In the past week, North Korea has launched hundreds of balloons bearing what North Korean officials claim to be 15 tonnes of trash. Their reason? To “let the South Koreans experience enough of how dirty it feels and how much joint effort it takes to clean up spread out rubbish,” said Kim Kang II, North Korea’s vice-defense minister. A Psychological “Trash War” South Korea views the balloons as an “irrational act of provocation” by the North Korean government. South Korea’s defense minister, Shin Won-sik, went so far as to inform U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin that, according to the South Korean military, the balloons violated the 1953 armistice agreement between the two Koreas. North Korea views South Korean leaflet balloons in the same manner, as evidenced by Kim’s statement. Leaflet balloons have been launched by South Korean activists into North Korea since the 1950s. These balloons contain leaflets, among other items, that critique the Kim regime and its policies.  The two countries have been locked in a psychological war since the Korean War and are still technically at war to this day. Each side seeks to influence the attitudes of the citizens of the opposing country. South Korean activists seek to send the outside world into the severely isolated North. The North, on the other hand, favors terror. The trash balloons should not be dismissed as just a nuisance. The balloons send the message that next time, North Korea could send bags filled with biological, chemical, and even radiological weapons. Some of the bags the trash was sent in also contained timers that had the ability to pop the bags while in the air. Should timers be included in a balloon carrying weapons, and should they actually work, there could be catastrophic results. Why Send Them Now? The trash balloons aren’t a random act of aggression by North Korea against its southern neighbor. Since the 1950s, South Korean activists, mostly North Korean defectors, have sent balloons of their own into North Korea. These balloons have carried leaflets critiquing the Kim regime, medicine, bibles, food, and even USBs containing news and information about the outside world. In 2020, South Korea President Moon Jae-in of the centrist-liberal Democratic Party of Korea caved to pressure from North Korea, led by Kim Jong Un’s sister Kim Yo Jong, to crack down on the activists. A law that criminalized the launch of balloons from South Korea into North Korea went into effect in 2021. The law was immediately controversial, with critics saying it violated freedom of speech rights.  It wasn’t until last year, under President Yoon Suk Yeol of the conservative, right-wing People Power Party, that the law was repealed. The full resumption of the leaflet campaigns likely motivated North Korea to retaliate. Future Actions A South Korean official has already declared that “unendurable” measures will be taken against North Korea in response to the trash balloons. Another official from current President Yoon’s office threatened the resumption of the use of loudspeakers to play propaganda across the demilitarized zone, a practice that ceased in 2018 thanks to an agreement between the two countries during Moon’s presidency. South Korea’s presidential national security council also decided to suspend that 2018 agreement. North Korea maintains that its actions were strictly retaliatory, but tensions continue to rise and fears of North Korean use of nuclear weapons continue to increase.  It’s important not to underestimate North Korean aggression. While “trash warfare” may seem silly, the future it could lead to may very well be dangerous.  Katelyn Livorse is a junior studying political science and French at Grove City College and an intern at The American Spectator. The post Trash Balloons Are a Threat to Security on the Korean Peninsula appeared first on The American Spectator | USA News and Politics.

