Category Archives: American History

White Paper: The Decline of American Jurisprudence — Theory, Practice, and the Departure from the Founding Vision

Posted on October 29, 2025 by nathanalbright

I. Introduction The development of American jurisprudence reflects a long struggle between the nation’s founding legal philosophy—rooted in natural law, divine accountability, and republican self-government—and subsequent movements toward legal positivism, technocratic management, and progressive instrumentalism. This paper traces the major … Continue reading →

Posted in American History, Christianity, History, Musings | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

White Paper: Architectural Changes Made By Presidents To The White House

Posted on October 23, 2025 by nathanalbright

Executive Summary Since its original design and construction beginning in the the 1790s, the White House has not only served as the residence of the the president of the United States, but also as a statement of architectural, technological, and … Continue reading →

Posted in American History, History, Musings | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

The Sherman Antitrust Act and the Structure of American Sports

Posted on October 21, 2025 by nathanalbright

Executive Summary The Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890 was intended to prevent monopolization and promote competitive markets across the U.S. economy. Yet in the world of sports, the Act’s influence has been paradoxical—sometimes shaping leagues into more equitable and competitive … Continue reading →

Posted in American History, History, Musings, Sports | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

White Paper: The Receivership Crisis of the 1970s and the Worldwide Church of God: A Study in Religious Governance, Civil Authority, and Institutional Autonomy

Posted on October 13, 2025 by nathanalbright

Executive Summary The receivership crisis that engulfed the Worldwide Church of God (WCG) in the late 1970s stands as one of the most consequential church-state confrontations in modern American religious history. Sparked by allegations of financial impropriety and institutional mismanagement, … Continue reading →

Posted in American History, Christianity, Church of God, History, Musings | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

White Paper: The Preservation of Older Language and Cultural Forms Among Settler Colonists: Implications for Identity Politics

Posted on September 25, 2025 by nathanalbright

Executive Summary Settler colonists across history have frequently preserved linguistic and cultural forms that have diminished or disappeared in their countries of origin. This process occurs due to geographic separation, limited exposure to cultural change in the metropole, and the … Continue reading →

Posted in American History, History, International Relations, Musings | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

White Paper: Defining the Scope of a Comprehensive Regional History of Appalachia

Posted on September 24, 2025 by nathanalbright

Executive Summary This white paper establishes the scope for a comprehensive regional history of Appalachia. Appalachia, stretching across more than a dozen U.S. states, represents one of the nation’s most distinctive cultural and historical regions. Too often framed through external … Continue reading →

Posted in American History, Graduate School, History | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Regaining Trust with Right-of-Center Users: A White Paper for Google and Peer Tech Platforms

Posted on September 24, 2025 by nathanalbright

Executive Summary Public trust in large platforms’ neutrality eroded sharply during the 2020–2024 period, driven by (i) high-profile moderation calls on elections and COVID-19, (ii) real or perceived government pressure on private moderation, and (iii) weak transparency and redress. In … Continue reading →

Posted in American History, History, Musings | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Satire as a Mirror to Ugly Truths: Blazing Saddles, Mel Brooks, and the Fragile Power of Laughter

Posted on September 9, 2025 by nathanalbright

I. Introduction: Why Laughter Stings Satire has always occupied a dangerous space. It is at once a form of entertainment and an act of confrontation. From Aristophanes mocking Athenian politics to Jonathan Swift’s deadpan proposal to eat Irish children, satire … Continue reading →

Posted in American History, History, Musings | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

White Paper: The Early Political Speeches of Abraham Lincoln: Foundations of Statesmanship

Posted on September 8, 2025 by nathanalbright

Executive Summary Abraham Lincoln’s early political speeches—delivered before his presidency—reveal the contours of his moral philosophy, political prudence, and rhetorical style. Among these, the Temperance Address (1842) and the Lyceum Address on the Perpetuation of Our Political Institutions (1838) stand … Continue reading →

Posted in American History, History, Musings | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

White Paper: The Timing and Nature of the Abolition of Slavery in the Northern States

Posted on September 8, 2025 by nathanalbright

Executive Summary The abolition of slavery in the northern United States was not a singular or uniform event, but rather a gradual and regionally diverse process that unfolded between the late 18th and mid-19th centuries. It reflected a combination of … Continue reading →

Posted in American Civil War, American History, History, Musings | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment