The Hamburg Massacre took place in South Carolina in July of 1876. It was another of the low-water marks of the era of American history we call Reconstruction, the twelve years following the end of the Civil War. Hamburg was a small town in South Carolina, just across the Savannah River that forms the state’s […]
Tag: Emancipation Proclamation
The Clinton Massacre of 1875 – A Bloody Key to American History
A few events in history are so emblematic of their times that we rightly call them keys to understanding something larger. The Clinton Massacre of 1875 is one such event. Clinton was a small town in Mississippi in 1875. In September of that year, Republican supporters organized a large rally in support of their candidates […]
Thomas Nast and Santa Claus
Thomas Nast and Santa Claus go together. More on their relationship shortly. But first, who was Thomas Nast? Thanks largely to Thomas Nast, the political cartoon is an art form. Even if you don’t look at them regularly, you know the style. Most feature recognizable caricatures of public figures along with short text. The actions […]
The 13th Amendment Becomes Part of the Constitution
December 7, 1941 may be a day that will live infamy, but December 6, 1865 will be a day that lives in glory in United States history. December 6 is the day that the 13th Amendment completed the ratification process to become part of the US Constitution. The 13th Amendment is one of the simplest […]
The Emancipation Proclamation Issued by Lincoln
On September 22, 1862, Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation. Although long overdue, it began the chain of events that ended slavery in the United States. Today, I’d like to explain some things about the Emancipation Proclamation and, hopefully, clear away some misconceptions people might have about it and its author. As I wrote a […]
Robert E. Lee’s Battle Plans at Antietam
When Union forces discovered the battle plans of Robert E. Lee for his first invasion of the North on September 13, 1862, it offered Union general George McClellan the chance that all military commanders dream of—he knew the enemy’s plans in advance. He knew where Lee’s troops were and, furthermore, that Lee had split his […]