This Day in History -- January 5

January 5, 1930

Happy Birthday Robert Duvall!

Have you ever seen the movie God’s and Generals? It is a movie that is based on the life of Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson. Robert Duvall plays Robert E Lee – and does a fine job at it. The film opens with Lee resigning from the US Army in order to serve under Confederate President Jefferson Davis. If you like a good war movie – this is a great movie to watch.

This day in 1930 – actor Robert Duvall was born. According to www.imbd.com Robert has 141 credits in acting. The last film released was Wild Horses.

Duvall was born in San Diego California. Ironically, his mother, Mildred Virginia was a relative of General Robert E Lee. 

This Day in History --- January 4

Jan 4 1896

Utah becomes the 45th state 

          On today’s this day in history – we look at Utah – the 45^th state. Because it has been a crazy day – I am going to give you some fun facts about Utah.

When you think of Utah – what do you think of?

Utah:

·        Has the highest literacy rate in the United States

·        Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah all meet at four corners. This is the only place in the country where four states come together

·        The average snowfall in the mountains near Salt Lake City is 500 inches.

·        State Animal: The Rocky Mountain Elk

Fun facts courtesy of: http://www.50states.com/facts/utah.htm#.Vos-pPkrLIU and http://facts.randomhistory.com/utah-facts.html

Is there a historical event or topic that you want to more about? Send me an email at: connieshistoryclassroom@gmail.com

This Day in History --- January 3

January 3

Happy Birthday Lucretia Mott!

Lucretia Mott was born on this date in 1793 in Nantucket, Massachusetts. Lucretia was a women’s rights activist, and abolitionist. She was a major supporter of William Lloyd Garrison. She was born into a Quaker Family. Quakers are known for seeing everyone is equal. She married James Mott in 1811.

Lucretia was a huge opponent of slavery. She was very vocal about this. Her husband, unlike most in this time period, supported her. He supported her so much so that he got out of the cotton trade.

Mott was threatened because of her anti-slavery vocalization. She attended an Anti-Slavery Convention in 1840 where she met Elizabeth Cady Stanton. Stanton and Mott are famously known for their work at the Seneca Falls Convention.

Mott died November 11, 1880 in Pennsylvania.

This day in History --- January 2, 1960

January 2, 1960

JFK announced his candidacy for the Democratic presidential nomination. 

“The Presidency is the most powerful office in the Free World” John F. Kennedy

John Fitzgerald Kennedy a senator from Massachusetts, announces his intention to become the Democratic Nomination for President of the United States. Kennedy, who was born in Brookline, MA on May 29, 1917 was considered a war hero. He joined the Navy and in 1943 his PT boat was rammed and sunk by a Japanese destroyer. While he was injured he was able to help other survivors to safety.

Kennedy’s campaign slogan included “A Time for Greatness” and “We can do better” JFK was sworn in as the 35th President of the United States on January 20, 1961. Even from the beginning he had a big mess to clean up. The Cold War had started and The Civil Rights Movement was in full swing. JFK was able to win a lot of the African American vote (those who were able too, and not bullied into not exercising that right) However once he was in office, he tried to avoid the promises he had made to secure equal rights for African Americans. Kennedy was worried about the backlash from those in the South who were staunch racists.

As always, comments and questions are welcomed! Please feel free to contact me at: Connieshistoryclassroom@gmail.com

This day in History ---- January 1, 1863

Happy New Year!

This year, I really hope to get this blog up and running. More posts, more likes on facebook, more fans, etc.

January 1, 1863

Lincoln Signs the Emancipation Proclamation

On January 1, 1863 President Abraham Lincoln signs the final draft of the Emancipation Proclamation.

The first draft was issued on September 22, 1862. This can be seen as a warning to the rebel states to not secede from the Union.

“By the President of the United States of America:

A Proclamation.

Whereas, on the twentysecond day of September, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty two, a proclamation was issued by the President of the United States, containing, among other things, the following, towit:

``That on the first day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, all persons held as slaves within any State or designated part of a State, the people whereof shall then be in rebellion against the United States, shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free; and the Executive Government of the United States, including the military and naval authority thereof, will recognize and maintain the freedom of such persons, and will do no act or acts to repress such persons, or any of them, in any efforts they may make for their actual freedom.” [1]

The Emancipation Proclamation did not actually free any slaves. As we can see from Lincoln’s words he deemed the slaves free, but this only applied to the Union. The Confederate States of America had their own government under CSA President Jefferson Davis.

The Emancipation Proclamation was originally a thought in July of 1862. The members of Lincoln’s Cabinet did not want to issue it at that time, due to the lack of victories for the Union Army. This all changed with the Battle of Antietam. While the battle was considered a draw – the Union Soldiers were able to drive out the Confederates from Maryland.  The battle concluded on September 17, 1862 and the first draft was issued a few days later.  

The Emancipation Proclamation also helped bring African Americans into the war. Several months after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued the United States Colored Troops was established. Several great fighters and heroes came from the USCT. (ie: 54th  Massachusetts)

As always, comments and questions are welcomed! Please feel free to contact me at: Connieshistoryclassroom@gmail.com

Works Consulted

http://www.civilwar.org/

http://millercenter.org/

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[1] "Miller Center." Emancipation Proclamation (January 1, 1863)-. Accessed December 31, 2015. http://millercenter.org/president/speeches/speech-3509.