December 21, 1826: Texas Rehearses A Revolution

On December 21, 1826, a small group of American settlers in Nacogdoches, then part of Mexican Texas, issued a bold declaration of independence from Mexico. Their action marked the opening act of the Fredonian Rebellion, an ill-fated but historically significant uprising that foreshadowed the…

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December 2, 1859: John Brown Meets His Fate

John Brown’s hanging on December 2, 1859, was a moment of profound historical significance, symbolizing the deep divisions over slavery in pre-Civil War America. The execution occurred in Charles Town, Virginia (now West Virginia), just weeks after his failed raid on the federal armory…

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April 20, 1859: An Insane Plea Leads To Acquittal

Daniel E. Sickles was no ordinary figure in 19th-century American politics. Born in New York City in 1819, Sickles was a man of contradictions—a flamboyant and controversial character whose life would be forever marked by two infamous events: his murder of Philip Barton Key and his…

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