history
Past politicians, legislation and political movements have changed the course of history in ways both big and small. Welcome to our blast to the past.
Russia: Royalty and the Romanovs
I have alway been fascinated by Russia: the history, the architecture, the influence, the Revolution. The country has been severely repressed for centuries. First by the gigantic gap imposed by the monarchy led by the Romanovs. Then by the tyrannic rule of Communism, which was meant to loosen the grip of rulers to promote equality and freedom. Although the base of communism is to support the working class, it has been transformed by brutal rulers to impose their new set of ideologies that continue to control freedom in the country.
By Ana R-Sandia7 years ago in The Swamp
The Role of Social Sciences in History
The roles that the social sciences have within history are more important that one would have considered when attempting to define the word history. For the layman, they would consider history to be a compilation of dates, facts, and artifacts. Yet, the social sciences are tied into those dates, facts, and artifacts, and in such a way that the layman would once again avoid any appreciation for the art. Historians easily fall into the role of social sciences. This essay is going to be covering three different social science perspectives. The first deals with history anthropologically, this is covered by Edward Said, who discusses how the hegemonic impacts in Orientalism. The second is E.P. Thompson, with his sociological approach on classes. The third covered is the topic of historical materialism covered by Marx and Engels.
By New Age Thoughts Chicago7 years ago in The Swamp
The Tragedy of the Ainu
The Japanese, through the Matsumae family, traded heavily with the indigenous Ainu people of Hokkaido, the island just north of mainland Japan, during the unification period, a very lucrative time for both sides. However, by the end of the Tokugawa period, this trade had turned into colonization. Over time the Japanese turned trade into political power, undermining the authority of the Ainu chiefs. When the Ainu fought back, the Japanese easily put them down via military action and embargo. By the time the Tokugawa took over Hokkaido, the Japanese were already nearly in control of the Ainu, economically, culturally, and militarily. This slow progression of control is reminiscent of many instances of colonization and imperialism in the West, something that the Japanese were barely experienced with at this point. Developing dependency, unequal treaties, and taking land slowly through minor conflicts make up a style of imperialism that is generally considered a Western approach, and yet the Japan came up with it independently.
By History Roundtable7 years ago in The Swamp
Emil Cohen. Top Story - December 2018.
On Friday, November 23rd, I drove from my house in West Windsor, New Jersey, to the suburban retirement community, the Village Grande, seven minutes away. My brother, Ari, accompanied me, bringing along two sets of challah and grape juice. One of the two pairs was for our regular synagogue attendee, Norman, who had offered to introduce me to his neighbor of sixteen years, Emil. The other was for the subject of our interview that day: Emil Cohen.
By Toba Leverton7 years ago in The Swamp
French Jewish Spy Recounts Her Story Behind Enemy Lines
Unfortunately, there are no shortage of Holocaust stories. On the other hand, the inspiration we draw from stories of survival doesn’t run out either. But Rabbi Arik Wolf drew a distinction beyond the determination so many displayed in introducing Wednesday night’s guest speaker at Chabad of Bedford Hills.
By Rich Monetti7 years ago in The Swamp
1968: The Presidential Race and the Democratic National Convention. Top Story - December 2018.
The numerous events that led to the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in 1968 were both challenging and heartbreaking. The assassination of civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy, the peak of the Vietnam War, and Lyndon B. Johnson’s withdrawal from running for re-election all shaped not only the year 1968, but the all-important race for the presidency as well. With the height of protesting the Vietnam War, the Democratic National Convention turned violent, on the inside and out, when police officers patrolling the convention started beating protesters in the streets on national television.
By Shandi Pace7 years ago in The Swamp
Separation of Church and State
The United States has always been the first country to be about the separation of Church and State. Thomas Jefferson used the term “wall of separation between church and state,” in a letter to the Danbury Baptist Association in 1802. This means that the State is supposed to stay out of the church’s business. Yes, Christianity is the religion of our heritage, but the entire point of keeping Church and State separate is to maintain objectivity. While the Founding Fathers were Christian, they feared a state religion taking over the country. They really did demand a separation of Church and State.
By Iria Vasquez-Paez7 years ago in The Swamp
Northern Ireland Conflicts
The Northern Ireland Conflicts took place between 1969 and 1994, but their effects are still felt today for many of the people in Northern Ireland. The armed conflicts started over whether Northern Ireland was constitutionally part of the United Kingdom or should be part of the Republic of Ireland with the southern half. Members of the majority Protestant community favored being a part of Britain, while minority Catholics wanted to become one Ireland with the south. The Civil Rights movement tried to end the discrimination against the minority Catholics, but ultimately failed, leading to the armed conflicts, which left 3,500 people dead, an estimated 50,000 injured, and thousands of people imprisoned. The conflict was supposed to end when a ceasefire was declared in 1994, but this did not actually do anything to resolve the issues that had started the violence. Even though Northern Ireland was now supposedly at peace, the people had spent so much time using violence to get their way, that the use of force was still locally used to solve problems. (Jarman 2011) These ideas of violence and conflict are what change the childhoods of children in Northern Ireland. In the 1980s, people, including children, had to undergo body checks when entering large stores in order to prevent bombs from being smuggled in. Also, to prevent car bombings, city centers were often closed off to traffic or else cars could be parked but never left unattended. Thus, children were left in the cars while parents shopped as, “a living symbol that their car at least does not contain a bomb.” (Cairns 1987) Growing up in a world where you are used as a pawn to show there isn’t a bomb in your car or being searched when all you needed was some new clothes, would be enough to change anyone’s views of childhood.
By Kristen Barenthaler7 years ago in The Swamp
Delaware: The Rodney Dangerfield of States
On a date that occurred over 231 years ago today (December 7, 1787), Delaware (my birth state) came into being. Because of figures like George Reed, Gunning Bedford, Jr., John Dickinson, and Richard Bassett, there's such a thing as Delaware. The vote for Delaware to be a state stood as unanimous, 30 to zero. Now, some will say that the First State claims its moniker based on a technicality. History proves this to be wrong as evident by the fact that Virginia was the first colony, but not the first state.
By Skyler Saunders7 years ago in The Swamp
The Cold, Hard Truth About the Democratic Party
When this generation thinks of racism and socioeconomic inequality, their thoughts immediately lean towards the Republican party. This actually could not be further from the truth. Historically, the Republicans have opposed racism and socioeconomic inequality. Truthfully, it was the Democrats that supported slavery, created the Ku Klux Klan, imposed Jim Crow laws, and fully backed segregation for over 100 years in the Southeastern United States. (Prager U) Technically, your history textbooks from middle and high school are full of lies when they discuss the history of the Democratic party. To add insult to injury, the media doesn't help much either. To further understand, we need to look back 46 years before the Civil War.
By Devin Nassar-Reis7 years ago in The Swamp
