George Washington

In search of refuge during the American Revolution, this enslaved black man joined the British army

February 27, 2019

The American Revolution was a war for independence, but many enslaved black people found liberty by joining the British. New research documents the story of one South Carolina teenager who became a hero in the British army.

Book tells story 'most famous man most of us have never heard of'

Living on Earth

July 22, 2018

Many New Yorkers may not know David Hosack's name, but they wouldn't recognize their city without the public institutions he founded or influenced.

Health

Why 21st-century anti-vaxxers have nothing on their 18th-century counterparts

The World

March 25, 2015

George Washington certainly worried about the British army, but he may have been even more worried about smallpox, which had the potential to ravage his already-fragile army. That's how Washington became colonial America's champion of inoculation, the precursor to vaccines — but not without lots of protest.

Books

Washington was once quite literally a 'cesspool'

The Takeaway

November 18, 2014

The history of Washington features plenty of mudslinging, fighting and division, and that's without even going inside Congress. Here's how the capital developed from the small, dirty, disorganized town it was in the 19th century into today's capital — and how that history still shapes the city.

Global Politics

A new British party borrows a famous old name for next year's election

The World

November 04, 2014

The Whig Party was once a powerful force in British politics, but it's been a century and a half since the Whigs were on British ballots. Now a group is hoping to bring the Whig Party back for parliamentary elections next year and update the party's reformist agenda for 2015.

Global Politics

How the French won the American Revolution

The World

July 04, 2014

There might be no Fourth of July holiday without the French. Their help was vital to the winning of the War for Independence, and the survival of the early republic. The tragic story of one French aristocrat illustrates that relationship. And it’s not Lafayette!

Lifestyle & Belief

Henry Liu is a musket-carrying member of the Lexington Minute Men. He's also Chinese American.

The World

April 21, 2014

There are some requirements to be a Lexington Minute Man. You have to be a US citizen and you have to be male. Your ancestry, though, doesn't matter, either to other reenactors or, apparently, the crowds.

Environment

New Digital Public Library of America seeks to increase accessibility to treasured works

The Takeaway

April 19, 2013

The Digital Public Library of America is seeking to build a large collection of digital archives that otherwise might not be widely available. It went online this week.

Global Politics

Iranian American dismayed to learn State Department no longer wants his services

The World

April 15, 2013

Amir Mohammed Estakhri has spent nearly a dozen year working with the State Department as an Iranian-language translator. But, recently, he's learned his services are no longer needed -- and he thinks it may be because he translated for Iranian officials in the U.S. as well.

Arts, Culture & Media

Iran and the US: An Interpreter Working For Both Sides Hits a Wall

The World

April 12, 2013

A California man who used to take pride in his role in helping facilitate communication between US and Iran may be facing a forced career change.

George Washington

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