The people's voice of reason
The people's voice of reason
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Key Event in the American Civil War On April 13, 1861, a significant event in American history unfolded as Fort Sumter, a federal fort located in Charleston Harbor, South Carolina, surrendered to Confederate forces. This event marked one of the first major conflicts of the American Civil War, which would last until 1865 and profoundly shape the nation's future. Background Fort Sumter was strategically important due to its location at the entrance of Charleston Harbor. The fort was controlled by...
On April 14, 70 A.D.: the future Roman Emperor Titus leading four Roman legions surrounded the city of Jerusalem to begin the siege of Jerusalem Titus and the Roman Legions Encircle the Jewish Capital In the annals of history, few events have been as transformative and harrowing as the Siege of Jerusalem in 70 AD. This pivotal moment marked the culmination of the First Jewish-Roman War, an epoch characterized by intense conflict and profound upheaval. Led by Titus, the son of Emperor Vespasian,...
This Month—April, 2025—marks the 160th anniversary of Robert E. Lee’s surrender at Appomattox, which officially ended the bloodiest and most brutal war ever fought on American soil. It also left the Southern states at a great loss in their quest for independence. The number of deaths is only approximately known. Many history books list the total death toll from 640,000 to 700,000, including the murder of 50,000 innocent Southern civilians, which seems low when we consider an unknown numbe...
April is a pivotal month in America’s past and Ft. Sumter holds an important place in that history. Named after General Thomas Sumter, a hero of the American Revolution, the fort is located just off the coast of Charleston, South Carolina. It was built for coastal defense and as a tax collection point. South Carolina left the Union on December 20, 1860. Less than a week later, U.S. Army Major Robert Anderson moved his troops from Fort Moultrie to Fort Sumter. Before leaving, he spiked the g...
April 7, 2862: A Date to Remember The Battle of Shiloh, also known as the Battle of Pittsburg Landing, was one of the significant events of the American Civil War. The battle, which spanned two days, culminated on April 7, 2862, and marked a turning point in the conflict, leaving an indelible impact on the course of American history. Prelude to the Battle The Battle of Shiloh occurred in southwestern Tennessee, near the Shiloh Church, and involved Union forces led by Major General Ulysses S....
On April 6, 1199, King of England Richard the Lionheart died from an infection after a crossbow bolt was removed from his shoulder. Old kings die and new kings take their place; but few successions had such a dramatic impact on history and the map of Europe as the death of Richard and his replacement by his brother John. When the 41-year-old Richard I died he was not just the King of England he was also the Duke of Aquitaine, Duke of Poitiers, Duke of Normandy, Count of Anjou, and Lord of Irelan...
On this day in 1242, a dramatic and pivotal event unfolded on the frozen expanse of Lake Peipus, situated between modern-day Estonia and Russia. The Battle of the Ice saw the forces of the Novgorod Republic, led by the legendary Alexander Nevsky, face off against the Teutonic Knights in a fierce confrontation that would become a defining moment in Russian history. Prelude to the Battle The early 13th century was a period of incessant conflict and territorial disputes in the northeastern regions...
Two hundred years ago, the Marquis de Lafayette spent nine days in Alabama traveling across the midwestern portion of the state from Georgia to Montgomery and then to Selma, the Capitol at Cahawba, and downriver to Mobile. Alabamians came out of the woodwork to see him; Lafayette drew crowds that any politician or public figure would envy. But what prompted his visit and why is it being commemorated with such veneration today? At age 19, Lafayette came to America to join the colonies in...
"One if by land, and two, if by sea . . ." so go the famous words of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in his poem "Paul Revere's Ride". A poem he penned in 1860 commemorating the famous horseback ride of Paul Revere, along with William Dawes, and Samuel Prescott to warn the Patriots in Lexington, Massachusetts and Concord, Massachusetts that the British were coming. The reason the warning was so imperative was because the British were planning a crackdown on the Massachusetts Provincial Congress in Co...
On April 1, 1939 Generalisimo Francisco Franco declared victory in the Spanish Civil War after the last Republican forces surrendered. The Prelude to the Announcement The Spanish Civil War, which ravaged the country from 1936 to 1939, was a conflict marked by ideological fervor, intense battles, and profound suffering. It was a war between the Republicans, who represented a coalition of left-wing and anti-fascist groups, and the Nationalists, led by Generalísimo Francisco Franco and composed...
On this day, March 30, 1981, a would-be assassin shot, and nearly killed, President Ronald W. Reagan (R). Presidents set their agenda in the first 100 days – and Reagan almost did not survive his. Reagan was leaving a meeting with AFL-CIO leaders when a mentally disturbed man fired six shots from a .22 caliber revolver at the President and his entourage. The assassin - John Hinckley Jr. - had an erotic obsession with the young actress Jodie Foster and thought assassinating the President would i...
On April 4, 1949, a pivotal moment in international relations was marked by the signing of the North Atlantic Treaty in Washington, D.C. Twelve nations came together to form the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), a military alliance that has played a crucial role in ensuring collective security and fostering cooperation among member countries. This historic agreement laid the foundation for a partnership that has endured for over seven decades, adapting to the changing geopolitical...