When the entire planet finally gets to see the Ark of the Covenant, it is going to change everything.  The Ark of the Covenant disappeared from history more than 2,500 years ago, and many historians are convinced that it no longer exists.  So when it is finally unveiled, it will be the greatest archaeological bombshell in human history.  Over the years, there have been a lot of truly outlandish theories about the location of the Ark of the Covenant, and those that have pursued such theories have always come up empty.  That is because the true location of the Ark is not a mystery.  As you will see below, the Temple Institute says that it knows “exactly” where it is, and I believe them. There is no object that archaeologists would like to find more than the Ark of the Covenant.  It was created more than 3,000 years ago, and the tablets on which the Ten Commandments were written are literally housed within it… For centuries, people have tried in vain to locate and recover the Bible’s most sacred objects. Among the most sought-after of these religious antiquities is the famed Ark of the Covenant. This legendary artifact is the ornate, gilded case said to have been built some 3,000 years ago by the Israelites to house the stone tablets on which the Ten Commandments were written. Biblical accounts describe the Ark as large, about the size of a 19th-century seaman’s chest, made of gold-plated wood, and topped with two large, golden angels. It was carried using poles inserted through rings on its sides. According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, since nobody has seen the Ark in more than 2,500 years, “most historians” believe that the Ark “either disintegrated over time or was destroyed”… Most historians think that if it existed, the more than 3,000-year-old relic either disintegrated over time or was destroyed. But this, too, is only speculation. For many, the final fate of the Ark remains a fascinating mystery and a perhaps unsolvable one. I had to smile when I read that. All of those “historians” are going to be quite surprised when the Ark of the Covenant is unveiled for the entire world to see. The last time that anyone saw the Ark was more than 2,500 years ago.  After the Temple was destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 BC, the Ark completely disappeared from history… The last known location of the Ark of the Covenant was in the First Temple’s Holy of Holies. However, after the Temple’s destruction in 586 BCE, it disappeared. But the Babylonians did not capture the Ark. So what happened to it? Many believe that it was hidden under the city of Jerusalem at some point prior to the Babylonian conquest. And apparently it is still sitting under the city of Jerusalem today. On their official website, the Temple Institute clearly states that they know “exactly” where it is located… While some claim to have evidence that the ark is in Ethiopia, and of course, moviegoers were treated to a fanciful version of the story in “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” in reality, the expression “lost” ark is not an accurate description for the Jewish people’s point of view – because we have always known exactly where it is. So the Ark is “Hidden,” and hidden quite well, but it is not lost. Tradition records that even as King Solomon built the First Temple, he already knew, through Divine inspiration, that eventually it would be destroyed. Thus Solomon, the wisest of all men, oversaw the construction of a vast system of labyrinths, mazes, chambers and corridors underneath the Temple Mount complex. He commanded that a special place be built in the bowels of the earth, where the sacred vessels of the Temple could be hidden in case of approaching danger. Midrashic tradition teaches that King Josiah of Israel, who lived about forty years before the destruction of the First Temple, commanded the Levites to hide the Ark, together with the original menorah and several other items*, in this secret hiding place which Solomon had prepared. This location is recorded in our sources, and today, there are those who know exactly where this chamber is. And we know that the ark is still there, undisturbed, and waiting for the day when it will be revealed. An attempt was made some few years ago to excavate towards the direction of this chamber. This resulted in widespread Moslem unrest and rioting. They stand a great deal to lose if the Ark is revealed – for it will prove to the whole world that there really was a Holy Temple, and thus, that the Jews really do have a claim to the Temple Mount. The Temple Institute isn’t saying that they have a vague idea that it is under the city of Jerusalem somewhere. They are telling us that they know precisely where it is hidden. And I believe them. Previously, there have been reports that Rabbi Yehuda Getz was “within 40 feet” of the chamber where it is located in 1982… Rabbi Getz believes that in 1982 he was very close, within 40 feet, to finding the cave in which the Ark resides. He was conducting a search