One of the most intriguing figures in history is John Brown. Growing up Virginia and being fascinated by the Civil War, I was always taught that Brown was the villain. At times I was told his cause was right, but he was a madman. I believe his status has changed, at least in my eyes, … 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
With all the arguing and name calling in the congress today, first I am reminded of children in kindergarten. However, historically speaking, I am also reminded of another speech that happened 164 years ago. It goes to show you that nothing really changes. In 1856, Senator Charles Sumner gave a speech in which he criticized … Continue reading Class Notes
War Powers
My last article dealt with the growing crisis with Iran and the history of American presidents using missile attacks on their enemies. Based on those acts, House Democrats have passed a war powers resolution ordering the president to stop all hostilities with Iran within thirty days. This brings up many Constitutional questions and seems confusing … Continue reading War Powers
Class Notes
In early America, freedom meant something different than today. Freedom meant land ownership, or least owning your own business. If you worked for someone else then you could not be free. Before secret ballot voting, employers could force their workers to vote for who they chose, making you not politically free. Because of this the … Continue reading Class Notes
Class Notes
One of the causes of the Civil War was the breakdown of the political parties that held the nation together. In 1852, the Whig Party fought over who their next presidential candidate should be. The South wanted Millard Fillmore, who was strongly pro-slavery. The North wanted Winfield Scott, who was not. When Scott was nominated, … Continue reading Class Notes
Class Notes
This may be hard for some to accept, but I feel the truth must be told. Alexander Hamilton, America’s newest hero strongly believed in high tariffs and a large national debt. He believed America should run a deficit to use as a tool for economic growth. Remember that next time you are in the room … Continue reading Class Notes
Class Notes
As I have said many times, the Constitution is vague. If it was not so then we would have had to scrap it years ago. There is nowhere more so than with war powers. At the same time the Constitution makes the president commander and chief, it also gives congress the power to declare war. … Continue reading Class Notes
Class Notes
It is interesting that during the Great Depression, while liberal capitalism was seeming to fail, that America never developed a strong Fascist or Communist party. In the nations of Russia and Germany, Communism and Fascism were moving their nations out of the Depression faster than the United States. Stalin’s three five-year plans had industrialized practically … Continue reading Class Notes
Class Notes
Before the Civil War, the northern economy was rapidly industrializing. Do not think of the North as industrialized during the war, they were still primarily agricultural, but were moving closer to industrialization. The difference was the South was not industrializing at all. The South was becoming extremely wealthy, but they put all their wealth back … Continue reading Class Notes
Missile Attacks
If anyone was hoping for a calmer more peaceful decade, then surely by now they are disappointed. With just a few days into 2020, the major news story already is a drone strike and death of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani. Instantly political sides were drawn as Trump supporters praised the president’s actions as a strike … Continue reading Missile Attacks
Historically Speaking 