The Great Awakening was a wave of increased religious enthusiasm led by evangelical Protestant ministers that first swept through the American Colonies in the 1730s. It made Christianity intensely personal to the average person by fostering a deep sense of spiritual conviction and by encouraging introspection and a commitment to a new standard of personal morality.
While the Great Awakening was very effective in reviving religion, the emotion burned out quickly after the first generation and there was much “back sliding.” By the 1820s conditions were ripe for another round of revival, what became known as the Second Great Awakening. [Read more…] about Infidels and Atheists: 1820 Religious Revival in Saratoga County
Before President Trump retreated to Mar-a-Lago, the pundits were debating whether he would — or could, legally — pardon himself for any misdeeds committed in or out of office. Although he’s gone from the White House, the issue is not moot. 
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Let us raise a glass to beer, the drink that has fueled America since its beginnings. Beer was such a popular drink that most cities during parts of the nineteenth century there were almost as many breweries as houses of worship.
The Utica/Oneida County Branch NAACP and Oneida County History Center are set to celebrate Black History Month with a virtual program following the national theme The Black Family: Representation, Identity, and Diversity, which provides a rich tapestry of images for exploring the African American past and present, on February 27th. 
Fort Ticonderoga will host a Virtual Living History Event set for on February 27th, highlighting French Regulars and Canadians assembling at Fort Carillon (later named Ticonderoga), preparing to march across frozen Lake George to surprise the British in 1757 at Fort William Henry. 
Donald Trump’s recent impeachment trial in which the President was accused of incitement of insurrection against the United States recalls to mind a case from more than 200 years ago.
Schenectady County Historical Society has announced the African American Historical Records Project, a new public history initiative focused on Schenectady’s African American history with the focus of preserving primary sources and enabling future generations to engage with the community’s historical records.