in an old tunnel that had been filled with the debris of centuries, which runs perpendicular to the Western Wall and under the Temple Mount. However, when the Moslems discovered that there were diggings being conducted under the Dome of the Rock, they threatened a general riot and the diggings were stopped. The rabbi explains that, for the sake of maintaining peace with their Moslem neighbors, the Israelis had to reseal the entrance to the tunnel, and it remains blocked up to this day. It is one thing to know where the Ark is, but actually getting it out from where it is hidden will be another matter entirely. As investigative archaeologist Harry Moskoff has accurately noted, getting approval from all of the necessary authorities would not be easy… Now, about those subterranean tunnel entrances. Even if one would theoretically obtain all the permits from the Israel Antiquities Authority, the Jordanian WAQF, as well as the halachic permission from the Chief Rabbis of our day, it is simply too dangerous from a spiritual, as well as physical perspective to enter into these tunnels (which I delineate in my book). Moskoff is completely convinced that the Ark is sitting there ready to be revealed. In fact, he believes that the Ark is directly behind a gigantic 570 ton stone that was specifically placed there to protect it… Moskoff took CBN News to the spot where he believes the Ark really lies. He believes a key clue lies behind a 570-ton rock and says high-tech search tools give credence to his theory. “Two years ago, there were tests done by the University of Nebraska, sonar tests…using electromagnetic waves.  They actually found what’s called a storage space across from here,” said Moskoff. “So actually, there was a purpose for putting this giant stone, this massive slab here.  One of the reasons, in my opinion, is to protect whatever it is on the other side.  And according to my theory of where the Ark was actually buried by King Josiah, I think it was 568 BC – in back of these boulders, these massive stones,” he said. My opinion is that the Ark has not been revealed to the world yet because it has not been time for that to happen yet. But could that time be coming soon? The Temple Institute knows where the Ark is, and they aren’t going to be able to keep a lid on that secret forever. At some point the Ark will once again see the light of day, and then everything will change. There is actually an ancient Jewish document entitled “Treatise of the Vessels” that says that the Ark of the Covenant will not be revealed “until the day of the coming of the Messiah”… One text called the “Treatise of the Vessels” says that the ark “shall not be revealed until the day of the coming of the Messiah son of David….” We are certainly living in the days just before the return of the Lord Jesus Christ, and as I discussed in my latest book, I believe that it won’t be too long before the Ark is finally revealed. One of the reasons why the Ark has been on my heart lately is because the day of Pentecost if coming up. On the day of Pentecost, we remember the covenant that God made with His people at Mt. Sinai, and we also remember how the Holy Spirit visited the apostles in the Book of Acts. When the Ark of the Covenant is finally revealed, it will confirm that the covenant that God made with His people at Mt. Sinai really does exist. And all of the historians that told us that the Ark no longer exists, Moses was not a real historical figure, and the exodus out of Egypt was just a legend will have to come up with entirely new theories. Michael’s new book entitled “Chaos” is available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon.com, and you can subscribe to his Substack newsletter at michaeltsnyder.substack.com. About the Author: Michael Snyder’s extremely controversial new book entitled “Chaos” is available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon.com. He has also written seven other books that are available on Amazon.com including “End Times”, “7 Year Apocalypse”, “Lost Prophecies Of The Future Of America”, “The Beginning Of The End”, and “Living A Life That Really Matters”.  When you purchase any of Michael’s books you help to support the work that he is doing.  You can also get his articles by email as soon as he publishes them by subscribing to his Substack newsletter.  Michael has published thousands of articles on The Economic Collapse Blog, End Of The American Dream and The Most Important News, and he always freely and happily allows others to republish those articles on their own websites.  These are such troubled times, and people need hope.  John 3:16 tells us about the hope that God has given us through Jesus Christ: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”  If you have not already done so, we strongly urge you to invite Jesus Christ to be your Lord and Savior today. The post When The Ark Of The Covenant Is Finally Revealed To The World, It Will Be The Greatest Archaeological Bombshell In History appeared first on End Of The American Dream.

