Essays
Why “Libertarian” Defenses of the Confederacy and “States’ Rights” are Incoherent
Blanks argues that there is no good libertarian reason to support the South’s secession prior to the Civil War.
Critical Rationalism
Lester introduces the Popperian theory of “critical rationalism,” which holds that all knowledge is ultimately only fallible theory.
The Roots of State Education Part 2: Plato’s Case Against Free-Market Education
History’s first great philosopher wasn’t a fan of educational freedom.
The Roots of State Education Part 1: The Spartan Model
Smith discusses how the educational system of Sparta influenced later advocates of state education.
Class for Classical Liberals
Charles Murray’s new book raises intriguing questions—but is far less objectionable than one might think.
Monopolies, Mercantilism, Illegal Buttons, and Saltpeter Men
A glance at some economic regulations from the past.
Fingering the King on the Road to Independence
The Coercive Acts led Americans to blame the king for the conspiracy to strip them of their rights and liberties.
The Coercive Acts and Their Theoretical Significance
The British response to the Boston Tea Party and the revolution-sparking Coercive Acts.
The Boston Tea Party
The British response to the Boston Tea Party stiffened American resolve for revolution. In this essay, George Smith tells the story of that event, one of the most famous in American history.
Committees of Correspondence and the Road to American Independence
The story of the American Revolution’s prelude continues with the emergence of Committees of Correspondence among the colonists.
The Boston Massacre
Smith continues his look at the events leading up to the American Revolution by telling the complex story of Americans at the time rather dramatically called the Boston Massacre.
A Misunderstanding, the Townshend Act, and More Trouble in the American Colonies
In this essay, Smith uses some of the crucial events that led to the American Revolution as background to explain the theory of resistance and revolution that emerged and were expressed in the Declaration of Independence.