Today's American Minute

Louisiana Territory, Haitian Slave Rebellion that convinced Napoleon to sell it, & Napoleon's final spiritual reflections - American Minute with Bill Federer

May 12, 2023 • & Napoleon's final spiritual reflections • the Haitian Slave Rebellion that convinced Napoleon to sell it • The Louisiana Territory

On APRIL 30, 1803, the Louisiana Purchase was made, effectively doubling the size of the United States. The 828,000 square miles were purchased at less than three cents an acre - it was the greatest real estate deal in history!

Treaty of Tripoli & the confusion surrounding it explained in four points - American Minute with Bill Federer

May 08, 2023 • Treaty of Tripoli & the Confusion About It Explained in Four Points

Noted religious critic and anti-theist Christopher Hitchens admitted in his work Jefferson Versus the Muslim Pirates (2007): "Of course, those secularists like myself who like to cite this Treaty must concede that its conciliatory language was part of America's attempt to come to terms with Barbary demands"

Cervantes & Shakespeare: Two Writers who significantly shaped Western Literature - American Minute with Bill Federer

May 07, 2023 • Cervantes & Shakespeare: Two Writers who significantly shaped Western Literature

One of France's greatest writers, Victor Hugo, wrote in his Preface to Cromwell, 1827: "Lastly, this threefold poetry flows from three great sources -- the Bible, Homer, Shakespeare ... The Bible before the Iliad, the Iliad before Shakespeare." Victor Hugo stated: "England has two books, the Bible and Shakespeare. England made Shakespeare, but the Bible made England."

Cinco de Mayo preceded by Dos de Mayo, Spain, Napoleon, Mexico, Maximillian, & Juárez - American Minute with Bill Federer

May 06, 2023 • & Juárez • Cinco de Mayo preceded by Dos de Mayo • Maximillian • Mexico • Napoleon • Spain

Santa Anna rose to power. In his 40 year career, called by some historians the Age of Santa Anna, he ruled as Mexico's President for 12 non-consecutive terms.

He finally laid aside Mexico's Constitution and made himself a despotic dictator. Santa Anna told the U.S. minister to Mexico Joel R. Poinsett: "A hundred years to come my people will not be fit for liberty ... A despotism is the proper government for them, but there is no reason why it should not be a wise and virtuous one."

The Public Faith of JFK "... guiding the affairs of a democratic nation founded on Christian ideals" - American Minute with Bill Federer

May 01, 2023

John F. Kennedy wrote to Brazil's President, Janio da Silva Quadros, January 31, 1961: "To each of us is entrusted the heavy responsibility of guiding the affairs of a democratic nation founded on Christian ideals."