by Mish Shedlock, Mish Talk: New York City hotel prices have never been higher. Illegal immigration is part of the reason why. Mayoral graft is another. The New York Times explains Why N.Y.C. Hotel Rooms Are So Expensive Right Now In late 2022, as thousands of migrants began to arrive in New York City, city officials […]

from BANNED.VIDEO:  TRUTH LIVES on at https://sgtreport.tv/

This Lemon Blueberry Bundt Cake is tender, moist, and luscious with ripe berries – perfect for summers when blueberries abound. It’s even better the next day. Moist lemon blueberry bundt cake with luscious ripe berries in each bite. In This Article 1-Minute Video: Lemon Blueberry Bundt CakeWhy This Recipe Stands OutKey Recipe IngredientsSubstitutions And VariationsStep-By-Step Recipe InstructionsHow To Prep AheadWhat To Serve With Lemon Blueberry Bundt CakeCommonly Asked QuestionsLemon Blueberry Bundt Cake RecipeMore to bake and eat View more 1-Minute Video: Lemon Blueberry Bundt Cake Why This Recipe Stands Out Who doesn’t love a good bund cake? Here’s why this recipe works: Moist and Tender: The blueberries and buttermilk lend superior moistness to the texture. Simple Ingredients: All the ingredients needed are simple and easy to find, just like in this Lemon Blueberry Bread recipe. Loads of Blueberries: The recipe uses 2 ½ cups of fresh blueberries, ensuring every slice is packed with berries. Cake for Breakfast: This cake is perfect for a family breakfast or a weekend brunch, just like our Baked Blueberry Oatmeal. Lemon Glaze: The simple lemon glaze adds the perfect amount of sweetness and tang to the cake. Make-Ahead: This is the perfect make-ahead recipe! It actually tastes better the next day! Key Recipe Ingredients Butter – The softened butter is essential for a moist and rich texture. Lemon – Freshly squeezed lemon juice and lemon zest add a bright, citrusy flavor. Buttermilk – Buttermilk not only adds moisture but also helps to tenderize the crumb of the cake. Blueberries – Fresh blueberries, tossed in a bit of flour, are what makes this cake so special. Substitutions And Variations Here are some of our favorite variations and substitutions for this recipe: Frozen Blueberries: If fresh blueberries aren’t in season or available, frozen blueberries can be used instead. Toss frozen berries with a little flour to prevent them from sinking to the bottom of the cake. Gluten-Free: To make this cake gluten-free, substitute the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend. Change the Glaze: The tangy lemon glaze is the perfect finishing touch for this cake. You can also try using a simple vanilla glaze or even a cream cheese frosting as in our Pumpkin Cream Cheese Bundt Cake. Step-By-Step Recipe Instructions Preheat the oven to 350F and grease a 10-inch bundt pan. Whisk together the dry ingredients in a bowl. In a stand mixer, beat the butter and sugar until fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, followed by lemon juice, zest, and vanilla extract. Beat in the buttermilk. Gently fold in the flour mixture, followed by the blueberries. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 45-50 minutes. Cool the cake in the pan for 20 minutes, then transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely. Drizzle the glaze over the cooled cake. For full list of ingredients and instructions, see recipe card below. How To Prep Ahead Take a look at some of our best prep-ahead strategies for this recipe: The Night Before: Feel free to bake this cake the night before you plan to serve it. It’s even better the next day, making it a perfect make-ahead dessert. Freeze It: This cake freezes beautifully, even with the glaze on. Just make sure it’s well wrapped and sealed, and it will keep in the freezer for up to 2 months. When you’re ready to enjoy it, simply let it thaw at room temperature. The Glaze: The glaze is zesty and lemony, seeping into the cake to provide an even moister crumb. Make the glaze and give it a bit of time to soak in. Then dig in. This blueberry lemon bundt cake is perfect for summer and tastes even better the next day! What To Serve With Lemon Blueberry Bundt Cake Breakfast or Brunch This Lemon Blueberry Bundt Cake is perfect for a special weekend breakfast or brunch. Enjoy it with a hot cup of coffee or a glass of cold milk. It also makes a great addition to a brunch spread. Pair it with some scrambled eggs, crispy bacon, or a fresh fruit salad for a delicious meal. See our Breakfast and Brunch recipes for delicious inspiration. Snack Time This cake makes a great snack any time of day. Cut it into slices and pack it in your lunchbox, or enjoy it as an afternoon pick-me-up. It’s also a great addition for for potlucks and picnics. We’ve got a ton more snack recipes for you to choose from! After-Dinner Treat Serve this cake as