From Southwest Ledger Possibly the most misunderstood and controversial character of the Civil War is John Brown. As a child growing up in Virginia, I was taught that Brown was the enemy; a religious fanatic who was bent on violence to stop Virginia’s way of life by any means necessary. It was almost the same … Continue reading Reviewing Tony Horwitz’s ‘Midnight Rising: John Brown and the Raid That Sparked the Civil War’
Tag: history
Will America’s Foreign Policy Remain Cyclical Under Trump 2.0?
From Southwest Ledger Possibly the biggest story of the past week is our involvement with Ukraine. Most Americans’ opinion of President Trump’s handling of the situation probably has as much to do with their opinion of foreign assistance as it does with the way Trump handled Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. In weighing in on this … Continue reading Will America’s Foreign Policy Remain Cyclical Under Trump 2.0?
Constitution 101: Senate Leadership Clauses
From Southwest Ledger Have you ever considered what the vice president does all day? My guess is probably not, but the framers of Constitution did. When they got to the point where they considered a vice president, his only role was as a backup president — a spare, so to speak.Originally, he had no actual … Continue reading Constitution 101: Senate Leadership Clauses
Controversy over Cabinet Secretary Choices is Nothing New in American History
From Southwest Ledger Amongst the many perceived controversies of Donald Trump’s second term as U.S. president are some of his choices for cabinet secretaries. Of the 15 secretary positions, so far 11 have been confirmed by the Senate including controversial nominees like Pete Hegseth for Secretary of Defense and Robert Kennedy Jr. for Health and … Continue reading Controversy over Cabinet Secretary Choices is Nothing New in American History
Constitution 101: Senate Qualifications Clause
From Southwest Ledger As our Founding Fathers were discussing the creation of the Senate, or upper house in Congress, they had to consider qualifications for members to hold such important positions. What they determined constitutes Article I, Section III, Clause III, of the Constitution or what is known as the Senate Qualification Clause. This clause … Continue reading Constitution 101: Senate Qualifications Clause
No taxation without representation was not only for the American Revolution
From Southwest Ledger “No taxation without representation” may be one of the most famous sayings in American history. Although the phrase had its roots in the Glorious Revolution and was an inspiration behind the American Revolution, and just about every elementary student can repeat it, with recent toll increases in Oklahoma, it seems to have … Continue reading No taxation without representation was not only for the American Revolution
Constitution 101: Senate Composition and Vacancy Clauses
From Southwest Ledger Section III of Article I of the Constitution is all about the Senate. When reading the original Section III before modern amendments, right away one might notice some differences in the Senate today from when the Founders created it, and I have found that most Americans are surprised. Article I, Section III, … Continue reading Constitution 101: Senate Composition and Vacancy Clauses
Historic Travels: Ireland, Scotland and the Scots-Irish Influence on American Culture
From Southwest Ledger During my travels this summer I made my way across Ireland and Scotland and fell in love with the beauty and the rich history of these countries. During my stay, by far my favorite evenings were the ones where we were treated to nights of songs, dance, and stories. While every nation … Continue reading Historic Travels: Ireland, Scotland and the Scots-Irish Influence on American Culture
Tyranny of the Majority
From Southwest Ledger Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt has announced that State Question 832 will be included on the June 16, 2026, ballot. This will be a difficult question for Oklahomans as, if passed, it will raise the state’s minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2029. Proponents for the initiative argue that wages have fallen … Continue reading Tyranny of the Majority
Constitutional Amendments That Impacted Our Election Day
From Southwest Ledger As Americans gather at the polls this week to choose our next president it may look a bit different than it has in the past. For good or bad, early voting and mail-in voting has become much more common, meaning the lines may be shorter. But at what cost? I have previously … Continue reading Constitutional Amendments That Impacted Our Election Day
Historically Speaking 