How the Patent-Troll Wright Brothers Fought to Stifle Innovation
The Wright brothers spent most of their post-1903 careers suing other inventors who were doing the much-needed work of improving airplane technology.
U.S. History
Displaying 1681 - 1690 of 3563
The Political Economy of the Antifederalists
The Constitution, Antifedralists said, lacked sufficient mechanisms to prevent the new government from taxing, spending, and regulating without limit.
Filibuster in Nicaragua, Part 1: William Walker’s First Failure
Chris Calton tells the story of William Walker and his hope of “Americanizing” Latin America.
Why States Don’t Require Blood Tests for Marriages Anymore
States used to mandate that couples take blood tests before being allowed to obtain a marriage license. Fortunately, that is now a thing of the past.
Trump Shows Us Why Its So Hard to “Drain the Swamp”
The permanent government of bureaucrats, generals, staffers, and strategists in Washington exercises greater power than any elected official.
Misleading with Numbers: It’s Worse When the Government Does It
It's alarming how much government will turn to bad and misleading numbers to justify its latest scheme to tax and regulate us for our own good.
Is Zoning Popular? The Evidence is Weak
Often, these zoning ordinances were shoddily crafted by non-locals to help municipalities meet federal mandates.
The Child Labor Amendment Debate of the 1920’s
The failed attempt to pass an anti-child-labor amendment in the 1920s offers some fascinating insights into the Progressive ideology of the time.
A Brief (and Messy) History of Modern Gold Standards
After World War I, the term "gold standard" took on many meanings — a fact that eventually led to that standard’s degradation and abrogation.
Filibuster in Cuba, Part 2
Chris Calton recounts Narciso López’s second attempt to overthrow Spanish rule in Cuba.