a dessert after dinner. You can enjoy it on its own or with a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream. If you’re feeling fancy, you can even drizzle some lemon glaze over the top for an extra special treat. Commonly Asked Questions How do I prevent the blueberries from sinking to the bottom of the cake? To prevent the blueberries from sinking to the bottom of the cake, towel-dry them after washing and then gently toss them with 1 tablespoon of flour. This will help the blueberries to stay suspended in the batter during baking. How do I know when the cake is done? The cake is done when a toothpick inserted in the center comes out almost clean. A few tender crumbs attached are perfect. Be careful not to over-bake it. How long does lemon blueberry bund cake keep? This cake can be kept at room temperature for up to 3 days. Be sure to store it in an airtight container. Print Lemon Blueberry Bundt Cake This cake boasts a tender and moist crumb. It is loaded with fresh blueberries and the zest of refreshing lemons. The glaze soaks into the cake, making it even more tender. Even better the next day, if you can wait that long. Course DessertCuisine AmericanDiet VegetarianMethod baking Servings 12 servings Calories 376kcal Author Amy Dong EquipmentBundt Pan Ingredients2 ¾ cups all purpose flour1 ½ tsp baking powder¼ tsp baking soda¼ tsp table salt1 cup butter softened just to room temp1 ¾ cups granulated sugar4 large eggs room temp4 TB lemon juice freshly squeezed lemon zest from two lemons1 tsp pure vanilla extract1 cup buttermilk2 ½ cups fresh blueberries towel-dried, gently tossed with 1 TB flourFor the Glaze:1 cup powdered sugar2 TB lemon juice freshly squeezed lemon zest from one lemon InstructionsPreheat oven to 350F, with rack on lower middle position. Grease and flour a 10-inch bundt pan. Set aside.In a bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and table salt until well combined.In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment, beat the butter and sugar 3-4 minutes or until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time, beating well after each one. Add lemon juice, zest, and vanilla extract, beating just until combined. Add buttermilk and beat until just combined.Using a rubber spatula, gently fold in the flour mixture into the butter mixture just until incorporated – do not overmix. Gently fold in blueberries. Pour into prepared pan.Bake 45-50 minutes or just until a toothpick inserted in center of cake comes out almost clean. A few tender crumbs attached is perfect.Cool on wire rack for 20 minutes. Run a thin and sharp knife around all edges to loosen cake. Turn out and cool completely.To make the glaze, mix together all glaze ingredients until smooth. Drizzle over cake and allow it to seep into cake. Video Notes Fresh blueberries work best in this Lemon Blueberry Bundt cake – they hold their shape and add a burst of juicy sweetness. Gently tossing the blueberries with a tablespoon of flour helps prevent them from sinking to the bottom of the cake. When adding the buttermilk and dry ingredients to the batter, be careful not to overmix. This can result in a tougher cake. Allow the cake to cool in the pan for 20 minutes before removing. This helps the cake maintain its shape and moisture. When making the glaze, start with 1 tablespoon of lemon juice and add more as needed for a thinner consistency. Drizzle the glaze over the completely cooled cake for the best presentation. Store leftovers airtight at moderate room temperature for up to 3 days.  Cake can be frozen in an airtight container for up to a month.    If you enjoyed this recipe, please come back and give it a rating. We hearing from you!  Join our Free Recipe Club and get our newest, best recipes each week! NutritionServing: 1g | Calories: 376kcal | Carbohydrates: 61g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 97mg | Sodium: 288mg | Potassium: 61mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 31g | Vitamin A: 585IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 84mg | Iron: 1mg More to bake and eat Bakery Style Big Blueberry Muffins – These Bakery Style Blueberry Muffins with Streusel are extra moist and loaded with blueberries, reminiscent of the beautiful muffins you’d find at your favorite bakery. Blueberry Peach Crumb Bars – These Blueberry Peach Crumb Bars are the perfect summer dessert for get-togethers.  They’re simply scrumptious. Lemon Icebox Cake – This no-bake Lemon Icebox Cake is seriously amazing… unbelievably light, refreshing, and the ideal summer dessert.  Everyone devours this one, every time. Blueberry Lemon French Toast Bake – This Blueberry Lemon French Toast Casserole is easily prepared the night before and baked the morning of.   The post Lemon Blueberry Bundt Cake appeared first on Chew Out Loud.

