October 13th

Hellooo History People!hamilton

 

It might be nice (it might be nice) to start learning some history!

Let’s take a walk down this week’s memory lane –

October 10th:

1973: U.S. Vice President Spiro Agnew Resigns

President Richard Nixon’s vice president, Spiro Agnew became the first vice president to resign from office. His political corruption included receiving many bribes throughout the course of his political career. Once this knowledge was uncovered by the U.S. Justice Department, Agnew plead guilty to federal income tax evasion, was discharged, and received a fine and three years of probation. Not even a year later due to the Watergate scandal, Richard Nixon became the first American president to resign.

October 11th:

1975: Late Night Television Show Saturday Night Live Airs Its First Episodesnl amy poehler high five seth meyers weekend update

Comedy writer Lorne Michaels created this hour and a half long sketch show over forty years ago to provide the public with both a short release from the stresses of the work week, as well as information about the real world and events that are projected with a hilarious twist. One of the longest running late night shows ever, SNL appeals to people of all generations, as today’s parents and children have grown up watching the short sketches of a variety of entertainers over the years from Chevy Chase to Tina Fey. By using real world occurrences, particularly U.S. politics, to fuel the show’s distinct satirical perspective, the performers and writers are able to inform the viewers of things actually happening in the world.

October 12th:

1810: Oktoberfest!

Crown Prince Louis I of Bavaria married Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen, and to celebrate, the couple threw a massive party that included events such as horse racing, (lots and lots of) drinking (Raise a glass.), and many more festivities.  The following year, the long period of celebration was repeated once again, and thus began the epic tradition of Oktoberfest (which actually takes place at the end of September and ends after the first week of October).

(Are you ready for more yet?)

Today in History: October 13th

1792: Construction Begins for the White House

  • On this day, the cornerstone was laid for the building that would become the home of the President of the United States starting in 1800. Washington, D.C. was named the nation’s new capitol over Philadelphia in order to appeal to all of the colonies, particularly the south, through its more centralized geographic location. The second president of the United States, John Adams, and his wife, Abigail, were the first to reside in the monumental building.

 

Quote of the Day:

“Listen to the sound of silence.”

Paul Simon (Birthday: Oct. 13th, 1941)

“The truth is rarely pure and never simple.”

Oscar Wilde (Birthday: Oct. 16, 1854)

October 6th

Hellooooo History Folks!

For those of you who are new to this blog, or even those of you who don’t regularly follow daily historical events, you’re probably wondering, What did I miss?

Let’s take a look at what happened this week in history!

October 3rd:

1863: U.S. President Abraham Lincoln Officially Declares Thanksgiving as a National Holiday

After the decisive Union victory at the Battle of Gettysburg (July 1-3, 1863), President Lincoln addressed the nation in a speech that would give thanks to the Union for the fortunate change in the war’s momentum. It was also an opportunity to instate a specific holiday into the nation’s calendar on which the American people would give thanks for all that they had, for each other, and for the long preservation of the Union. A national holiday such as this one was previously considered a controversial topic by past presidents because of the association it assumes between church (the entity to which thanks is being given) and state (the enforcer of such a day). However, the day of celebration still exists as a time to relax, enjoy one another’s company, and to truly reflect and be thankful for all the good things in our lives.

**Bonus Fact: Happy Mean Girls Day! This is the day that Aaron Samuels asked Cady Heron what day it was. It was October 3rd.

 

October 4th:

1957: Russia launches its first satellite, Sputnik I

This is the spark that triggered U.S./U.S.S.R.involvement in the Space Race, an unofficial international competition between the two strongest, most technologically advanced nations in the world that blazed for the latter part of the 20th century. American citizens cried for action from their own government to “fight back” against the quickly advancing Soviet Union, a potentially detrimental adversary of which the American people were extremely suspicious at the time because of the starkly contrasting political and social structures of each country. President Dwight D. Eisenhower pushed forward with American technological research in order to regain equal ground with the Soviets, and in January of the following year, the U.S. launched its first satellite, Explorer I. 

October 5th:

1947: U.S. President Harry S. Truman Delivers the First Televised Presidential Speech

At this point, WWII had ended, but Europe still remained in a state of unstable recovery. Food shortages were frequent, and the U.S., a self-proclaimed ally to many of the affected European nations, decided it would do something to help ease this suffering and promote healthy economic reconstruction. President Truman appeared on television asking the American public – or rather, those who owned a television, although there weren’t many at the time – to reduce their food intake and farming resources so that these supplies could be sent overseas to aid the starving civilians. His speech outlined a suggested diet rationing system, and those individuals who were able to tune in to his broadcast generally complied with his request. The U.S. Marshall plan for European economic recovery was able to be instated and this occurrence set the precedent for future presidential speeches addressing the nation, which have all been televised ever since.hamilton

And now… (What comes next?)

TODAY IN HISTORY!

October 6th:

1889: Thomas Edison and William Dickson Presents the First Motion Picture

Thomas Edison – yes, the Thomas Edison – partnered with William Kennedy Dickson who used ideas from Edison’s phonograph invention along with some inspiration from the European Zoetrope to create the invention that would produce the first moving image, called the Kinetophonograph. Soon after, the Edison Company was formed; over 1700 films were produced during the existence of the company, although the founding pair had several significant business disagreements. Edison was adamant about refraining from projecting the films on public screens intended for large audiences, while Dickson was very interested in pursuing this concept.

1926: Babe Ruth Sets a World Series Record

For any of you who follow baseball or if you have seen the excellent film, The Sandlot (which I highly recommend – this movie is CLASSIC), the fact that Babe Ruth set a Major League baseball record should come as no surprise.

The New York Yankees were in the middle of the fourth of a ten game series for the American League World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals. Babe Ruth stepped up to the plate and cracked three dingers (for all the Coach Kent Murphy fans out there) out of the park. This was something that had never happened before, and only added to the significant fame Babe Ruth received for his exceptional athletic ability in the world of baseball.

QUOTE OF THE DAY:

“If someday they say of me that in my work I have contributed something to the welfare and happiness of my fellow man, I shall be satisfied.

-George Westinghouse, born October 5th, 1846

hamilton

September 29th


Hellooooo History Folks,

Welcome to the room where it happens!

This week in history holds many interesting events; let’s take a look at just a few (HIGHLIGHTS)!

 

September 26th:

  • 1960:First Kennedy vs. Nixon Presidential Debate
    • One of the most well-known presidential debates, this was the very first debate broadcasted on television between candidates John F. Kennedy (Democrat) and Richard Nixon (Republican).  The relaxed countenance with which Kennedy held himself, compared to Nixon’s less appealing appearance and overall composure, throughout the debate contributed to the audience’s perception of Kennedy as the debate’s champion. Nixon would go on to improve his standings in the following three debates, but ultimately lost the presidency to Kennedy by less than a point.

  •  Election 2016 hillary clinton debate handshake presidential debate 2016Bonus Fact: Earlier this week, this was also the day Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton held their first presidential debate against one another, a debate that only added to the controversy this election season has developed nationwide and highlighted the evident differences between the two candidates.

 

September 27th:

  • 1940: WWII – The Tripartite Pact Signed by the Axis Powers 
    • Germany, Italy, and Japan signed a pact to form an alliance and were from that point known around the world as the Axis Powers. The formal nature of the alliance was actually directed as a subliminal threat of intimidation to neutral countries during the time of war, trying to dissuade nations such as the United States of America from joining the war on the side of the Allies.

September 28th:

  • 1781: (The Battle of Yorktown) Begins
    • This was the ultimate battle of the American Revolution – the days leading up to when (the world turned upside down). General George Washington ordered Marquis de Lafayette and his troops to attack British General Lord Cornwallis’ army from escaping Yorktown by land as the French Navy arrived and prevented Great Britain’s retreat by sea. The British army was completely surrounded and remained that way for three weeks as the battle continued until October 17th when General Cornwallis surrendered his troops and in effect, the American Revolution reached its conclusion victoriously. (Woo!)

And now, ladies and gentlemen… the moment you’ve been waiting for… (The pride of Mt. Vernon…)

hamilton

TODAY IN HISTORY: SEPTEMBER 29TH

(Seventeen, se-se-seventeen) 1789: Congress Votes to Establish the U.S. Army

1850: Brigham Young, an Influential Mormon Leader, is Named the First Governor of Utah

1943: Adolf Hitler’s book Mein Kampf is Published in the United States

1951: Chile’s First Female President, Michelle Bachelet, was Born

That’s all for now, folks! Til next time… 

Quote of the Day:

“There does not have to be trade-off between growth and social protection. A democracy does not mean much if it doesn’t respond to the needs and will of its people. “

– Michelle Bachelet, President of Chile (2006 – 2010)

September 22nd

angelica-workHelloooo My History People!

Let’s get to (WORK!) and take a look at what went down in history this week:

September 19th: 

  • 1881: 20th U.S. President James A. Garfield dies from gunshot wounds.

The former Union colonel-turned-president of the U.S. faced an assassination attempt on July 2, 1881, when Charles J. Guiteau shot him in the back and the arm because of political office discrepancies. Garfield ultimately died from blood poisoning several months following the attack, and was succeeded by his Vice President, Chester A. Arthur.

September 20th:

  • 1881: 21st U.S. President Chester A. Arthur is the third U.S. President to serve in one year.

