morale, removing many Loyalists, and accelerating support that led to independence.

George Washington and his troops secretly fortified Dorchester Heights overnight, surprising the British and forcing them to abandon Boston.
The operation broke a year-long stalemate around Boston and became Washington’s first major triumph in the Revolutionary War.
The episode highlights American ingenuity and rapid logistical skill—abilities that let underdog forces seize unexpected advantages when opponents underestimate them.

Henry Knox was a self-taught, overweight bookseller who had even lost two fingers, yet he rose to lead the Continental Army’s artillery through skill rather than credentials.
George Washington trusted talent over formal qualifications and appointed Knox, a decision that proved crucial for the patriot cause.
Knox’s “noble train of artillery” hauled captured guns from Fort Ticonderoga to Cambridge, forcing the British to evacuate Boston and delivering a decisive early victory in the Revolution.

Jewish patriots actively took part in the American Revolution and helped fight British rule instead of waiting passively for their fate.
Individuals like Jonas Phillips publicly supported independence by owning and circulating the Declaration and writing in Yiddish to promote the patriot cause abroad.
The ancient Maccabee story is used as a parallel to show Jewish resistance to tyranny and to emphasize that Jews helped shape the new American republic.

In January 1776, New York City was in panic and leaders debated sending troops to fortify the city against an expected British invasion.
The Continental Congress and George Washington considered bringing Connecticut forces into New York, which sparked a dispute over whether troops raised outside a colony should operate inside its borders.
That argument about outside military authority versus local control shows that debates over using force in cities are longstanding and not new.

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The post discusses the idea of a more fun, less Puritan-focused early Colonial New England.
The image shows an imagined 17th-century party hosted by Thomas Morton with English and Indians partying.
The post offers a 7-day free trial to read more content on Non-Boring History.

Seventeenth-century American colonies like Jamestown and Plymouth were founded on communist principles, which led to starvation and failure.
Communism is inherently immoral and leads to resentment, mistrust, and decreased productivity.
The introduction of private property at Jamestown and Plymouth led to increased productivity, social harmony, and moral transformation, emphasizing the importance of freedom and private property.

The American founding argued that legitimate government rests on natural rights and the consent of the governed, not hereditary monarchy.
When the revolution seemed doomed in winter 1776, Thomas Paine’s The American Crisis urged everyone to persist and helped rally public support and soldiers’ enlistments.
Washington’s surprise crossing of the Delaware and the victories at Trenton and Princeton revived morale, prompted reenlistments, and are credited with saving the Revolutionary cause.

Alexander Craighead, a preacher in Charlotte, strongly advocated for individual and religious independence from government oversight.
Craighead's intense preaching style and disdain for government control aligned with the Great Awakening movement in America, emphasizing religious devotion for common people.
His influence in the Mecklenburg County region is believed to have contributed to the spirit of independence that led to the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence, although the document's existence remains disputed.