On today’s date in 1950, President Harry S. (with a period) Truman announced his support to develop the hydrogen bomb. In contrast to the atomic bombs dropped on Japan during the second World War, the hydrogen bomb was believed to be hundreds of times more powerful. Truman approved the massive funding for the development of what he called a “superbomb” for two reasons. First, five months before Truman’s announcement, the Soviet Union was successful in detonating an atomic bomb at their test site in Kazakhstan. And second, around the same time, British and U.S. intelligence concluded that a top scientist for the U.S. nuclear program was actually spying for the Soviet Union. In November, 1952, nearly three years after Truman’s announcement, the U.S. successfully detonated the world’s first hydrogen bomb in the Pacific Martial Islands. The explosion from “Mike”, the 10.4 megaton bomb, vaporized an entire island and produced a mushroom cloud that reached 57,000 feet in 90 seconds! The cloud kept growing, and capped out at 120,000 feet high, stretching 60 miles across. It took the Soviet Union three years to create and detonate their own Hydrogen bomb, which they exploded in November, 1955.
Also on this day in 1971, Apollo 14 launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida on a manned mission to the moon. The third lunar landing occurred five days later on February 5, and on February 9, Apollo 14 and crew safely returned to the Earth, along with 96 pounds of lunar samples.
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Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Monday, January 30, 2012
Learn Our History Today: January 30
Here’s something you probably didn’t learn in history class...On January 30, 1835, Andrew Jackson was almost assassinated. As the president was leaving a congressional funeral at the Capitol building, an unemployed house painter named Richard Lawrence attempted to shoot Jackson, but his gun misfired. Infuriated by the attempt, the president approached Lawrence and beat him several times with his walking cane! During the brawl, Lawrence pulled out a second pistol and attempted to shoot the president, but the second gun also misfired - clearly, the assassination wasn’t meant to be and historians believe the double misfire was due to humid weather. The attempt on Jackson’s life was the first attempt to ever assassinate a president of the United States. Lawrence’s reason for the attempt on Jackson’s life was simply that he blamed the president for the loss of his job.
In other presidential news, Franklin Delano Roosevelt was born on this day in 1882. If you recall from a recent post, “FDR” was the only president to serve four terms. FDR died in office on April 12, 1945, leaving his vice president, Harry S. Truman, to succeed him as president.
Without peaking, who can tell us what the “S” in Truman’s name stands for?
In other presidential news, Franklin Delano Roosevelt was born on this day in 1882. If you recall from a recent post, “FDR” was the only president to serve four terms. FDR died in office on April 12, 1945, leaving his vice president, Harry S. Truman, to succeed him as president.
Without peaking, who can tell us what the “S” in Truman’s name stands for?
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Learn Our History Today: January 29
January 29, 1777...After beginning an assault on Fort Independence on January, 18, 1777, under orders from General George Washington, Major General William Heath and an army of 6,000 abandoned their siege.
Washington had believed that an attack on Fort Independence would force the British to move troops from New Jersey (where Washington was under attack) to Fort Independence, which was located in Bronx County, New York.
But on January 25, the Bronx River flooded as a result of a rainstorm, which made the battlefield nearly impossible for the Patriots to navigate. What’s more, the British staged a counterassault, forcing General Health to admit defeat and abandon the battlefield on January 29.
The Patriots, who built the Fort in 1776, burned it as they retreated from New York City. But the British partially rebuilt it after taking control of the city. While the Fort withstood the Patriots’ attacks in 1777, it was destroyed when the British evacuated in 1779.
Also on this day in 1843, William McKinley—the 25th U.S. president—was born in Niles, Ohio. William McKinley served in the white house from 1897 to 1901, when the American automotive industry was just getting started. Consequently, President McKinley became the very first president to ride in an automobile! The automobile was a steam-powered Stanley Steamer, built by the Stanley Motor Carriage Company. When McKinley was assassinated in 1901, his successor’s administration, President Theodor Roosevelt, had a Stanley Steamer. However, it’s believed that President Roosevelt preferred horses to the Steamer.
And here’s one for baseball fans...On this day in 1936, the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York, inducted its first members, Christy Mathewson, Honus Wagner, Walter Johnson, Ty Cobb and, of course, Babe Ruth. The charter members were elected by members of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America.
And on January 29, 2002, President George W. Bush gave his first State of the Union Address following the attacks of 9/11. In the address, the president denounced countries suspected of harboring terrorists and developing weapons of mass destruction.
