By Nancy Spannaus May 8, 2024—On April 30th the Coalition for a National Infrastructure Bank (NIB), in conjunction with Congressman Danny Davis (D-Ill), sponsored a briefing for Congressional staff on the National Infrastructure Bank Act of 2023, HR 4052, on Capitol Hill. The bill currently has 34 sponsors. If implemented, the NIB would provide $5 trillion worth of credit devoted strictly to repairing and upgrading the United States’ decrepit infrastructural base. There were 25 participants in the briefing, which included representatives from 16 Congressional offices. The participation was bi ..read more

How Lincoln Tackled Immigration A review of Harold Holzer’s book on Lincoln’s immigration policy By Nancy Spannaus* Brought Forth on This Continent: Abraham Lincoln and American Immigration Harold Holzer Dutton/Penguin Random House, 2024 464 pp. April 30, 2024—Political battles over immigration in the United States are not new. One of the most tumultuous periods in this regard was that between 1830 and 1860, when more than 10 million people emigrated to this country, radically shifting the demographic character of the population in many parts of the nation. Among those politicians forced to ad ..read more

A Discussion of the Historic Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court Ruling against School Segregation and Its Result in Loudoun County By Nancy Spannaus* April 22, 2024 –Approximately 60 Loudoun County residents gathered at the historic Black Douglass High School in Leesburg, Virginia on April 13, to hear a panel discussion on the battles around school desegregation in Virginia and the role of the judiciary, especially the 1954 Brown v. Board of Education decision by the U.S. Supreme Court. The event was hosted by the Edwin Washington Society [1] and the Loudoun Douglass Alumni Association ..read more

By Nancy Spannaus April 15, 2024—I would like to cordially invite you to attend one, or several, of four upcoming Book events in which I am participating. As you can see in the picture, I just got a large shipment of my latest, Defeating Slavery: Hamilton’s American System Showed the Way. I also have copies of its predecessor, Hamilton Versus Wall Street, available for sale. My latest shipment of books, ready for sale. Here’s the run-down: April 20 — 1-3 pm — Book signing for Defeating Slavery at Barnes & Noble, 20427 Exchange Street, Ashburn, Virginia. April 21, 11 to 4 — Kensington Day o ..read more

By Nancy Spannaus* [April 10, 2024–The headline of this article comes from the June 1865 eulogy for President Abraham Lincoln delivered by renowned abolitionist Frederick Douglass, which I discuss in the re-post below. As we approach the 159th anniversary of Lincoln’s death on April 14, the significance of his removal from our nation’s political scene looms large in my mind. We had produced no leadership to follow in his humane footsteps, and the consequences were disastrous not only for the formerly enslaved, but for our country as a whole. I urge you to reflect on his contributions and his l ..read more

A Report and Reflections on the Virginia250 Conference held in Williamsburg, March 18-20 By Nancy Spannaus* March 25, 2024—It was my pleasure to join my husband in attending the annual conference of the Virginia American Revolution 250 Commission last week. Under the title “A Common Cause to All,” the Commission, in partnership with the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, brought together 450 individuals from 37 states and all around Virginia, to discuss plans for commemoration and celebration of our nation’s 250th birthday, July 4, 2026. We were lavishly wined and dined, and able to meet and di ..read more

By Nancy Spannaus March 16, 2024—There are few institutions more emblematic of the principles of the American republic than the free press. Extensive debate in the newspapers was crucial to spreading the ideas of the American Revolution itself, and then in creating an informed citizenry after the establishment of the United States. Our literacy rate was the envy of the world. Are we about to turn our backs on that legacy?  Perhaps a review of our history will encourage people to take up the fight to save this vital tradition. The Zenger Trial The iconic American battle for freedom of the ..read more

By Nancy Spannaus* March 6, 2024 –As the nation gets closer to the 250th anniversary of its birth, on July 4, 1776, I am happy to offer two new presentations in anticipation of that momentous event. A Four-Part Class The first is a four-part class series on the American Revolution, sponsored by the Foundation for the Revival of Classical Culture. The first class will be held on Wednesday, March 13, beginning at 7:00 PM Eastern, and lasting until 8:30. The sessions are on zoom and free, with a suggested donation of $30 per class. The time to sign up is now. You can register to get the zoom link ..read more

“A Simulating Take on the Intersection of American Slavery and Economic Policy” — Kirkus Reviews by Nancy Spannaus February 28, 2024—The title quote is the concluding statement of the Kirkus review of my book Defeating Slavery, which I received today and has now been published on their website. (Click here to see it.) Kirkus Reviews (established 1933) is one of the major and most prestigious book review companies in the United States, and a major source for libraries, publishers, and bookstores. The Indie division is especially for self-published authors like myself.   The author with Def ..read more

A report on a talk by Glenn F. Williams By Nancy Spannaus February 23, 2024—A presentation by well-known military historian Glenn F. Williams[1] to the Sergeant Lawrence Everhart chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution Feb. 21 provides a perfect opportunity to dispel some dominant myths about the American Revolution. This event was particularly timely and useful for me, as I am about to embark on a four-part class series entitled Preparing for America’s 250th Birthday: The Core Principles of the American Revolution.[2] Glenn F. Williams Williams’ presentation was entitled “The American ..read more