The year 1881 began with President Rutherford B. Hayes wrapping up his term in office while the country prepared for their new leader, James A. Garfield, to be instated. Not four months into Garfield’s presidency, nearly certifiably insane assassin Charles J. Guiteau shot Garfield, causing Vice President Chester A. Arthur to step in for Garfield, ultimately succeeding him as the next U.S. president at the time of Garfield’s death.

September 21st:

  • 1949: Mao Zedong announces the newly restructured Chinese government.

At the 1949 Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference in Peking, Mao revealed the government structure that would from then on take root in Chinese government. For years the Chinese Nationalists and their counterparts, the Chinese communist regime, had been trapped in a civil war, but at this point, the future of Chinese government was clear. This was an unofficial, preliminary conference, but it set the stage for preparation to introduce communism to China on every level.

And now…

TODAY IN HISTORY! (We gotta go, gotta get the job doneham-and-lafayette!)

September 22nd:

  • 1862: 16th U.S. President Abraham Lincoln issues the Emancipation Proclamation after a Union victory at the Battle of Antietam.
    • Today: This is one of the first introductions to legislature promoting any kind of racial equality, which eventually led to the larger movements that really got moving in the mid-20th century. (This is not a moment; It’s a movement.) 
    • The speech offered freedom to African-American slaves in countries that were openly rebelling from the nation itself, should the Union withstand and ultimately vanquish the Confederacy. The highly insightful offer was just that – an offer made to Northerners and Southerners alike, but it held no real substance until it was legally accepted by Congress.
    • Thus, the 13th Amendment to the Constitution was created and passed, which again, was one of the founding actions that led to where our society now stands on the issue of racial inequality. Cases of racial injustice constantly reveal themselves today, almost two hundred years later, and we are still battling to vanquish similar prejudices that have been ongoing since even before our nation’s founding.
  • 1994: Friends Airs Its First Episodejanice
    • Today: Friends is just one of those iconic TV shows that a majority of people can either calmly recognize like, “Oh, yeah, I’ve heard of that show before.” or totally remember those weeks – or days, if you’re a true die-hard fan like me – of binge watching the entire series, like, 100 times and being able to quote almost all the episodes with extreme precision and accuracy. (Fun fact: This is one of my favorite TV shows, in case you couldn’t tell, and – hold on to your pants – there’s also going to be a Friends MOVIE coming out in 2017!!! YES, IT’S TRUE!)

***Only 100 days left in 2016!***

Better start crossing things off that Bucket List – go make your own history!

Quote of the Day:

“The place where you made your stand never mattered. Only that you were there… and still on your feet.”

-Stephen King (Birthday: Sept. 21, 1947)

September 15th

Helloooo My Fellow History Fanatics!

For those of you who are new to the blog, welcome!

Usually this is where we discuss the hippity hoppenings of thing that occurred on the same date at some point in history, but I’m going to change up the game plan of this particular blog in honor of a particular event that occurred this week in history:

September 11: The 15 year anniversary of the terror attacks on the World Trade Centers in New York, NY. 

Of course, one of the most horrific terror attacks that people of our generation were probably too small to remember. However, if you ask anyone who lived through the events of that day, or even a person who may not have been directly affected by the attacks, the memory of 9/11 is forever burned into the hearts of Americans everywhere.

Although I cannot remember the day myself, I’ve heard my family’s and close friends’ stories hundreds of times. I was at home in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, watching the TV show Dora the Explorer with my dad and younger sister, who was barely a year old.

My mother had worked at a company that was highly involved with supplying power to many of the major surrounding areas, and upon her arrival at work she happened to glance up and notice how exquisitely blue the sky was that morning. She and a coworker pondered at the sheer magnificence of that radiantly blue sky before getting caught up in the morning’s workload and nearly forgetting about this strange phenomenon. Not two hours later, the entire facility was in a code red lockdown. Being a well-known power supplier, the company had a high risk of becoming a potential target. My mother called my father at home, told him what was happening and made sure he kept my sister and I away from the TV just in case the news showed any footage that would have been too much for us to comprehend.

Meanwhile, in New York City, mere blocks away from the World Trade Centers, my mother’s best friend, Debbie, saw the entire attack unfold. Thankfully, Debbie lived just far enough away from the target area to not have been in direct harm’s way, but the view from her apartment window painted a horrifying picture of the hell her fellow New Yorkers were enduring. My mother immediately tried to call her dear friend as soon as the first plane hit, and actually got through to Debbie in time to hear her yell something about a second plane hitting the other tower – then silence. The massive amount of people trying to reach their loved ones overwhelmed the capabilities of the phone lines and almost no communications outside the island of Manhattan were able to be processed for days.

