Kieran J. O’Keefe is a history Ph.D. candidate at The George Washington University. His research primarily focuses on Loyalists in the Hudson Valley of New York, exploring how conflict, upheaval, and forced migration shaped Loyalist communities during and after the Revolutionary War. Other research interests include Canada during the American Revolution, the life of George Washington, and the history of Alexandria, Virginia. Prior to attending George Washington, Kieran received his M.A. from the University of Vermont and his B.A. from Mount Saint Mary College.
Just a few months after the Revolutionary War began, Congress authorized the invasion of Canada. After some initial success, the invading forces were defeated at the Battle of Quebec in December 1775 and were forced out of Canada entirely the following June. Despite this failure, many still expected Canada to join the union as the […]
Alexandria, Virginia, is well known as George Washington’s hometown, but its role during the American Revolution is not widely understood. Like the rest of Northern Virginia, Alexandria was largely spared the fierce warfare that raged across the country. Nonetheless, the Revolution profoundly affected the community. Founded in 1749 along the Potomac River, Alexandria was a […]
Along with the Civil War, the American Revolution is one of the two most iconic events in American history. The Revolution has inspired countless myths, been used as a political weapon, and is at the heart of American civic religion. Generations of Americans have honored and commemorated the Revolution by erecting monuments to various peoples, […]