Most of our immediate problems with Russia after WWII centered around Poland.  Russia had liberated Poland from the Germans and when the war ended we assumed that Poland would be free for democratic elections.  However, Russia had been invaded twice in the century and both times the Germans had come through Poland.  Stalin was not … Continue reading Class Notes →

While the Founders were all condemning the idea of political parties, they were also forming them.  It was hard not to imagine; it is natural for people to join with others who think like them.  Even as the Constitution was being written we divided; Federalists wanted to support the Constitution while Anti-Federalists were against it.  … Continue reading Class Notes →

What became known as the Bataan Death March in the Philippines was the Japanese forcing 70,000 American prisoners to march more than 60 miles without food or water. The prisoners were already malnourished and those who could not make the march or could not keep up were killed. Along the way the prisoners suffered from … Continue reading Class Notes →

The greatest thing for the economy of the U.S. during the Great Depression and what possible saved FDR’s legacy was WWII.  Within a year of entering the war, the U.S. outproduced all the other nations fighting combined.  That type of production put everybody back to work and more than doubled per capita income.

There is absolutely no mention of parties in the Constitution.  This was not done by accident.  Madison in Federalist #10 said that the Constitution would take power away from parties.  Because of the size of our nation, there would be a bunch of small parties that would basically cancel each other out.  The Founders were … Continue reading Class Notes →

more of an Op-ed than class note I hope this is taken as the nonpartisan post it is intended to be.  At some point the American people and mostly Congress need to stand up and demand an end to executive orders.  This has nothing to do if you agree with them or not, but the … Continue reading Class Notes →

Lesley Hazleton wrote in her second book The First Muslim, “Conservative Islamic tradition thus maintains that Muhammad was destined from the start to be the messenger of God.  But if that is so, then there is no story of his life.  That is, it becomes a matter of the inevitable unfolding of divine will, and … Continue reading Class Notes →

When war started in Europe in 1939, Americans wanted no part of another European conflict.  A Gallup poll showed that 70% of Americans even thought it was a mistake that we had fought in WWI.  As much as President Roosevelt felt we would have to enter, Congress was controlled by Isolationists who were not interested.  … Continue reading Class Notes →

The new liberal thinkers of the 18th Century did not think of themselves as revolutionaries.  They were comfortable being part of the elite.  They hoped they could enlighten the nobility and kings, but instead they influenced revolutions.  The key to their enlightenment was that people should work towards their own self-interest, but an enlightened self-interest.  … Continue reading Class Notes →