Washington had believed that an attack on Fort Independence would force the British to move troops from New Jersey (where Washington was under attack) to Fort Independence, which was located in Bronx County, New York.
But on January 25, the Bronx River flooded as a result of a rainstorm, which made the battlefield nearly impossible for the Patriots to navigate. What’s more, the British staged a counterassault, forcing General Health to admit defeat and abandon the battlefield on January 29.
The Patriots, who built the Fort in 1776, burned it as they retreated from New York City. But the British partially rebuilt it after taking control of the city. While the Fort withstood the Patriots’ attacks in 1777, it was destroyed when the British evacuated in 1779.
Also on this day in 1843, William McKinley—the 25th U.S. president—was born in Niles, Ohio. William McKinley served in the white house from 1897 to 1901, when the American automotive industry was just getting started. Consequently, President McKinley became the very first president to ride in an automobile! The automobile was a steam-powered Stanley Steamer, built by the Stanley Motor Carriage Company. When McKinley was assassinated in 1901, his successor’s administration, President Theodor Roosevelt, had a Stanley Steamer. However, it’s believed that President Roosevelt preferred horses to the Steamer.
And here’s one for baseball fans...On this day in 1936, the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York, inducted its first members, Christy Mathewson, Honus Wagner, Walter Johnson, Ty Cobb and, of course, Babe Ruth. The charter members were elected by members of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America.
And on January 29, 2002, President George W. Bush gave his first State of the Union Address following the attacks of 9/11. In the address, the president denounced countries suspected of harboring terrorists and developing weapons of mass destruction.
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Learn Our History Today: January 28th
January 28th, 1986 was a tragic day in our nation’s history. Many of us were watching live TV to see the launch of the space shuttle Challenger. The Challenger was carrying Christa McAuliffe, a 37-year old social studies teacher who won a competition that let her join in the seven-member crew. After six days of scrubbed launches due to weather and technical problems, the Challenger finally launched at 11:38a.m. at Cape Canaveral. Just seventy-three seconds after liftoff, the shuttle exploded, killing all on board while hundreds of families and friends on the ground—and millions watching on TV—witnessed the tragedy unfold before their eyes.
President Reagan responded by assembling an all-star commission to determine what went wrong and to avert future disasters. Headed by former secretary of state, William Rogers, and served by astronaut Neil Armstrong and test pilot Chuck Yeager, the team determined that the explosion was caused by a failed O-ring seal. For two years, the shuttle program was halted. And, in February, 2003, disaster struck again when the space shuttle Columbia disintegrated upon reentry into the atmosphere, killing all aboard.
Do you remember where you were when the Challenger exploded? Were you watching it on TV? Were you at Cape Canaveral? Share your stories with us. We read them. And, please talk to your kids and grandkids about this sad day in our nation’s history.
President Reagan responded by assembling an all-star commission to determine what went wrong and to avert future disasters. Headed by former secretary of state, William Rogers, and served by astronaut Neil Armstrong and test pilot Chuck Yeager, the team determined that the explosion was caused by a failed O-ring seal. For two years, the shuttle program was halted. And, in February, 2003, disaster struck again when the space shuttle Columbia disintegrated upon reentry into the atmosphere, killing all aboard.
Do you remember where you were when the Challenger exploded? Were you watching it on TV? Were you at Cape Canaveral? Share your stories with us. We read them. And, please talk to your kids and grandkids about this sad day in our nation’s history.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Learn Our History Today: January 26
On January 26, 1838, Tennessee became the first state to pass a Prohibition law, making it illegal to sell alcoholic beverages in taverns and stores. The law stated that any person convicted of selling alcohol would be fined at the court’s discretion and any such funds earned from the fines would be used to support public schools.
The prohibition movement was born in the early 19th century out of concerns about the adverse effects of drinking. By the end of the century, several states and individual cities had put prohibition laws in place, and supporters of prohibition were calling for total national abstinence. This movement led to the 18th Amendment, or “Prohibition Amendment”, which was passed in 1917 and took effect in 1919. Despite the Amendment, the government could not prevent the distribution of alcohol—organized crime flourished during the 20s. And in 1933, the 21st Amendment was passed, reversing the 18th Amendment and repealing Prohibition.
