One of the most interesting aspects of history to me is how historical events are portrayed in different types of popular culture. Whether it is media from the time period or from more recent times, I always enjoy seeing the different perspectives that people can come up with for the same historical event. The Vietnam War is probably the most opinionated U.S. historical event and it is always cool to kind of see different takes on what people believe. A Philadelphia rap group known as Jedi Mind Tricks decided to throw their hat into the mix and make a song about differing views on the war from a soldier's perspective. Given that the views are two very extreme opposites, it is still pretty neat to see what today's artists have to say about such an important American event. It should also go without saying that the artists' views are not my own.
*****Warning: The lyrics are explicit so please use discretion when watching*****

Who thought reliving historical events could be this fun?!?!?!?

Take some time to enjoy some light hearted history because everyone loves them some Michael Cera. (This isn't historically accurate, bonus points to anyone who can come up with the real version of how these historical events played out.)

A Real Life National Treasure

A real life National Treasure has been found by Lorianne Updike Toler at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. The United States Constitution is one of the most important documents in all of world history. It may seem like a little patriotism is shining through when I say that, but it is absolutely true. It is amazing how a legal document of 7,591 words can be so effective that it is one of the longest lasting constitutions in the world. The thing that sells me on the validity of the Constitution is the fact that it is a living document. The Founding Fathers knew it would be an imperfect document and therefore understood the need to have the ability to amend any problems that the may run into hence the use of amendments.

The particular draft discovered by Ms. Toler was drafted by a lesser known player in the framing of the Constitution, James Wilson. Wilson, who was also a signer of the Declaration of Independence, was a lawyer who resided in the Philadelphia area. Wilson's credentials are quite impressive. He was elected to the Continental Congress twice and was eventually chosen to serve as one of the original justices of the Supreme Court appointed by George Washington. Wilson's appointment to the Committee of Detail enabled him to be extremely hands on drafting the Constitution. It was within his position in the Committee of Detail where Wilson was the brain child behind the Three-Fifths Compromise and backed a popular vote election for Congress and the presidency. Wilson was often considered the most learned (meaning educated) of the politicians involved in the framing of the Constitution. The discovery of an early draft of the Constitution made by Wilson helps us to bring to light one of the less famous but very important Founding Fathers.

Pirates: The Ageless Search for Booty

Pirates have always held a special place in folklore and mythology among children and adults alike. Popular media has always been mesmerized with the swashbuckling adventures of pirates; whether it is the book Treasure Island (1883) or the recent Pirates of the Caribbean movies, there seems to be a genuine interest in pirate activity. Unfortunately, pirate activity is a very real and serious problem still plaguing some areas of the world. Recently, Somalia garnered a lot of attention for the rash of pirate attacks that are occurring off their coast. Somali pirates have captured 4 European vessels just this week. This is not the first time there has been trouble with pirates off the African coast for European and American boats.
Thomas Jefferson experienced similar trouble off the coasts of Morroco, Tripoli, Tunis, and Algiers (otherwise known as the Barbary states) during his tenure as President of the United States. The often forgotten First Barbary War was one of Jefferson's very first issues upon entering office. In fact, upon Jefferson's inauguration in 1801 the Barbary states demanded a payment of $225,000 in order to keep American vessels safe. Jefferson decided to put an end to what is often considered the first run in with Muslim terrorism against the U.S. by sending the navy to patrol the seas in the trouble areas. Although a declaration of war was never made by Congress, Jefferson instructed the commanders of the U.S. navy to seize all vessels and goods on ships from the Barbary states in an effort to take preemptive and precautionary measures. The Barbary states, and more specifically Tripoli, could not weather the naval blockade set up by the U.S. and eventually succumbed to signing a peace treaty in June of 1805.

For recent events of piracy in Somalia and more information on the First Barbary War check out these links:

http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/africa/01/02/somalia.hijacking/index.html?

http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/africa/01/18/somalia.tanker.hijacked/index.html?

http://histclo.com/essay/war/bp/abw/abw1.html

Why Study History

Often times students find themselves questioning why they are required to take certain classes in school. History is often one of those subjects that comes under scrutiny. Teachers, parents, and students should all understand how important it is to understand the past and how it affects us now. The American Historical Society has a very good article on the importance of studying history that can help both teachers and parents explain to the students why this subject matter is meaningful. There are several reasons for the study of history, but my favorite quote pertaining to the argument is, "The past causes the present, and so the future." Check out the link if you need more convincing.

http://www.historians.org/pubs/Free/WhyStudyHistory.htm

Hello

Thank you for visiting my blog. I created this blog in order to give people a site they can visit to find the history behind current events. It has always been my understanding that every action that someone makes will result in a reaction. This can be applied to today's world since the present has ultimately been shaped by events and actions from the past. Most of the current news and events have roots in significant events from the past that are being overlooked. It is my hope to be able to create a linkage between past events and the present in an effort to show students how important it is to try and shape their future now and to become more conscientious of their actions.