Modern US History
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The Potsdam Conference and the Cold War
Although elements of the Cold War may have originated at Yalta, the Potsdam Conference validated Soviet European occupation and produced new global conflicts.
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United States' Support of Israel Since 1948
The rebirth of a Jewish homeland was the culmination of centuries of oppression and persecution, ending with the Holocaust and the establishment of the state of Israel.
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Vietnam and Containment
America's longest war began after World War II when France reasserted colonial pretensions in Vietnam and Ho Chi Minh began a war of liberation based on Communist ideals.
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NSC-68 and the Soviet Threat in 1950
National Security Council Report 68 defined the Cold War as a global confrontation between the free world led by the U.S. & the Soviet Union intent on global domination.
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Causes of the Great Depression
The laissez faire policies of Calvin Coolidge and Treasury Secretary Mellon led to a cycle of catastrophic economic failures resulting in the Great Depression.
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1950s and 1960s Main Streets Fuel Prosperity
As individual wages rose in the 1950s and products expanded, affordable consumer goods from food to clothing helped fuel a period of economic prosperity and well being.
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Eisenhower and the Landslide Election of 1956
Ending the Korean War, achieving a budget surplus, and presiding over a period of increasing prosperity enabled Dwight D. Eisenhower to win over 57% of the vote in 1956.
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Lyndon Johnson's 1964 Acceptance Speech
Johnson's Great Society may have been achievable had the Vietnam War not distracted domestic imperatives as categorized in LBJ's 1964 acceptance speech.
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USS Maine in Havana Harbor 1898
In the months before the outbreak of war with Spain in April 1898, German warships prowled the Caribbean, meddling in affairs & hoping to benefit from a weakening Spain.
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Lobbyists and the Legislative Process
Although the lobbyist serves an important purpose in the crafting of meaningful legislation, lobbyists have a long history of unethical and illegal activity.
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The Filibuster in Parliamentary Procedure
Popularized in the mid-19th Century, the filibuster gives Senators, individually or in groups, the power to stop all Senate floor business.
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Realpolitik and Idealism in Foreign Policy
European and American foreign policy initiatives followed moralist approaches of idealism or the ruthless actions of Realpolitik to achieve goals favorable to the state.
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Role of the United States Senate
The primary role of the US Senate is to slow the process of legislation through inquiry, hearings, and debate while at the same time providing advice and consent.
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Amusement Parks and Recreation in the 1950s
Post War recreation in the 1950s and 1960s included the growth and expansion of amusement parks like Palisades Park and Coney Island at an affordable price.
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Modern Mercenary Armies in Iraq and Afghanistan
Mercenaries have been used since the dawn of ancient civilizations but have taken on new significance in the war against terrorism in Iraq and Afghanistan.
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Gone With the Wind as Bad History
The 70th anniversary of the premiere of Gone With the Wind opens the door to new scrutiny of the historical misconceptions perpetuated by one of Hollywood's top films.
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Espionage and Sedition Acts in World War One
Following the declaration of war, Congress passed numerous acts designed to increase the president's war powers over virtually every aspect of American society.
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The USS Greer Incident September 4, 1941
The attack on the USS Greer was used by the Roosevelt administration to promote sympathy for the Allied cause and to weaken strong isolationist convictions.
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World War One and Propaganda
After championing neutrality since 1914, Woodrow Wilson used propaganda to convince the American public that participation in the war was necessary and moral.
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The St. Louis and U.S. Policy Failures
Allowing 937 Jews to leave Germany in May 1939 served Nazi propaganda goals, particularly when the the United States rejected asylum after Cuba refused their entry visas.
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Prohibition in the Roaring Twenties
Herbert Hoover's "noble experiment" came out of Utopian idealism that failed to understand the national psyche and lacked the funds and manpower for enforcement.
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Presidents Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize
Although the Nobel Peace Prize committee was swayed by idealistic attempts to achieve global peace and an end to specific conflicts, the results often ended in failure.
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The Election of 1900
By 1900 the United States had entered global affairs as a colonial power, espousing imperialism as a matter of national interest & security, despite Democrat opposition.
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Election of 1896 Candidates and Issues
William Jennings Bryan's "Cross of Gold" speech did little to sway American voters that supported the gold standard and higher tariffs as a means to greater prosperity.
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The Pullman Strike of 1894
The American Railway Union led by Eugene Debs shut down the nation's rail network, resulting in federal intervention and raising demands for law and order.
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