American foreign policy during the Cold War revolved around the idea of Containment. Containment was the brainchild of George Kennan, who believed that Stalin was more interested in security at home than advancement of Communism. The Soviets wanted to spread Communism, but not if it threatened them at home. So, in order for America to … Continue reading Class Notes
Month: June 2020
Class Notes
What we need is another election of 1952. The winner was a lock even before the parties announced their candidates. Both parties in '52 were hoping to nominate Dwight D. Eisenhower, the hero of WWII. The only issue was no one knew what party he supported. When he announced he was a Republican the 20-year … Continue reading Class Notes
Class Notes
During WWII in order to convince Americans it was OK to support the Russians in the War we began calling Stalin Uncle Joe. We played him off as a stern but fair leader. We knew better, but we needed his help to win the war. We quickly found out he was really the ruthless leader … Continue reading Class Notes
Historical Protests
This week I do not have a clever opening. America is in pain and especially our black brothers and sisters. This is an understandable pain, especially when seen through the lens of American history. Their pain goes back over the past four centuries, but if we focus on just the last one, maybe we can … Continue reading Historical Protests
Class Notes on the State of Virginia
I am a Virginian and proud of my roots. I was raised in Fairfax Country in the heart of Mosby’s Confederacy. I fell in love with history in Mrs. Owen’s fourth grade class. She captured my attention with stories of the Gray Fox and Stonewall Jackson, but also of the great Virginian George Washington. … Continue reading Class Notes on the State of Virginia
Class Notes
Class Notes I am saddened by the events of the past couple weeks and the treatment that Black Americans have had to deal with. I have an article coming out on Monday dealing with that. Yet as an historian I am also saddened by the treatment of our physical history. I am emotional seeing monuments … Continue reading Class Notes
Class Notes
The attack on Pearl Harbor is one of the saddest days in American History. The Japanese were hoping for a knockout blow that would keep out sidelines in the war. However, even though they did a great deal of damage they did not hit our power plants or fuel tanks which would have been devastating. … Continue reading Class Notes
Class Notes
Not that this helps, but it is important to remember that racism is not just an American problem. Both Germany and Japan used the idea of racial superiority to justify their actions in WWII. The Germans blamed the Jews for their defeat in WWI and saw them as a corruption of their society. The Japanese … Continue reading Class Notes
Class Notes
Disease was by far the largest killer of the Civil War, as it is with most wars. One reason disease killed so many in this war was because of the conditions of the men. The only requirements to join the army were to have all of their limbs and most of their organs. Only needed … Continue reading Class Notes
Class Notes
During the Second Great Awakening, people became convinced they could reshape the world. There are several Utopian movements, both secular and religious. One of the largest, but short lived was Robert Owen’s New Harmony. Owen wanted his people to reject competition and instead work together with what he called social engineering. Members bartered for good … Continue reading Class Notes
