Social Studies Archives - Renaissance Granddad

Mind Archive by category "Social Studies"

Cultural Literacy Leads to Michael Faraday!

Back in 1987, E.D. Hirsch, Jr. wrote a book wtitled Cultural Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know. The premise of the book there are core things that all Americans should have knowledge of to be culturally literate. Now I’m sure many things that could be added to the book if the book were updated today. But there are still a lot that we should all know about. I found my copy of the book today. I’ve thought before about using the items listed in the alAppendix of the book as a basis for posts. So here’s what I’d like to do. once a week or so I’ll pick a random letter. Then I’ll look through the list of things beginning with that letter. I’ll pick something I’d like to explore or think we need to know more about and write a post about it. Cultural Literacy the Letter F Today’s letter is F. On my first review of the list, the first thing, actually the first person who caught my attention was Michael Faraday. I certainly remember Faraday was a scientist. However, beyond that I’m not sure of much more. Here’s what I found about Faraday at Wikipedia. Michael Faraday Michael Faraday (22 September 1791 – 25 August 1867) was an English scientist who contributed to the study of electromagnetism and electrochemistry. His main discoveries include the principles underlying electromagnetic induction, diamagnetism and electrolysis. Although Faraday received little formal education, he was one of the most influential scientists in history.[1]…

Charles Curtis becomes the First Native American Senator – Jan 23,1907

Needless to say, I haven’t posted at this site for eons! Hopefully, I can start it up again and post on a more regular basis. So let’s begin with an On This Day In History. On January 23, 1907 Charles Curtis, of Kansas, became the first Native American to serve in the United States Senate. In 1929 Curtis became U.S. President Herbert Hoover’s Vice President. From Wikipedia….. I Charles Curtis Charles Curtis (January 25, 1860 – February 8, 1936) was an American attorney and Republican politician from Kansas who served as the 31st vice president of the United States from 1929 to 1933. He also previously served as the Senate Majority Leader from 1924 to 1929. Curtis was member of the Kaw Nation and was born in the Kansas Territory. He was the first person with any Native American ancestry and with acknowledged non-European ancestry to reach either of the highest offices in the federal executive branch….He is the most recent Executive Branch officer to have been born in a territory rather than a state…. also….He was the last Native American elected to the U.S. Senate until Ben Nighthorse Campbell (a Northern Cheyenne) was elected from Colorado in 1992. Additionally, he was the only multiracial person to serve as Vice President of the United States [15] until the inauguration of Kamala Harris in 2021. As I read the above, I was curious about the Kaw Nation. I have read several books about the Indian Wars and Nations but don’t remember the Kaws. So I…

Hattie Caraway – First Woman Elected to the US Senate!

On January 12, 1932 – Hattie Caraway became the First Woman Elected to the US Senate!! On this day, January 12th in 1932 Hattie Caraway became the first woman elected to the United States Senate!! Caraway was the wife of Arkansas politician Thaddeus Caraway. Her husband was elected to the House of Representatives in 1912 and served as a Representative until 1921,. He became a Senator in that year and served in that capacity until he died in office in 1931. It had been a precedent at that time that the widows were appointed to temporarily take their husbands positions. Following that precedent Governor Harvey Parnell appointed Hattie Caraway to the vacant seat and she was sworn in to office on December 9th of 1931. Caraway with the backing of the Arkansas Democratic party easily won the special election held in 1932 for the remaining months of the term and became the first women elected to the Senate! But that was not the end of Hattie Caraway’s political career. In May of 1932 she surprised Arkansas politicians by announcing that she would run for a full term in the upcoming election.. from Wikipedia…. … She told reporters, “The time has passed when a woman should be placed in a position and kept there only while someone else is being groomed for the job.” When she was invited by Vice President Charles Curtis to preside over the Senate she took advantage of the situation to announce that she would run for…

