18th Century Dancing: the Minuet!

In the 18th century, a ball or assembly would typically begin with a formal minuet. In 1773-1774 in Virginia, diarist Philip Fithian said their balls went in this order: “first minuets one round; second Giggs [sic]; third Reels; and last of all country-Dances.” The first dance, the minuet, originated in the French court. It’s a … Read more

Would you have been a patriot?

While I was researching for Freedom’s Ring, I read a LOT about the radicalism and the ideology of the American Revolution (including both Pulitzer Prize-winners by those titles!). The Revolution showed a big change in the way the average citizen saw the world and even what it means to BE a citizen. Today, we look at the … Read more