The Missouri Compromise had the potential to save us from civil war. The real issue was the expansion of slavery and with the compromise line in place, the government would not have to debate whether new states would be free or slave. In every other issue, representatives voted party lines. It was only with slavery … 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
Last night watching the Democratic leaders, including candidates who have dropped out, scramble around Biden to try to stop Sanders, brought me back to four years ago when Republican leaders, including candidates who had dropped out, were scrambling to try to stop Trump from winning the nominee. The Republican leadership failed, we will have to … Continue reading Class Notes
Class Notes
Just finished reading Band of Brothers by Stephen Ambrose for my WWII reading class. I know some think of Ambrose as too pop history, but I have always found him a master story teller. This book, which the acclaimed HBO mini-series was based on, tells the story of one of the finest companies in WWII, … Continue reading Class Notes
Class Notes
During the War of 1812, northerners, who tended to be Federalists, opposed the war. They saw it as only beneficial to the southern states. To them, they believed the South was becoming too powerful. Their largest beef was the 3/4th Compromise that allowed three of every four slaves to be counted as population for elections. … Continue reading Class Notes
Class Notes
If General George B. McClellan had any ability as a general, he could have won the Civil War with his first engagement. His plan was brilliant. Using ships, he got around the majority of the Southern army by moving over 100,000 men to the Virginia Peninsula. From the Peninsula, it was a straight shot and … Continue reading Class Notes
Class Notes
Most place the cause of the War of 1812 on the British seizure of ships and imprisonment of American sailors. However, there is good reason to see the cause as coming from the American West. The Major war hawk faction in Congress were actually westerners, like Kentuckian Henry Clay. They were more concerned with the … Continue reading Class Notes
Edmund Burke
I recently wrote an article for his column about a lesser known influence on the Founding Fathers, a man named James Harrington. I think, with the recent acquittal of President Trump and, more specifically, the vote of Senator Mitt Romney, it is worth examining another influence on the Founders. This time the man was a … Continue reading Edmund Burke
Class Notes
For Class Notes today I just wanted to remind anyone who is interested I will be speaking at Weatherford College this Thursday. I am speaking on the Johnson impeachment but also on a panel about the 19th Amendment. For more information you can call 817-598-6326
Class Notes
One of the things I like the most about Lincoln was his humanity. He knew the war was necessary to save the Union, but he greatly struggled with the large loss of life. He was often depressed when thinking about the men. Because he was emotional, he often stopped the execution of soldiers for desertion. … Continue reading Class Notes
Class Notes
Possibly the most important court case for our day is Marbury V. Madison (1803). When Adams left office he quickly appointed a bunch of new judges, so Jefferson would not be able to appoint any while he was president. When Jefferson took over he refused to seat the new judges, one of the new judges, … Continue reading Class Notes
