Sandra Day O’Connor, First Female Supreme Court Justice

Sandra Day O'Connor (1930-2023), the first woman nominated to the Supreme Court (by President Ronald Reagan in 1981 -- she served until 2006 -- has died at the age of 93. The retrospectives are pouring in. 'American icon' She inspired a generation of women A ranch girl who became 'queen of the court' Pragmatic and …

Was the News Ever Unbiased?

Ryan Chapman, author and educator, tells the story of the " 'golden age' of news" -- when three television networks based in New York -- CBS, ABC, and NBC -- framed if not controlled national narratives -- rising in the 1950s, and beginning to decline in the 1980s to the point where they are simply …

South African History, 1948-1994, Emphasizing Racial Segregation and White Dominance

First Rate Tutors: Download our "History of South Africa" Revision Worksheet: https://www.firstratetutors.com/shopf... In a hurry? Here's a clear and concise summary of the history of South Africa from 1948 to 1994. This video covers the following: - 1948: Introduction to Apartheid - The African National Congress - Nelson Mandela - 1970s and the Soweto Uprising …

1980s: Britain Wins the Falklands War

British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher (1925-1913) served from 1979 until 1990. She was called "the Iron Lady" because of her tough exterior, and her belief that British people had grown soft and needed a swift kick in the derriere. She believed strongly in conservative causes. One of her most iconic victories was when she went …

Continuing Relevance of George Orwell’s ‘1984’

There are so many references to George Orwell's classic novel 1984 in discussions of current events: Russia's war in Ukraine utilizes propaganda that "war is peace"; "Ukrainians are actually Russians"; and "Ukrainian Jews are Nazis" as it seeks to win the hearts and minds of people as well as make advances on the battlefield. The …

Historic Inflation Rates Didn’t Last Long Except for the 1970s, Early 1980s

Inflation has rarely been a long-term problem in American history. Here are the years when inflation was high in the US, from worlddata.info. The early 1940s during the run-up to WWII; 1946 and 1947 when the war ended; 1950 and 1951; 1969-70 and 1973-74-75; 1977-81; and 1990 were the years when it was the worst …

Former Soviet Premier Mikhail Gorbachev Passes, a Cautionary Tale for Autocrats

Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev (1931-2022), the last leader of the Soviet Union, has died at the age of 91. He was not popular in Russia, despite his popularity in the West, and current leader Vladimir Putin has denied him a state funeral. Even so, thousands paid him last respects. Many came to thank him for the …

Rev. Jesse Jackson and Operation Push, Successor to MLK, Made A Difference

Crash Course Black American History #44: In this episode, Clint Smith teaches about civil rights activist and icon, Reverend Jesse Jackson (1941 - ). "Jackson began his career working with Martin Luther King in the 1960s, and in the 1970s he founded PUSH, an organization to advance the cause of urban, poor, and predominantly Black …

The War on Drugs Disproportionately Damaged African Americans

Crash Course Black American History #42: "The War on Drugs is a decades-long United States policy intended to curb illegal drug use and trafficking. Long story short: it has not worked to reduce drug use or trade, and the policy has had devastating effects, especially on communities of color. Today we'll talk about the history …

On Seizing Opportunities, From Barack Obama and Ted Kennedy

When Barack Obama, just a freshman senator from Illinois, elected in 2004, was considering in 2006 whether or not to run for president in 2008, Senator Edward (Ted) Kennedy pulled him aside and gave him this advice, according to Obama's memoir: “You think you may not be ready, that you’ll do it a more convenient …