Twitter has been an ongoing story since the Trump presidency and ramped up even more when Twitter suspended Trump’s account after the events of Jan 6, 2021. Many felt Twitter was wrong in suspending Trump’s account, citing free speech. Of course, Twitter is not the only social media platform that has come under attack for … Continue reading First Amendment and Twitter
Author: James Finck
Dr. James W. Finck was raised in the shadows of history in the great state of Virginia. Growing up it was difficult to travel too far without running into a monument or battlefield from the Revolutionary or Civil War. In this environment, Finck developed a love for studying the past and from his youth knew that he wanted to make it his life’s work. Finck received a B.A. from the College of William and Mary in Virginia. He then studied under James I. Robertson and William C. Davis at Virginia Tech, while earning a Master’s degree. Finally, he received his Ph.D. at the University of Arkansas, under the direction of Daniel Sutherland. For five years, Finck taught at the University of Texas-Pan American before accepting his current position as American Historian at the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma in 2011. At a small liberal arts institution, Finck considers himself a generalist in history, but his specialties are the Civil War and American Politics. Finck has established himself in Oklahoma with the creation of the Oklahoma Civil War Symposium, which has brought in leading Civil War scholars for the past eight years, and he has spoken at many venues around Oklahoma, especially working with the Honey Spring Battlefield. Finck is the author of Divided Loyalties: Kentucky’s Struggle for Armed Neutrality in the Civil War, as well as Images of America: Chickasha. Finck is also the author of the syndicated newspaper column “Historically Speaking.”
Class Note
doing some research for an upcoming article and found this interesting A speech to the House of Representatives, Dec 7, 1855 by Lewis Campbell regarding voting for Speaker of the House. “Mr. Campbell, of Ohio. Mr. Clerk, I ask the indulgence of the House until I can remove one of the obstacles to our organization. … Continue reading Class Note
“Sure, Charlie Brown, I can tell you what Christmas is all about”
For only the second time in 57 years, A Charlie Brown Christmas - the most beloved of all animated Christmas specials - will not air on network television. This groundbreaking special forever changed how networks treated all specials and introduced new and lasting songs, as well as Christmas icons. Historically speaking, however, this special was … Continue reading “Sure, Charlie Brown, I can tell you what Christmas is all about”
A history of Oklahoma taxation
This is an article I was asked to write for the Southwest Ledger A history of Oklahoma taxation By Dr. James W. FinckUniversity of Science and Arts of Oklahoma There is nothing more American than taxes. They have been with us since our founding and are part of the reason for our separation from Great … Continue reading A history of Oklahoma taxation
An Example of an Egyptian Feminist for Iran Today
With all that is going on in our nation, it is understandable if you have not been paying attention to what is going on in Iran. However, it is something worth our attention. Suffice to say that back in September, a 22-year-old women named Mahsa Amini died in custody of the morality police for improperly … Continue reading An Example of an Egyptian Feminist for Iran Today
Class Notes
When Grant was given the command of the entire operation of the War, he developed a different type of plan to defeat the south. Instead of fighting a war of attrition he would fight a war of exhaustion. More than just defeat the enemy little by little and wear then out, he wanted to attack … Continue reading Class Notes
Class Notes
In 1917, during WWI Congress passed the Espionage Act. It gave the government the authority to ban newspapers and books that criticized the government. They even passed the Sedition Act which made it a crime to say or write anything disloyal, profane or scurrilous about the government. That led to the arrest of over 2100 … Continue reading Class Notes
Class Notes
On the second day of Gettysburg, Lee ordered attacks against both Union flanks. Ewell commanded the troops that hit the North’s right flank. During this battle the 1st Minnesota Regiment ran short on ammunition and so charged the enemy instead. They lost 215 of their 262 men but won the day and stopped the attack. … Continue reading Class Notes
Class Notes
With the start of WWI, the US took the position of neutrality. Remaining neutral proved difficult but during the time America was able to prosper as both sides turned to the US for supplies, and we were happy to oblige. For the first time we even became a creditor nation, as we gave loans to … Continue reading Class Notes
Class Notes
In the years before WWI, European nations came to believe they had moved passed war. The last great war on the continent was the Napoleonic Wars that ended in 1815. They saw war as a dead relic. Progressives both in Europe and America believed they could solve all the world’s problems with diplomacy and the … Continue reading Class Notes
Historically Speaking 