  Tadeusz Kościuszko, a Polish-Lithuanian military leader, was born on February 12, 1746, in Mereczowszczyzna, Poland (today Belarus). He played a key role in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth’s struggle against the Russian Empire and actively engaged in the American Revolutionary War in the Continental Army on Washington’s side. For his devoted service, the Continental Congress promoted him to the rank of brigadier general in 1783. He was a keen defender of the principles of liberty and equality, and his figure is still celebrated in these countries as someone who fought for freedom and justice.   1. He Was a Skilled Engineer with a Military Education A Meeting of the Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture at the Louvre by Jean-Baptiste Martin, c. 1712–21. Source: Musée du Louvre, Paris (RMN-Grand Palais/Adrian Didierjean)   Tadeusz Kościuszko was born to an officer in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth Army, Ludwik Tadeusz Kościuszko. Inspired by his father’s service, he also decided to pursue a military career. Kościuszko was fascinated with the history of ancient Greece and the Roman Empire. He was particularly fond of the Greek military statesman Timoleon, who fought to free the Corinthians and the Sicilians from the tyranny of Carthage. Kościuszko once remarked: “He (Timoleon) overthrew tyrants, set up republics, and never demanded any power for himself.”   Tadeusz Kościuszko attended the Royal Military Academy in Warsaw and continued his studies at Piarist College in Lubieszów. The death of his father and subsequent financial struggles of the family forced Tadeusz Kościuszko to quit his studies in 1758. Polish prince Adam Czartoryski volunteered to finance Kościuszko to continue his studies at the newly established military academy in Warsaw and later sent him to Paris to study at the Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture. Parts of the portraits of live models, graphic art, and sketches of ancient sculptures from this period are still available at the Czartoryski Museum in Kraków.   As a foreigner in France, Kościuszko could not officially attend the military engineering academy in Mézières, so he additionally took private tutoring from the military professors in Paris. He was well known for his excellent abilities in designing and building military equipment and transport, which he learned from Marshal Sebastien le Prestre de Vauban, a well-known and prominent figure in architecting forts.   Tadeusz Kościuszko returned to Poland in 1774 and discovered that his brother had wasted the family’s fortune. Due to financial difficulties, he couldn’t obtain an officer’s license and began tutoring the daughters of a Polish-Lithuanian magnate and general, Józef Sosnowski.   2. Kościuszko Had an Unhappy Love Life Young Kościuszko teaching a lesson to Ludwika Sosnowska in Sosnowica by Zygmunt Ajdukiewicz. Source: Google Arts & Culture   Tadeusz Kościuszko fell deeply in love with the daughter of Józef Sylwester Sosnowski, Ludwika Sosnowska. They secretly ran away and attempted to marry in 1775, but Sosnowski strongly opposed their marriage, stating, “Magnate daughters cannot marry nobles without status.” His guards chased the couple and forced Ludwika to return home, accusing Kościuszko of kidnapping his daughter. The accusation was punishable by death. Devastated, Kościuszko fled back to Paris.   During this period, the economic theory of physiocracy was gaining momentum in Europe, particularly in France. The theory opposed feudalism and envisaged agriculture as the primary source of wealth. It suggested a single land tax, advocating for individual liberty. Kościuszko was inspired by this theory and envisaged it as a base for the Polish people’s liberty.   His beloved Ludwika was the first to assist in the translation of the first physiocracy book from French to Polish. Thus, Ludwika’s and Tadeusz’s views regarding social change and the abolition of feudalism in Poland were aligned. In this way, Kościuszko perceived separation from Ludwika Sosnowska not only as a personal but as an ideological setback.   