Friday, February 24, 2012

Today, Feb. 24, in American History

There are a number of interesting events that occurred today in history.

LATIN AMERICAN HISTORY

1541, Santiago, Chile founded by Pedro de Valvidia (or 2/12)
1821, Mexico gains independence from Spain
1895, Cuban war for independence begins
1917, German plan to get Mexican help in WW I exposed (Zimmerman telegram) (THIS ONE IS ACTUALLY ALL THREE: AMERICAN, LATIN AMERICAN AD WORLD HISTORY)
1944, Argentina coup by Juan Peron minister of war
1946, Juan Peron elected President of Argentina


AMERICAN HISTORY

1779, George Rogers Clark captures Vincennes (Ind) from British
1836, Mexicans attack Texans (and "Tejanos") at Alamo, lasts 13 days
1838, Steam shovel patented by William Otis, Philadelphia
1903, U.S. signs agreement acquiring a naval station at Guantanamo Bay Cuba
1977, President Carter announces U.S. foreign aid will consider human rights

WORLD HISTORY

303, 1st official Roman edict for persecution of Christians issued
1208, St. Francis of Assisi, 26, received his vocation in Portiuncula Italy,
1510, Pope Julius II excommunicates the republic of Venice
1917, Russian revolution breaks out
1917, German plan to get Mexican help in WW I exposed (Zimmerman telegram) (THIS ONE IS ACTUALLY ALL THREE: AMERICAN, LATIN AMERICAN AD WORLD HISTORY)
1989, Iran's Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini offers $1M-$3M bounty on Salman Rushdie's death due to his novel, "Satanic Verses"


AND last but not least, in 1960s music lore, Beatles begin filming "Help" in Bahamas (today in 1965 - I remember it well!)




FOR YOU SOCIAL SCIENCE STUDENTS, HERE IS SOME RECENT HISTORY:

1996, Cuba downs 2 U.S. planes
1998, Elton John knighted
2008, Fidel Castro resigns as President of Cuba, his brother Raul Castro is unanimously elected
2011, Yemen President Ali Abdullah Saleh orders the country's security forces to protect protesters
2011, In Libya, Anti-Gaddafi forces claim to have gained control Zuara, a town located west of Tripoli

Sunday, February 12, 2012

Today, Feb. 13, in History

1566 St. Augustine, Florida founded

1601 John Lancaster leads 1st East India Company voyage from London

1633 Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei arrived in Rome for trial before Inquisition for professing belief that earth revolves around the Sun

Galileo's Battle for the Heavens 1


1858 Sir Richard Burton and John Speake explore Lake Tanganyika, Africa





1907 English suffragettes storm British Parliament and 60 women are arrested

1920
Switzerland rejoin League of Nations; League of Nations recognizes perpetual neutrality of Switzerland

Today in American History

In 1733, Georgia founded by James Oglethorpe, at site of Savannah



In 1793, 1st U.S. fugitive slave law passed; requires return of escaped slaves

In 1821, Mercantile Library of City of New York opens

In 1825, Creek Indian treaty signed. Tribal chiefs agree to turn over all their land in Georgia to the government and migrate west by Sept 1, 1826



In 1839, Aroostock War: Boundary dispute between Maine and New Brunswick

In 1861, State troops seize U.S. munitions in Napoleon, Arkansas

Please leave a comment below, and come prepared to discuss one of these events above.

Saturday, February 4, 2012

How to Fight the Man


New York Times Opinion Pages
By DAVID BROOKS
Published: February 2, 2012

David Brooks is one of my favorite public thinkers. In this article, he discusses how difficult it is to bring a focused and coherent agenda to reform and rebellion. He suggests that reformers and rebels, in the religious sphere as well as the social and political spheres, should find an alternative or counter-tradition with which to critique the failures of the current system.

Today, Feb. 4 in history

1967 "Wild Thing" hits #20 on the pop singles chart by Senator Bobby

1945 FDR, Churchill and Stalin meet at Yalta

1938 Hitler seizes control of German army and puts Nazi in key posts

1932 Japanese troop occupy Harbin, Manchuria

1899 Revolt against U.S. occupation of Philippines

1849 University of Wisconsin begins in 1 room with 20 students

1847 1st U.S. telegraph co established in Maryland

1794 French National Convention proclaims abolishment of slavery

1789 1st electoral college chooses Washington and Adams as President and Vice President

1787 1st Anglican bishops of New York and Pennsylvania consecrated in London
1787 Shays' Rebellion (of debt-ridden Massachusetts farmers) fails