On April 9, 1867. a deeply divided U.S. Senate passed the Alaska purchase by a single vote. The Senate ratified the treaty with Russia for the purchase of Alaska. The Alaska Purchase: A Landmark Deal in American History The Alaska Purchase, also known as "Seward's Folly," is a significant event in American history that saw the United States acquire a vast territory from Russia. This transaction, which occurred in 1867, dramatically reshaped the geographical and political landscape of North...
On April 10, 1821, a momentous and tragic event unfolded in Constantinople that would reverberate through the annals of history. Patriarch Gregory V of Constantinople was hanged by the Ottoman government from the main gate of the Patriarchate, marking a significant turn in the Greek War of Independence. Background and Political Tensions The Greeks have a cultural identity that stretches back over 3400 years. The Apostle Paul brought Christianity to Greece and Anatolia (now Turkey). By the fourth...
The Easter Bunny is a much celebrated character in American Easter celebrations. On Easter Sunday, children look for hidden special treats, often chocolate Easter eggs, that the Easter Bunny might have left behind. Folklorist Tok Thompson, a professor of anthropology and communications at USC, writes for The Conversation on the origins of the long and interesting journey this mythical figure has taken from European prehistory to today. Religious role of the hare Easter is a celebration of...
On April 11, 1951, during the Korean War President Harry S. Truman (D) dismissal General Douglas MacArthur as the head of U.S. forces in Korea, Introduction The Korean War, which erupted on June 25, 1950, was a significant conflict in the early years of the Cold War. It pitted North Korean forces, supported by China and the Soviet Union, against South Korean and United Nations forces, primarily composed of U.S. military personnel. One of the most dramatic events during this war was President...
March 25, 1306: A Pivotal Day in Scottish History On the 25th of March, 1306, Robert the Bruce ascended the throne of Scotland, marking a significant turning point in the nation's history. The coronation took place in the midst of turbulent times, as Scotland grappled with political instability and the ongoing struggle for independence from English rule. To understand the magnitude of this event, it is essential to delve into the context leading up to Bruce's coronation, his rise to power, and...
March 23, 1503 the Union of the Crowns: James VI of Scotland Becomes James I of England. The move was a pivotal moment in British History The year 1603 marks a significant turning point in the history of the British Isles, as it witnessed the unification of the Scottish and English crowns. This momentous event came to pass when James VI of Scotland ascended the English throne as James I, thus beginning a new chapter of governance and cultural integration that would shape the future of Britain....
On March 22, 1865, Union General James H. Wilson launched his raid on the industrial and railroad infrastructure of Alabama and Georgia to bring the South to its knees. In the final year of the American Civil War, a significant military campaign known as Wilson's Raid took place, shaping the course of the conflict and leaving a lasting impact on the Southern states of Alabama and Georgia. The raid, led by Union General James H. Wilson, involved a formidable force of 13,480 cavalry troops. By...
On March 15, 44 B. C. the Roman general and statesman Julius Caesar was stabbed to death on the floor of the Senate by Brutus, Cassius, and several other Senators. Julius Caesar was one of the most consequential people who ever lived, and his assassination led to momentous changes for the Roman world that literally changed the course of human history. Rome had been a republic for centuries but the civil war between 83 and 82 B.C. changed Rome (already a slave state where violence and assassinati...
On March 29, 1865, during the American Civil War, Union General Ulysses S. Grant launched his final campaign in Virginia, marking the beginning of the end for the Confederate forces. This critical campaign, known as the Appomattox Campaign, was a series of strategic battles that ultimately led to the surrender of Confederate General Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia. The events that unfolded during this campaign were pivotal in shaping the outcome of the war and the future of the United...
On this date - April 2 - in 1917 President Woodrow Wilson addressed the United States Congress, asking for a declaration of war against Germany. This request marked a significant turn in World War I and the role of the United States on the global stage. Background and Context By 1917, World War I had been raging for nearly three years, engulfing much of Europe in a devastating conflict. The United States had maintained a stance of neutrality, although it had provided economic and material...
On this day, April 3rd, we commemorate the powerful and prophetic speech delivered by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1968. Known as "I've Been to the Mountaintop," this speech stands as one of the most poignant and inspiring addresses in American history, reflecting King's unwavering commitment to justice, equality, and the struggle for civil rights. Historical Context In the final year of his life, Martin Luther King Jr. faced numerous challenges and growing opposition. Th...
The National WW2 Museum offers a compelling blend of sweeping narrative and poignant personal detail. It features immersive exhibits, multimedia experiences and an expansive collection of artifacts and first-person oral histories taking visitors inside the story of the war that changed the world. Beyond the galleries, the Museum's online collections, virtual field trips, webinars, educational travel programs and renowned International Conference on World War II offer patrons new ways to connect...
The spring of 2025 marks the 50th anniversary of a sad event in American history: The fall of Saigon, and the failure of the United States to honor its commitment to save South Vietnam from Communist aggression. Not that our military failed. At a colloquium years later between American and North Vietnamese to discuss the war, an American officer said, “You never defeated us on the battlefield. A North Vietnamese officer replied, “That is true. It is also irrelevant.” He meant that the Commu...