Equally unfortunate appeared to be Tadeusz Kosciuszko’s relations with Tekla Zurowska, the daughter of a prominent Ukrainian nobleman. In 1791, Kosciuszko, intending to marry Zurowska, was once again rejected by her father due to his social and financial standing.   3. He Is Regarded as a War Hero in the United States West Point, New York, (which Kościuszko was commissioned to fortify) by Pierre Charles L’Enfant. Source: Museum of American Revolution, Philadelphia   Following the tragic separation from Ludwika Sosnowska, Tadeusz Kościuszko returned to Paris, and not seeing his military prospects in Europe, he decided to travel to the United States, which, in the midst of its War of Independence, was in urgent need of military engineers. In June 1776, Kościuszko arrived in the United States. In October, he was appointed a colonel in the Continental Army. Aiming to defend Philadelphia from the British Navy, he was assigned to design and build forts on the Delaware River and evaluate Fort Ticonderoga’s defenses north of New York.   Kościuszko’s defensive installations along the Hudson River were pivotal during the Battle of Saratoga against Britain. Historians often describe the victory at Saratoga as a turning point in the American Revolutionary War since it persuaded Louis XVI, France’s king, to enter the war on the American side.   Then commander-in-chief of the Continental Army, George Washington, was fascinated with Kościuszko’s contributions to the victory of the Continental Army and often praised him in his official correspondence, despite spelling Kościuszko’s name 11 different ways. Following the siege of Charleston in 1782, Washington awarded Kościuszko two pistols and a sword.   4. He Was Also a National Hero in Poland & Captive of Catherine the Great Kościuszko Uprising: Warsaw insurrection 1794 by Juliusz Kossak. Source: Wielkopolska Biblioteka Cyfrova   The American Revolutionary War inspired Kościuszko to fight for Polish independence and sovereignty in his homeland. He sailed back to Poland in 1784. King Stanislaw II Poniatowski had already initiated important political reforms, culminating in the adoption of the Constitution of May 3, 1791. The constitution was intended to strengthen independent Poland and decrease foreign dominance.   Empress Catherine II of Russia, fearing the loss of Russian influence, invaded Poland, resulting in the Polish-Russian War of 1792. Tadeusz Kościuszko, given command of a division near Kyiv, showed unprecedented resistance, tactics, and leadership to the Russian forces. Despite the initial success, Poland was defeated due to international pressure and the threat of Prussia entering the war. The war resulted in Poland’s partition in 1793, the abolishment of the 1791 constitution, and the loss of approximately 300,000 square kilometers of Poland to Russia.   The events intensified Kościuszko’s struggle for independence and set the stage for the 1794 Kościuszko Uprising. As commander-in-chief of Poland, he courageously led the Polish rebels against the Russian forces for more than seven months. Reportedly, Catherine the Great put a price on his head.   In 1794, Kościuszko was wounded and brought to Russia, where he spent two years in captivity until Catherine died in 1796. Catherine’s son, Paul I of Russia, who disapproved of his mother’s aggressive policies, released Kościuszko from prison along with nearly 20,000 Polish prisoners. In exchange, Kościuszko pledged to the Tsar to never return to Poland. Having once again lost the battle for Polish freedom, Kościuszko sailed back to the United States in August 1797.   5. Kościuszko Was Among the First Republicans & A Friend of Thomas Jefferson Tadeusz Kościuszko, from the Polish-American Fraternity series, by Arthur Szyk, 1938. Source: Culture Poland   Tadeusz Kościuszko is praised for his commitment to liberty and freedom. He was deeply moved by the Declaration of Independence and its principal author, Thomas Jefferson, who would later become the third president of the United States. Based on the shared principles of equality and liberty, these two formed a close friendship and maintained correspondence until Kościuszko died in 1817. In 1798, Thomas Jefferson admirably referred to Kościuszko: “He is the purest son of liberty I have ever known, and not just for the wealthy and high-born.”   