21 Mar
Here is the website put together for the 40th anniversary of the Desegregation of Little Rock High School. It is fascinating:http://www.centralhigh57.org/
Here is the website for the National Park Service’s Central High site: http://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/civilrights/ar1.htm
Elizabeth Eckford is screamed at by Hazel Massery on September 4, 1957
2 Jan
Yesterday was the 150th anniversary of the date in 1863 when the Emancipation Proclamation took effect.
Here is an actual photocopy from the National Archives: http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/featured_documents/emancipation_proclamation/.
Here is a really good article from the Atlantic Monthly which provides some historical evaluation of this important document: http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2013/01/the-wholly-misunderstood-emancipation-proclamation/266741/
12 Dec
This is interesting: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2246788/Rare-Civil-War-photographs-letters-revealed-auction-including-signatures-Declaration-signers.html
Thanks, Chris A!
10 Dec
Great summary from PBS: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/general-article/grant-colfax/
7 Dec
Excellent article from TIME magazine which explains how historians’ views on the Civil War have changed. Especially highlights early biased interpretations:
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2063869,00.html
3 Dec
This is a wee bit profane, but pretty much on the mark and humorous. Thanks to DJ for the link!
http://www.cracked.com/article_19223_6-civil-war-myths-everyone-believes-that-are-total-b.s..html
3 Dec
Thanks to last year’s scholar Chris A. for the link: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2242099/The-women-war-Haunting-images-Civil-War-depict-mothers-daughters-wives-went-fight.html
And here is the letter from the little girl who encouraged Lincoln to regrow his beard: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2240765/Grace-Bedell-Abraham-Lincoln-grew-beard-girl-11-wrote-said-ladies-like-whiskers.html
And here is a photocopy of Lee’s letter regarding joining the Confederate Army, as well as his farewell address after surrendering: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2238081/General-Lees-letter-reveals-moment-decided-resign-U-S-Army-join-Confederate-cause.html
3 Dec
Given November 19, 1863
“Fourscore and seven years ago
our fathers brought forth upon this continent
a new nation
conceived in liberty
and dedicated to the proposition
that all men are created equal.
“Now we are engaged in a great civil war,
testing whether this nation
or any nation so conceived and so dedicated
can long endure.
We are met on a great battlefield of that war.
We have come to dedicate a portion of that field
as a final resting-place for those who here gave their lives
that that nation might live.
It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.
“But in a larger sense,
we cannot dedicate,
we cannot consecrate,
we cannot hallow this ground.
The brave men, living and dead who struggled here
have dedicated it far above our poor power to add or detract.
The world will little note nor long remember what we say here,
but it can never forget what they did here.
It is for us
the living
rather to be dedicated here to the unfinished work
which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced.
It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us–
that from these honored dead we take increased devotion
to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion–
that we here highly resolve
that these dead shall not have died in vain,
that this nation under God shall have a new birth of freedom,
and that government
of the people,
by the people,
and for the people
shall not perish from the earth.”
29 Nov
watch?v=FNt9PJMzcn4&feature=related]
watch?v=GtgzG1kqaY0&feature=related]
Matthew Brady is referred to here as “The Father of Photojournalism.” His work was controversial because it was so gory and so realistic that it shocked the sensibilities of people– it seemed voyeuristic, in some people’s opinions.
28 Nov
I originally posted this in September. You need to reread these two for Friday.
Today (September 17, 2012) is the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Antietam (Sharpsburg) in the US Civil War, the single bloodiest day in the entire conflict, and first thing close to a victory that the Union forces had won during the entire conflict. President Abraham Lincoln used this day to announce his intention to declare the emancipation of slaves who were held in areas that continued in rebellion against the Union government.
Please click on this link to read about reflections upon this singularly bloody day.
This link is also an interesting take on the significance of this event.
