The first snow of the year has arrived. It’s not accumulating at all, but I can see the flurries fall as the evening matures. Our winter has started off much milder than last year’s version, but it’s just started, so there’s a long way to go. I wanted to briefly mention the Philadelphia Convention this [...]
Archive for November, 2010
Yet Another Convention in Philadelphia
Posted in The Confederation (1783-1789), United States, tagged 1787, Constitutional Convention, Independence Hall, James Wilson, Pennsylvania Packet, Thomas Mifflin on November 30 | 1 Comment »
Long Before Macy’s, A Parade in New York
Posted in The Confederation (1783-1789), tagged 1783, Evacuation Day, General George Washington, General Henry Knox, George Clinton, New York on November 25 | Leave a Comment »
As I type this morning, folks in New York City are preparing for the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. And if it’s anything like previous spectacles, there will be floats and bands, convertibles with people waving to the crowds, and probably a celebrity or two. It’s a big deal. But Macy’s hasn’t been around forever. [...]
Philip Hamilton: Like Son, Like Father
Posted in Constitutional period (1789-1809), United States, tagged 1801, Alexander Hamilton, Duel, George Eacker, New York, Philip Hamilton on November 23 | Leave a Comment »
“The mistakes of the father are often visited upon the son.” “The apple doesn’t far very far from the tree.” “Like father, like son.” These are phrases that you and I have probably said hundreds of times. We watch children grow up and, whether they belong to us or not, we often notice that the [...]
Madison’s First Federalist – Famous Number 10
Posted in The Confederation (1783-1789), United States, tagged 1787, Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay, Number 10, The Federalist Papers on November 22 | 2 Comments »
I’ll keep it brief this evening…hopefully… More than a year ago, we discussed the publication of the first of the Federalist Papers. This collection of essays, which comprise what is quite likely the single greatest defense of any government charter anywhere in the world, was penned by three hands under one pseudonym. Publius, the author [...]
Wilson’s Treaty Lodges in Senate’s Throat
Posted in Period between World Wars (1919-1939), Twentieth century (1901-1960), United States, tagged 1919, Henry Cabot Lodge, League of Nations, President Woodrow Wilson, Treaty of Versailles on November 19 | Leave a Comment »
In his book A Shattered Peace, David Andelman writes that President Woodrow Wilson went to Paris “with the intention of bringing a new era of moral responsibility to the management of international affairs and an end to global conflict…” But unfortunately, many of the allied partners who met him there came with very different objectives, and [...]
Operation Flipper Flops
Posted in Africa, World War II (1939-1945), tagged 1941, Beda Littoria, Field Marshal Er, Libya, Lt. Col. Geoffrey Keyes, Operation Crusader, Operation Flipper, Tobruk on November 17 | Leave a Comment »
This “every third day” thing is getting to be something of a rut. It’s not a goal to do that, but it’s the way things have gone for a bit here. But I’ve got a couple things that might interest you history buffs on today’s list, so we’ll see if I can get both in. [...]
College Football’s Biggest Loss
Posted in Later twentieth century (1961-2000), United States, tagged 1970, Marshall Thundering Herd, McDonnell-Douglas DC-9 on November 14 | Leave a Comment »
College football fans in Iowa are disappointed tonight. Iowa State, still with a chance to make it to a bowl, played in Colorado yesterday against the winless Buffaloes…and were soundly trounced. In addition, the Cyclones appear to have lost their starting quarterback for the final game. Even if they do win the next game, an [...]
Minute Rice, Minute Steak, Minute Weather
Posted in Twentieth century (1901-1960), United States, tagged 1911, Children's Blizzard, Great Blue Norther, Weather on November 11 | Leave a Comment »
Those of you that don’t live in the midwest United States can’t really relate to the phrase, “If you don’t like the weather, just wait a few minutes and it’ll change.” Many people from other parts of the country hear us say that and figure we’re just full of beans. “The weather couldn’t possibly change [...]
Fog Obscures Elser’s Clear Shot at Hitler
Posted in Europe, World War II (1939-1945), tagged 1939, Adolf Hitler, Assassination, Bürgerbräukeller, Beer Hall, Johann Georg Elser on November 8 | Leave a Comment »
In July of 1944, Count Claus von Stauffenberg came within an eyelash of assassinating German dictator Adolf Hitler. His briefcase bomb was planted under the table around which Hitler and some of his military leaders were gathered, and it detonated just as planned. But Hitler’s position at the table meant he was shielded from much [...]
Rommel: From the Desert to the Sea
Posted in Europe, World War II (1939-1945), tagged 1943, Atlantic Wall, Directive No. 51, Field Marshal Erwin Rommel, Field Marshal Gerd von Rundstedt on November 5 | 1 Comment »
1943 had not been very kind to Hitler’s military. His army, navy, and air force had, in the space of 11 months, suffered a series of crushing defeats. In the east, Stalingrad had been lost in dramatic fashion early on. Then the German armies were forced to call it quits in North Africa in May. Then [...]
Farmin’ the Boones
Posted in Colonial history (1607-1775), United States, tagged 1734, Daniel Boone, Oley, Pennsylvania, Squire Boone on November 2 | Leave a Comment »
For George Boone III, business wasn’t very good. It had been decent, but times in early 18th century England were changing. Demand for woolen products was decreasing. Boone, a weaver, still had work in the village of Bradninch, but it wasn’t nearly as easy now. Modern technologies, like a cheaper and lighter wool cloth, were causing demand [...]
