Tag Archive for ‘Don’t Know Much ABout History’
Don’t Know Much About® Lyndon B. Johnson
All I have I would have given gladly not to be standing here today. Lyndon B. Johnson, in his first address as President to a joint session of Congress (November 27, 1963) The 36th President, Lyndon B. Johnson, was born on this date in 1908, in a small farmhouse near Stonewall, Texas on the Pedernales [...]
Don’t Know Much About® the 19th Amendment
It took 144 years after Independence. But on August 26, 1920–90 years ago– the “other half” of the country got their rights. The 19th Amendment to the Constitution, giving women the vote, was declared in effect on this date by the Secretary of State. The Amendment had actually been ratified earlier in the month when [...]
TODAY IN HISTORY: The “Negro Riots” in Watts
It started with a “DWB”– “driving while black.” On August 11, 1965, an all-too-frequent stop of a young black man exploded into one of the worst urban riots in American history. Where: Watts was a rundown district of shabby houses built near the highway approaching Los Angeles International Airport. Ninety-eight percent black, Watts was stewing [...]
Of “Mosques,” Memorials and Burning Convents
In polite society, one supposedly never discusses religion or politics. In America, it seems we can rarely separate the two. The latest fracas over faith in the public square involves the plans for Cordoba House, an Islamic Center, including a “mosque,” to be built two blocks from Ground Zero. Proposed to bridge the differences between [...]
TODAY IN HISTORY: A Very Significant Amendment
I know. The mere mention of Constitutional Amendments automatically sends most of us for the snooze button. But this one is different. On July 28, 1868, the 14th Amendment to the Constitution was declared in effect. On July 9, 1868, the state of South Carolina ratified the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, providing the [...]
TODAY IN HISTORY: Don’t Know Much About® Bastille Day!
Vive la France! On July 14, 1789, an angry crowd stormed a state prison in Paris that stood as a symbol of royal tyranny. They surrounded the Bastille in order to seize the gunpowder stored inside. Troops fired on the rebels, but the people overpowered them. The bloody French Revolution had begun. The people of [...]
Today in History: Don’t Know Much About® New York’s Bloody Draft Riots
On July 13, 1863, New York City exploded in a four-day long murderous riot, still considered one of the deadliest urban riots in American history. The cause of the riots–violent opposition to the Civil War draft law.
Jefferson’s Version-A few key differences
Today , July 2d is the day the Continental Congress actually voted in favor of independence for America. It took two more days of debate to approve Thomas Jefferson’s explanation of that vote, the Declaration of Independence. Once again the New York Public Library is displaying a handwritten version of the Declaration, written by Jefferson. [...]