And in 1961, after holding office for just one week, President JFK appointed Janet Travell, as his personal physician, making Travell the first woman in history to ever hold the post of physician to the president.
The prohibition movement was born in the early 19th century out of concerns about the adverse effects of drinking. By the end of the century, several states and individual cities had put prohibition laws in place, and supporters of prohibition were calling for total national abstinence. This movement led to the 18th Amendment, or “Prohibition Amendment”, which was passed in 1917 and took effect in 1919. Despite the Amendment, the government could not prevent the distribution of alcohol—organized crime flourished during the 20s. And in 1933, the 21st Amendment was passed, reversing the 18th Amendment and repealing Prohibition.
And in 1961, after holding office for just one week, President JFK appointed Janet Travell, as his personal physician, making Travell the first woman in history to ever hold the post of physician to the president.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Learn Our History Today: January 25
On January 25, 1942, Thailand declared war on the United States and England.
When war broke out in September 1939, both France and England had hoped Thailand would support the Allied effort. The reason for this is that both countries had territories that surrounded Thailand, and Thailand’s support would mitigate the Japanese from encroaching on their territories. However, Thailand swayed in the opposite direction, building strong relations with Japan.
On December 8, 1941, after the Japanese had bombed Pearl Harbor, Thailand’s prime minister, Lang Pipul collaborated with the Japanese in what was a comprehensive sweep of the South Pacific islands. By doing this, he embraced the Axis power’s mission to take Chinese territory by force and have a stronghold in the South Pacific. As Pipul wanted to partake, he declared war against the United States and England.
And on this day in 1971, Charles Manson and three rebellious female followers were convicted of the brutal murder of Sharon Tate and six others in 1969.
When war broke out in September 1939, both France and England had hoped Thailand would support the Allied effort. The reason for this is that both countries had territories that surrounded Thailand, and Thailand’s support would mitigate the Japanese from encroaching on their territories. However, Thailand swayed in the opposite direction, building strong relations with Japan.
On December 8, 1941, after the Japanese had bombed Pearl Harbor, Thailand’s prime minister, Lang Pipul collaborated with the Japanese in what was a comprehensive sweep of the South Pacific islands. By doing this, he embraced the Axis power’s mission to take Chinese territory by force and have a stronghold in the South Pacific. As Pipul wanted to partake, he declared war against the United States and England.
And on this day in 1971, Charles Manson and three rebellious female followers were convicted of the brutal murder of Sharon Tate and six others in 1969.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Learn Our History Today: January 24
On January 24, 1980, reacting to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan during 1979, the Carter administration announced that it would sell military equipment, excluding weapons, to communist China. The decision was part of the U.S. effort to secure a stronger relationship with China, which could be used as leverage to thwart possible Soviet aggression. On the same day, Congress approved most-favored-nation trading status for China, and an agreement was signed for the construction of a Chinese station that would receive American satellite transmissions.
These decisions were all indicative of how seriously the United States perceived the Soviet attack on Afghanistan. In addition to the above, and in response to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, the U.S. and a number of other countries boycotted the 1980 Summer Olympic games in Moscow.
And on this day in 1965, Sir Winston Churchill died in London at the age of 90. Churchill led Great Britain through World War II and was an important ally to the United States. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the 20th century and served as Britain’s prime minister twice (in 1940-1945 and again in 1951-1955). Churchill received the Nobel Prize in Literature for his six-volume historical study of World War II and for his political speeches, and he was the first person ever to be made an Honorary Citizen of the United States. Sir Jacob Epstein crafted a bronze bust of Churchill, which was loaned to George W. Bush after the September 11 attacks and put on display in the White House. The bust has since been removed.
These decisions were all indicative of how seriously the United States perceived the Soviet attack on Afghanistan. In addition to the above, and in response to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, the U.S. and a number of other countries boycotted the 1980 Summer Olympic games in Moscow.
And on this day in 1965, Sir Winston Churchill died in London at the age of 90. Churchill led Great Britain through World War II and was an important ally to the United States. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the 20th century and served as Britain’s prime minister twice (in 1940-1945 and again in 1951-1955). Churchill received the Nobel Prize in Literature for his six-volume historical study of World War II and for his political speeches, and he was the first person ever to be made an Honorary Citizen of the United States. Sir Jacob Epstein crafted a bronze bust of Churchill, which was loaned to George W. Bush after the September 11 attacks and put on display in the White House. The bust has since been removed.
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