# American Colonies
What All History Lovers Should Know About Benjamin Franklin
While Benjamin Franklin might be best known for flying a kite in a thunderstorm, he never actually flew a kite. Founding Father and scientist Benjamin Franklin was actually afraid of thunderstorms, so…
16 Surprising Facts About Colonial America’s Mail-Order Brides of Jamestown
The Jamestown brides, tobacco wives, and mail-order brides are only a few names for the women who immigrated from England…
Mother Nature’s Fury: 10 Devastating Historical Hurricanes, 1502-1780
Hurricane: a term likely derived from Spanish’s “huracan.” The Spanish word, in turn, shares roots with Caribbean tribal words for…
This Day In History: The Battle of Yorktown Begins (1782)
On this day during the American Revolution in 1781, General George Washington, commanding a force of 17,000 American and French…
This Day In History: Benedict Arnold Commits Treason Against the Americans (1779)
During the American War of Independence on this day in 1780, the American General Benedict Arnold meets with the British.…
This Day In History: Francois-Louis-Frederic Haldimand Was Born.
On this day in history in 1718, Francois-Louis-Frederic Haldimand, was born. He was born in Switzerland and yet was to…
This day In History, Spain Declares War On Britain (1778)
On this day in 1779, Spain declared war on Britain, creating an alliance with the colonial Americans. The Americans had…
This Day in History: The Burning of The Gaspee That Engaged American Evolution(1772)
In an incident, on this day in 1772, that some regard as the first naval engagement of the American Revolution,…