D.B.Cooper Jumps into History Nov 24,1971

November 24, 1971 – D.B.Cooper Jumps – Todd Snider puts it to Song! In November of 1971, I was 20 years old and entering my sophomore year at the University of Florida. On the 24th of that month…… A hijacker calling himself D.B.Cooper parachutes from a Northwest Orient Airlines 727 into a raging thunderstorm over Washington State. He had $200,000 in ransom money in his possession. Cooper commandeered the aircraft shortly after takeoff, showing a flight attendant something that looked like a bomb and informing the crew that he wanted $200,000, four parachutes, and “no funny stuff.” The plane landed at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, where authorities met Cooper’s demands and evacuated most of the passengers. Cooper then demanded that the plane fly toward Mexico at a low altitude and ordered the remaining crew into the cockpit. At 8:13 p.m., as the plane flew over the Lewis River in southwest Washington, the plane’s pressure gauge recorded Cooper’s jump from the aircraft. Wearing only wraparound sunglasses, a thin suit, and a raincoat, Cooper parachuted into a thunderstorm with winds in excess of 100 mph and temperatures well below zero at the 10,000-foot altitude where he began his fall. “The storm prevented an immediate capture, and most authorities assumed he was killed during his apparently suicidal jump. No trace of Cooper was found during a massive search. Continue Reading at History.com Yes, the legend of D.B.Cooper lives…Is it possible that D.B. survived the jump..here’s a link to a pretty good article at How…

World Vegan Day and the NYC Marathon – Nov. 1st

World Vegan Day – November 1st! I was all ready to have some Archer Farms Korean Barbecue for lunch, until I went to Wikipedia to see what was happening outside of my world today! What I discovered is that today is World Vegan Day and the start of World Vegan Month! So Korean Barbecue didn’t seem quite right fork today.Luckily I still had a vegan meal in the cabinet….Punjab Choley! For those of you who like me may not know that much about World Vegan Day here is some background from Wikipedia…… World Vegan Day is an annual event celebrated on 1 November, by vegans around the world. The Day was established in 1994 by Louise Wallis, then President & Chair of The Vegan Society, United Kingdom to commemorate its 50th anniversary and in 2014 the 70th anniversary of the term ‘vegan’, ‘veganism’, and the establishment of The Vegan Society. Vegans around the world join together to celebrate animal rights. Animal advocates hold street stalls about veganism, host vegan potluck events, plant memorial trees for World Vegan Day.[citation needed] Speaking in 2011 Wallis said: “We knew the Society had been founded in November 1944, but didn’t know the exact date, so I decided to go for the 1st November. Partly because I liked the idea of this date coinciding with Samhain/Halloween and the Day of the Dead – traditional times for feasting and celebration. Both apt and auspicious. Read More Ok so I confess while I did go vegan with…

Happy "Juneteenth" and "World Sauntering Day"!!

Good Morning World!! Let’s All Go Sauntering Somewhere Today! Where’s That Oliver Today?? Can you saunter with a stroller?? Today is a special day in the United States particularly within the African-American community where Juneteenth is celebrated!! From Wikipedia: Juneteenth, also known as Juneteenth Independence Day, Freedom Day, or Emancipation Day, is a holiday in the United States that commemorates the announcement of the abolition of slavery in the U.S. state of Texas in 1865, and more generally the emancipation of African-Americancitizens throughout the United States. Celebrated on June 19, the term is a portmanteau of June and nineteenth,[1][2] and is recognized as a state holiday or special day of observance in most states. Read More It is also a day to go outside and simply walk slowly with a happy disposition, and commune with nature and just enjoy the day, because it’s World Sauntering Day!! “World Sauntering Day” is celebrated on the 19th day of June every year. The purpose is to remind us to take it easy, smell the roses, to slow down and enjoy life as opposed to rushing through it. It is also sometimes referred to as International Sauntering Day So who did this great holiday start….. The exact year of its origin is 1979, and it is believed to have begun at Grand Hotel (Mackinac Island) in Michigan. The Grand Hotel has the world’s longest porch at 660 feet in length. The holiday was created by W.T. Rabe in response to the growing popularity of jogging. The idea behind the day was to encourage people to slow down and appreciate the world around them. More at Wikipedia..…. Now…

Robert La Follette – Wisconsin Republican Progressive!!

