Tag Archives: current-events
Mormon Militancy and the Conflict in 1840s Nauvoo?
The non-Mormons of Hancock County, Illinois, in the early 1840s probably disliked the Mormons from the first, in the same way that most Americans have generally disliked what they have viewed as religious fanaticism, but they were initially disposed toward toleration … Continue reading
Mormon Nauvoo in the Context of Post-Colonial Studies
To an extent underappreciated by historians, the Mormon experience in Nauvoo between 1839 and 1846 represents an expression of colonialism and its antithesis. The field of post-colonial studies has been gaining prominence since the 1970s. While historians and others debate the … Continue reading
Historical Analogies and the Commercial Development of Space
I recently completed a study on historical analogies and the commercial development of space. This study explored several historical episodes in U.S. history where the federal government undertook public/private efforts to complete critical activities valued for their public good. This largely … Continue reading
Wednesday’s Book Review: “Culture Wars: The Struggle To Control The Family, Art, Education, Law, And Politics In America”
Culture Wars: The Struggle To Control The Family, Art, Education, Law, And Politics In America. By James Davison Hunter. New York: Basic Books, 1992. Since I mentioned this book in last week’s Wednesday book review, I thought it was appropriate … Continue reading
President Kennedy and the Apollo Commitment: A Unique Moment in Time
Tomorrow will be the 52nd anniversary of President John F. Kennedy announcing the decision to pursue a Moon landing by the end of the decade of the 1960s. On May 25, 1961, he stood before a joint session of Congress and … Continue reading
A Sad and Ill-Considered Decision: The University of Missouri Press Has Been Shuttered
Perhaps you have been following this, but for those who have not the president of the University of Missouri, Timothy M. Wolfe, announced on May 24, 2012, that he was closing the University of Missouri Press. This is a venerable … Continue reading
Wednesday’s Book Review: “The Twentieth Century: A People’s History”
The Twentieth Century: A People’s History. By Howard Zinn. New York: HarperCollins, 2003. No historian of the United States has been more provocative than Howard Zinn (1922–2010), whose leftist philosophy permeated his writings and never failed to challenge his readers. … Continue reading
Wednesday’s Book Review: Richard Brookhiser’s “Founding Father: Rediscovering George Washington”
Founding Father: Rediscovering George Washington. By Richard Brookhiser. New York: Free Press, 1996. Richard Brookhiser’s Founding Father is one of several recent biographies of America’s revolutionary generation that seeks to capture what he believes was the essence of George Washington’s … Continue reading
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