Or were they traitors? Each had taken an oath to the U.S. when they joined the U.S. Army. Thomas Jackson (he didn’t get his nickname “Stonewall” until the First Battle of Bull Run) voted for the Southern Democratic candidate John Breckinridge in 1860. Although Breckinridge supported secession, Jackson said he Read more…
As teachers of history, we’re always looking for media that can enhance the learning process. War movies can be excellent history lessons, but who has the time to show one? A good alternative might be to show a short war film. Recently I was clued in about a 22 minute Read more…
Today is Veterans Day and many don’t realize it is associated with the signing of the armistice on November 11, 1918. The poem most associated with the war is “In Flanders Field” by John McRae. McRae was a Canadian soldier, doctor, artist, and poet. His unit was shipped to Flanders Read more…
Movies based on historical events can be educational for students. The problem is that it seems the more entertaining they are, the more inaccurate they are. I used to show some movies in my American History class and I always looked for a blend of entertainment and education. There are Read more…
We see here an American Bison bull. You probably recognize it as a buffalo. Blame the confusion on the French. When French trappers first encountered them in America, they thought they were shaggy cows. So they called them “bouefs” which is French for cattle. Samuel de Champlain was the first Read more…
Anaximenes was a philosopher famous during his lifetime. He accompanied Alexander the Great in his conquest of Persia. One day, Alexander’s army approached the city where Aniximenes was born. Aniximenes came to Alexander’s tent and Alexander, anticipating what he was about to request, said to Anaximenes: “I swear by the Read more…
The Malmedy Massacre occurred during the Battle of the Bulge. Part of the 1st Panzer Division, led by Lt. Col. Joachim Peiper, was the spearhead of the left wing of the German offensive. There was a lot of pressure to push forward as fast as possible Read more…
Titian was one of the greatest of the Renaissance painters. He, rather than the sculptor Donatello, should have been one of the Ninja Turtles. (I think the creators were afraid of people mispronouncing the name.) He specialized in mythological subjects and portraits. He also would accept commissions to paint Read more…
Howard Brodie transferred to Europe after doing his first combat art on Guadalcanal (see previous posts). He participated in the Battle of the Bulge and sketched this drawing of a German prisoner executed by firing squad. He could be a member of Otto Skorzeny’s commando unit that was tasked by Read more…
Mary Godwin was the daughter of William Godwin and Mary Wollstonecraft. Her parents were famous writers and political radicals. In 1814, she began an affair with the married poet Percy Bysshe Shelley. They eloped to Europe and in the summer of 1816 they joined Shelley’s fellow poet Lord Byron in Read more…