Robert La Follette – “Fighting Bob” – Wisconsin Governor, Senator and Presidential Candidate (June 14, 1855 – June 18, 1925) Among those born on June 14th is another unsung American heroes the Republican/Progressive,from Wisconsin Senator Robert La Follette. Yes, while it is hard to believe considering today’s Wisconsin, under the governorship of Scott Walker. Wisconsin was once a very progressive state! Well there is one really big black sheep Joseph McCarthy (at least in my opinion). In my lifetime, notable Senators from Wisconsin include: Gaylord Nelson, founder of Earth Day, William Proxmire creator of the Golden Fleece Award. Most the most recent carrier of the mantle of Progressives from Wisconsin is Russ Feingold. Feingold has recently reentered the political arena and will hopefully regain his seat in the Senate. Anyway, I sure hope so! But back to the politician whose birthday we celebrate today! Robert La Follette…. From Wikipedia…. Robert Marion “Fighting Bob” La Follette Sr. (June 14, 1855 – June 18, 1925) was an American Republican (and later a Progressive) politician. He served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, was the Governor of Wisconsin, and was also a U.S. Senator from Wisconsin (1906 to 1925). He ran for President of the United States as the nominee of his own Progressive Party in 1924, carrying Wisconsin and 17% of the national popular vote…. ….He is best remembered as a proponent of progressivism and a vocal opponent of railroad trusts, bossism, World War I, and the League of Nations. In…

Trooping the Colour Day, Flag Day and Bourbon Distilled!

June 14th – Trooping the Colour Day in the UK, Flag Day in the US and Bourbon was first distilled! Today is Trooping the Colour Day in the United Kingdom, as well as, the Official Birthday of the Queen from Wikipedia…. Trooping the Colour is a ceremony performed by regiments of the British and Commonwealth armies. It has been a tradition of British infantry regiments since the 17th century, although the roots go back much earlier. On battlefields, a regiment’s colours, or flags, were used as rallying points. Consequently, regiments would have their ensigns slowly march with their colours between the soldiers’ ranks to enable soldiers to recognise their regiments’ colours. Since 1748 Trooping the Colour has also marked the official birthday of the British sovereign.[1] It is held in London annually on a Saturday in June[2] on Horse Guards Parade by St. James’s Park, and coincides with the publication of the Birthday Honours List. Among the audience are the Royal Family, invited guests, ticketholders and the general public. The colourful ceremony, also known as “The Queen’s Birthday Parade“, is broadcast live by the BBC.Read More I read about the above, after I read that on this date….. On June 14, 1775, the Second Continental Congress decided to proceed with the establishment of a Continental Army for purposes of common defense, adopting the forces already in place outside Boston (22,000 troops) and New York (5,000). It also raised the first ten companies of Continental troops on a one-year…

The Theremin,Ruth Rendell,and Star Wars Day

Monday Explorations: Ruth Rendell, Star Wars Day and the Theremin…. This morning as I was looking over the front page of Wikipedia to see what was new, I noted that author Ruth Rendell has passed away. One would think that as a lover of mystery books I would have read plenty of Ruth Rendell’s works, but somehow I have avoided them and I can’t give you one good reason why!! From Wikipedia: Ruth Barbara Rendell, Baroness Rendell of Babergh, CBE (née Grasemann; 17 February 1930 – 2 May 2015) was an English author of thrillers and psychological murder mysteries.[1] Rendell’s best-known creation, Chief Inspector Wexford, was the hero of many popular police stories, some of them successfully adapted for TV. But Rendell also generated a separate brand of crime fiction that explored deeply into the psychological background of criminals and their victims, many of them mentally afflicted or otherwise socially isolated. This theme was developed further in a third series of novels, written under her pseudonym Barbara Vine. Read More I do have a copy of her book The Vault on my TBR shelf. My wife accidentally bought it one Christmas when I asked for a book with the same title from a different author. She read it and liked it. Maybe it’s time now to enjoy Rendell’s tremendous legacy!! Next I saw that today May 4th is Star Wars Day Star Wars Day is an unofficial secular holiday in May that celebrates the Star Wars franchise created…