Three years ago, I wrote an article about religious intolerance. My premise was that America had actually never been that religiously tolerant, that today religion, Christianity in particular, was the one area where intolerance was still acceptable, and that those who often cried for the most tolerance could be the most intolerant. I used the … Continue reading Religious Intolerance 2022
Month: April 2022
Class Notes
Class Notes Today is my last class for the semester and as such it will be my last class notes for a bit before I start up again in the fall. My summer classes are not lecture classes so I will not be posting class notes from those classes. I will continue to write my … Continue reading Class Notes
Class Notes
In 1817, the American Colonization Society was formed. They were anti-slavery in that they wanted to keep the U.S. open to white workers as opposed to abolitionists who wanted to outlaw slavery because they thought it was a sin. The Colonization Society hated slavery, but also did not welcome a nation of free Blacks. To … Continue reading Class Notes
Class Notes
With the start of the nation, it looked as if slavery might just fade away. It had in the North and it looked, especially in the upper South, like it might there too. However, the invention of the cotton gin changed everything. Where it once took a slave a day to pick 50 pounds of … Continue reading Class Notes
Class Notes
After the Cherokees were ordered to leave their lands and move to Indian Territory, only about 2,000 had left by the designated date. The tribe had divided into those who felt they had no choice and left and those who stayed and fought. Those who stayed were later forced out at gun point and forced … Continue reading Class Notes
Class Notes
If you think politics are strange now, in 1828 southern legislatures pushed through a bill that would raise tariffs to an incredibly high rate. John Quincy Adams did not agree with the high rate in the bill but passed it anyway because he did not see it as his responsibility to veto a bill simply … Continue reading Class Notes
To Censor or not to Censor, that is a Difficult Question
One of the hot news stories is the bill in Florida banning discussion of sexual orientation or gender identity in elementary schools. The bill is called “Parental Rights in Education Bill” but has been dubbed the “Don’t say gay” bill. This, of course, has led to a national debate about censorship, decency, and age appropriateness. … Continue reading To Censor or not to Censor, that is a Difficult Question
Class Notes
One major difference between politics today and politics from around the turn of the century to about the 1980s was some of the major conflicts were not between parties but within parties. During the Progressive Era, there were progressives and conservatives within both parties, TR and Wilson were not that different. The same is true … Continue reading Class Notes
Class Notes
Remember that voting requirements are done state by state, but the first time a popular vote was ever recorded for the nation was in 1824. This new popular vote is what is responsible for the power of Andrew Jackson, a new type of politician, and one who would use the power of the people to … Continue reading Class Notes
Class Notes
Surprisingly, the 1944 election was only the second time a president had campaigned during a war and this gave FDR a huge advantage. Not was he already incredibly popular, but it set up his slogan perfectly, "Don’t switch horses in mid-stream." Americans will remain with FDR for a fourth term, but it is the smallest … Continue reading Class Notes
Historically Speaking 