On paper Jefferson Davis looked like the perfect man to lead the Confederate States. He had more political experience than Lincoln and more military experience than Lee or Grant. He had a great character and even this enemies would not challenge his reputation. In the end this tenure was a failure. In many ways he … Continue reading Class Notes
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 Notes
You cannot understand colonial America without understanding the European influences that affected the colonists. One of the events that played a large part in our colonization was the reformation. The Reformation was a religious movement but also a political movement where princes took advantage of the religious attitudes to solidify their own power. It was … Continue reading Class Notes
Class Notes
In the 1860 election the South Democratic candidate, John C. Breckinridge did not really campaign. In past elections it was about parties and parades to get out the vote. In 1860, Breckinridge knew he had the South locked up and would not get votes in the North. The only way he could win was for … Continue reading Class Notes
Class Notes
Columbus ends up taking four separate journeys to the New World. Each time he tried to set up a colony. When he arrived the second time, he found the natives had killed everyone he left behind. When he arrived the third time, he found that the Spanish and overthrown his brother because like Columbus he … Continue reading Class Notes
Class Notes
By 1858 there was only one national political party left, the Democrats. The one thing that kept them together was the concept of Popular Sovereignty that meant that individual states and territories could decide for themselves to be free states or slave states. Under this idea the local people made the choice and not Congress. … Continue reading Class Notes
Class Notes
The Portuguese were the first to make a real profit using a sea route to Asia. The Spanish wanted to get in on the trade but had their hands full with problems at home. The two kingdoms of Aragon and Castile were at war with each other, and both were also dealing with invasion from … Continue reading Class Notes
Class Notes
The 1856 Election was different than the ones just previous. In those elections people already knew which party they would vote for. The only issue was getting them to show up. However, in 1856 the Whig Party was dead and new parties were competing over Whig voters. Finally, the parties had to focus on issues … Continue reading Class Notes
Twenty Years Later
Knowing that the 20th anniversary of 9/11 was fast approaching, I knew I needed to address it. I struggle writing about 9/11 because in many ways it still brings on strong raw emotions and I want to do it justice. For my own history, it is the foremost event and has done more to change … Continue reading Twenty Years Later
Class Notes
In 1400, the most powerful empire was China and the Ming Dynasty. They had over a 100 million people and were ruled by a complex bureaucracy. They easily could have conquered Europe if they wanted to, yet the Chinese having all that they needed to thrive turned inward and isolated themselves. The one thing they … Continue reading Class Notes
Class Notes
There are two ways to remember 9/11 and maybe we should do both. We must not ever forget those who lost their lives on that day, but I also hope we try to remember the America that came out of our grief. The America where we all came together. On Friday Sept 10th, Apple TV … Continue reading Class Notes
