David Coates on the strengths and weaknesses of American exceptionalism. Gavin McInnes on 10 things he learned about the South. Andrew Hartman on the new historiographic consensus on the 1970s. A review of Before the Revolution: America’s Ancient Pasts by Daniel K. Richter. Living in the Midwest: Does it make you complacent and likely to wear clogs? Richard Cohen on the myth of American exceptionalism. Lean and mean: Citizens of Colorado Springs are self-imposed subjects of a small government experiment. James Wilson signed the Declaration of Independence and was a key architect of the US Constitution, and served as one of the first justices of the Supreme Court — he was also a reckless land-speculator, jailed more than once for debt, who died a fugitive. Securing Arizona: What Americans can learn from their rogue state. How slavery really ended in America: The forgotten story of three “contrabands,” a pragmatic general and a shrug that made history. Condo Culture: Richard Reep on how Florida became Floridastan. Michael H. Hunt on the Bin Laden killing and American exceptionalism. The most peaceful states in America? Nonviolent New Englanders. Here are 6 Civil War myths everyone believes (that are total BS). A review of A Queer History of the United States by Michael Bronski (and more). Tiny towns may be an endangered species: Several states facing budget shortfalls are offering incentives for townships to share services or even merge. The introduction to Waves of Resistance: Surfing and History in Twentieth-Century Hawaii by Isaiah Helekunihi Walker. Yo Ho Ho and a Bottle of Ru: Robert Moss on the forgotten liquor of the South is finding fans around town. We're #1: Ten depressing ways America is exceptional. A review of The Idea of America: Reflections on the Birth of the United States by Gordon S. Wood.