Kościuszko was a keen supporter of equal rights and opposed racial segregation based on ethnicity, race, or social status. He often stood for the equal rights of peasants, Jews, Indigenous peoples of America, and African Americans, as historian and author Alex Storozynski claims. During his struggles with the American and Polish revolutions, Kościuszko hired African Americans as his aides-de-camp to assist in military operations: Agrippa Hull in America and Jean Lapierre in Poland.   Portrait of Tadeusz Kosciuszko by Henry H. Houston, c. 1796. Source: National Portrait Gallery, Washington DC   Despite being close friends and colleagues with Thomas Jefferson and George Washington, Kościuszko was not content with the fact that Jefferson and Washington were enslavers. Upon returning to Europe in May 1798, Kościuszko wrote a will. He left all his American assets, $18,912 ($500,000 in 2023) and 500 acres of land in Ohio, to Thomas Jefferson. These assets should have been used to free enslaved Africans.   Kościuszko outlined in the will to use the assets “in purchasing negroes from among his own as well as any others,” “giving them liberty in my name,” and “giving them an education in trades and otherwise.” However, Jefferson did not implement the will. Although he believed that slavery was not morally justified, he considered the sacred law of ownership more important. In 1921, Jefferson officially refused his rights on Kościuszko’s will.   A year after Jefferson died in 1826, most of his slaves were sold at auction. Larrie Ferriero, who is the author of the book Brothers at Arms, remarked:   “He was fighting next to people who believed they were fighting for independence, but not doing it for all; even before Americans themselves fully came to that understanding, he saw it.”   6. Tadeusz Kościuszko Opposed Napoleon Bonaparte & Tsar Alexander I  Tadeusz Kościuszko returned to Paris in 1798 after his forced emigration to the United States. Soon, Napoleon Bonaparte consolidated power in France following the successful completion of the Jacobin Revolution in 1799.   Tadeusz Kościuszko’s monument in Kraków, Poland. Source: Panoramio   Napoleon Bonaparte envisaged Poland as a buffer state between France and neighboring European states. By supporting Polish independence and obtaining public support as a supporter of oppressed nations, Napoleon hoped to gain political leverage against other powers, particularly Russia and Austria.   Tadeusz Kościuszko met with Bonaparte twice in 1799, discussing the possibilities of Polish independence. In a letter dated January 22, 1807, Kościuszko requested Napoleon to ensure the establishment of a parliamentary democracy and the enlargement of Polish borders. However, the French emperor disregarded his request. The negotiations failed. Napoleon referred to Kościuszko as a “fool” who “overestimated his influence.”   Eventually, the Duchy of Warsaw, a semi-autonomous state and France’s satellite, was created on July 9, 1807, following the signing of the Tilsit Treaties between France and Russia. The treaty partitioned the territories of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Kościuszko, distancing himself from politics, once again relocated to Switzerland, near La Genevraye.   Napoleon was defeated in 1814. The Congress of Vienna decided to give Poland to the Russian Empire. In April 1814, Prince Adam Jerzy Czartoryski, adviser to Tsar Alexander I, invited Tadeusz Kościuszko to a party organized for Tsar Alexander I. The tsar greeted 68-year-old Kościuszko with the following words: “A place! A place for a great man!”   He sought to bring the famous hero back to Poland to assist in the establishment of the Russian-allied Polish state. In this case, as well, Kościuszko demanded socio-political reforms and the restoration of pre-partition territories, only to discover that the Tsar’s Poland would be even smaller than promised by Napoleon’s Duchy of Warsaw.   Kościuszko was once again defeated in his fight for Polish independence. Soon, on October 15, 1817, aged 71, Kosciuszko died of poor health and subsequent complications.