As this was occurring, a teacher at my high school was at a school educating middle school students in Somerset. He vividly remembers seeing a plane flying extremely low over the school and surrounding areas. This was the Flight 93 airplane that was about to crash land in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

My mother’s friend survived, my mother and her company were safe, and no harm was done to my teacher and his students. But the feelings of fear and confusion they experienced were very real.

This is a day to remember that we are all part of something bigger than ourselves. It’s a time to revive the American spirit of unity and compassion for our fellow men and women. Our nation isn’t perfect, (…so it needs amendments – it’s full of contradictions…) but it’s something that we all have in common (…so is independence!). And our country should be just that: a commonplace where we all accept one another. Where we all belong. This is the ultimate goal that I feel we should be striving to complete as a whole. (America, you great unfinished symphony!)

Feel free to share any stories about your own or others’ experiences on this day, or just in general. I’m always very interested in hearing the different perspectives of many people on the same topic, and I have found that the most intriguing part is every individual has a completely unique story that no one has ever heard before – until they take the time to listen.

Sorry for you hardcore history buffs, this post was a lot longer and a little more personal than I anticipated…

No worries! Next week we’ll get back on track with all the bad (HAMILTON) puns and even more historic unearthing!

See you on the other side – Till we meet again! 

 

 

Quote of the Day:

“However long the night, the dawn will break.”      

African Proverb – Hausa Tribe

 

 

September 8th

Hellooo History Fanatics!

Today is September 8th, BUT before we begin, let’s highlight a few interesting events that happened earlier this week:

September 4th:

  • 1781: Spanish settlers found Los Angeles, California.
  • 1972: Mark Spitz, an Olympic swimmer, became the first Olympian to win seven gold medals.

September 5th:

  • 1774: The first Continental Congress met in Philadelphia, PA.
  • 1960: Muhammad Ali wins an Olympic medal in boxing.

September 6th:

  • 1620: The Pilgrims set sail from England on the ship The Mayflower seeking the new world.
  • 1915: The first tanks were prototyped and tested by the British Army.

September 7th:

  • 1822: Portugal lost its claim to Brazil, as it declared its independence.
  • 1998: The widely-used Google search engine was founded on this day.

And now… Wait for it… *Wait for it, wait for it…*

(Whoop there it is, first Ham reference of the day!)

HISTORY IS HAPPENING:  SEPTEMBER 8th

(Follow the links to get more info about each event!)

1565: First Permanent European Colony was established in the North America – St. Augustine, Florida.

  • Founded by Spanish admiral Pedro Menendez de Aviles, St. Augustine was named for a saint on whose feast day (August 28th) Florida was first sighted. It also served as the capital of Spanish Florida for over 200 years until territorial issues arose between Spain and Great Britain.
    • TODAY: St. Augustine was recently in the path of tropical storm Hermine, forcing civilians to take many necessary precautions to protect themselves from the storm. St. Augustine also remains the oldest city in America, and offers many tours and historical museums to visitors.
    • Relevance? Just think about it: all of the present-day inhabitants of St. Augustine are living on the very soil that, over 450 years ago, the first Spaniards designated to be their new colony’s origin. Years have passed, wars have been fought, possession has shifted several times, weather has been a constant challenge due to its geographical location, and yet, somehow, this little community has survived. And it’s not just surviving, but it’s also thriving (my name is Philip, I am a poet).

1966: The first episode of the TV show Star Trek was aired.

  • An important aspect of pop culture, this sci-fi television show picked up its popularity in the 1970s, gaining numerous series, books, movies, and well, the rest is history.
    • TODAY: A new television series based on this iconic theme entitled Star Trek: Discovery is set to air thirteen episodes on CBS starting in January 2017, before later moving to CBS All Access.
    • Relevance? Personally, in my family, when Star Trek came on TV, we knew that was the show we were going to watch that night. It was no use trying to wrestle the remote from my dad – this was his show. It didn’t matter that he’s seen every episode at least three times and can quote the dialogue in his sleep – Star Trek was on, and we were all going to sit through the hour long episodes together. Every time I think of Star Trek, I immediately associate it with my father and his pure child-like joy at the content and the ability to share his amusement with the rest of my family (no matter how much we would protest). It’s interesting to think that entertainment outlets such as television can be used today to bring people closer. I have to wonder, however, if we are making it harder for ourselves to become more emotionally intimate with our friends and loved ones by putting up an unconscious sort of barrier, or associating people with shows, activities, or things, rather than just appreciating them as human beings.

Birthdays:

Happy Birthday wishes to Bernie Sanders, Mr. Moseby (Phil Lewis), Wiz Khalifa, and Pink, as well as anyone else who shares this birthday!

Quote of the Day:

“I am who I am, and what I believe in and what my spirituality is about is that we’re all in this together.”

– Bernie Sanders, Senator of Vermont

Until next time,

(I have the honour to be your obedient servant,)

(A. Burr)