Dave Benner: In a Nutshell
The Jay Treaty in a Nutshell
John Jay returned from Britain in 1794, carrying with him treaty that normalized relations between the United States and its former mother country. He was greeted to a hero’s welcome by the Federalists, but was held in contempt by Republicans. The country became...
The First Bank of the United States in a Nutshell
Of all things, the most controversial issue of President George Washington’s first term swirled around a bank. While Alexander Hamilton championed the establishment of the First Bank of the United States, Thomas Jefferson believed it would endanger liberty, ignite a...
The XYZ Affair in a Nutshell
In 1778, the young American states secured a vital alliance with France, helping to overcome the British in the War for Independence. By 1797, that alliance crumbled and war between the United States and France seemed inevitable. But how did things change so quickly?...
Thomas Jefferson: His Ideas in a Nutshell
In his first inaugural address, Thomas Jefferson articulated a vision of “peace, commerce, and honest friendship with all nations, entangling alliances with none.” But how did he think this would be best accomplished? In this video, I explain the Sage of Monticello’s...