The nation we now call Syria is actually fairly new. The land was part of the Ottoman Empire until Ottoman’s defeat in WWI. After the war, England and France carved out the modern map of the Middle East. Syria was created in 1920 and was put under the influence of France. It did not gain … Continue reading Class Notes →

In honor of the Washington National’s first trip to the World Series, I thought I would talk about a great Virginian, Patrick Henry, whom I sure would be a fan.  Most of you know his famous speech during the Revolution, where he declared, “Give me liberty or give me death.”  However, most do not know … Continue reading Class Notes →

During FDR’s first New Deal, its largest opposition did not come from Republicans, but from Democrats further to the left.  Father Coughlin, a Catholic Priest, mastered the radio as well as FDR and used this new medium to create an empire of loyal listeners.  He complained that FDR had not done enough to curb the … Continue reading Class Notes →

The 14th Amendment may be the most important and detailed Amendment to the Constitution.  Under the Equal Protection Clause, the courts ruled in 1893 that the word "person" meant natural persons, as well as legal persons, meaning corporations.  In Santa Clara Country V. Southern Pacific Railroad, the courts said California could not give better tax rates … Continue reading Class Notes →

President Herbert Hoover has received an undeserved bad-wrap over the years.  During the Great Depression, he did everything in his power to help.  He was a true reformer and did more for the American people than any other president ever had before him.  What hurts Hoover is that he was followed by Franklin D. Roosevelt, … Continue reading Class Notes →

In order to step up my game I have decided to start a daily history post that I am calling class notes. These will be short ideas of things I am teaching every day. I will still continue to post the Historically Speaking newspaper column ever other week or so, but in between, I hope … Continue reading Class Notes →