March 6 (A Triple)

1820 - The Missouri Compromise was signed by President James Monroe, providing for the admission of Missouri into the Union as a slave state, but prohibited slavery in the rest of the northern Louisiana Territory.

The illogical-logic of having the unwillingness to confront the problem, yet knowing slavery was terribly wrong...Such was the state of affairs in early-mid 19th Century America.

Democracy is a wonderful thing, but it isn't perfect. One of the inherent weaknesses of free democracies is the perpetual need to appease at least half the populace to remain in power. Which often leads to the continuation of bad policies at the expense of votes.

1857 - The Dred Scott Decision: The U.S. Supreme Court handed down its landmark ruling that black slave Dred Scott could not sue for his freedom in a federal court because he was not a U.S. citizen.  The Court also didn't buy it that his white master died in a 'free' state.

Another hideous reality of American history, but not one which dents its greatness...This is something to keep in mind any time you think only good answers come out of the courts.

Many Union troops lost their lives in the quest to correct this wrong.

"SOMETIMES WAR IS THE ONLY ANSWER!!"

1961 – Executive Order 10925 established the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. It was charged with the elimination of race, creed, color, and national origin as barriers to employment in the government as well as in firms employed on government contracts. The order used the term “affirmative action” to refer to measures designed to achieve non-discrimination.

A noble objective, pursued through an ignoble mechanism.

Racism should be ended through equality of condition and opportunity, not through 'Reverse-Racism' or artificial positioning of any race...It isn't good for the nation as a whole - and isn't even positive for those being propped up.

1836 - The Battle of the Alamo ended: Mexican forces captured the Alamo in San Antonio, Texas, killing the last of 187 defenders who held out in the fortified mission for 13 days.

This was a battle won by Mexico, but a rallying cry for many Americans to go to war with Mexico...It took a few years, but the Texans got their revenge in the long-run.

1861 - The Confederate Congress called for 100,000 volunteers.

Within a few months they were put to use.

1944 - U.S. heavy bombers staged the first American raid on Berlin:  World War II.

We all know the saying: 'Payback is a bitch'...Well, the Krauts had a lot of payback coming their way, and the next year saw the raising of their cities.

1981 - Walter Cronkite said "And that's the way it is" for the final time, as he closed the "CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite."

And then he was followed by an even bigger Liberal turd: Dan Rather.

1990 - The Soviet Parliament approved a property law allowing private citizens the right to own the means of production and other business enterprises for the first time since the early 1920s.

The chains were falling...But their weight was such that they continue to shackle those who wore them.

Oh, and so does the mighty fist of the Russian overlords.

1991 - Following Iraq's capitulation in the Persian Gulf conflict, President GHW Bush told a cheering joint session of Congress that "aggression is defeated. The war is over."

Papa Bush proclaimed “peace in our time,” but just like Neville Chamberlain he did nothing but pass the problem on to another leader...Unfortunately, Bush was succeeded by a man of much less testicular fortitude.

February 23

1954 - The first mass inoculation of children against polio, with the Salk vaccine, began in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

DO VACCINES WORK??

Prior to 1954, the U.S. had an annual rate of polio infection between 13,000-20,000 cases per year. 1952 was the highest reported with over 58,000 cases of polio.

IN 2017 THERE WERE ONLY A HANDFUL OF CASES OF POLIO WORLDWIDE...OF COURSE VACCINES WORK!!

Go to the 'Polio History Timeline' for a brief view of the success of this vaccine...A success-story repeated by many other vaccines as well.

303 - Roman Emperor Diocletian ordered the general persecution of Christians.

Constantine couldn’t come quickly enough for the Christians...In an ironic twist, the Roman Church later performed similar persecutions in the various Inquisitions.

1778 - Baron von Steuben joined the Continental Army at Valley Forge:  American Revolutionary War.

Von Steuben was a European mercenary, and his arrival marks a huge improvement in the discipline and order of Colonial forces...The Colonials were never a very reliable group, but von Steuben was an excellent instructor, which gave Washington a semi-professional force to fight with.

1836 - The Battle of the Alamo: The fort was besieged by Mexican President Santa Anna, and the entire garrison was eventually killed.

This was a fantastic victory for Santa Anna, but was purely tactical, and the Texans had the last laugh.

1847 - The Battle of Buena Vista:  Mexican-American War. Forces led by Zachary Taylor defeated the Mexicans, led by Santa Anna.

This battle didn’t end the Mexican-American War, but it signaled the beginning of the end.

Santa Anna attacked Taylor with over 14,000 troops, compared to Taylor’s 5,000. The battle began poorly for the Americans, but ended in a route, propelling General Taylor to the presidency two years later.

1919 - Benito Mussolini created the Italian Fascist Party.

Wooo Hoo! The man who would recreate the Roman Empire!! What a joke...Without the help of Hitler, the 'Paperboy' would have been able to conquer little more than parts of semi-barbaric Africa.

1926 - U.S. President Calvin Coolidge opposed a large air force, believing it would be a menace to world peace.

I love President Coolidge, but this was a terribly, shortsighted comment...No nation can deny the march of technology, unless it is looking to commit national suicide, that is.

1942 - The first shelling of the U.S. mainland during World War II occurred when a Japanese submarine fired 25 shells on an oil refinery in Ellwood, California.

Most Americans don't realized the Japanese hit the mainland. They used these shells, balloon drops, and held portions of Alaska as well...All the more reason to call on the Atom Bombs in 1945.

Hell, if the Japanese had an atom bomb they surely would have used it on a raid such as this one...And they were trying to get one.

1945 - U.S. Marines on Iwo Jima captured Mount Suribachi, and raised the American flag. A larger flag was then brought in to replace the first - the second flag-raising was captured in the famous picture taken by Joe Rosenthal:  WWII.

You must get to D.C./Virgina to see the Iwo Jima Memorial...It is unbelievably powerful.

1991 - President GHW Bush announced the allied ground offensive against Iraqi forces had begun. (Because of the time difference, it was already the early morning of Feb. 24 in the Persian Gulf.)

The first Persian Gulf was was a brilliantly performed mission, but Bush made the mistake of limiting the objective of the mission after being pressured to quit the task prior to finishing off Saddam Hussein.

The job eventually fell to his son, who proved up to the task of not only taking on Saddam, but also taking on world opinion...Papa Bush was a good man, but he didn’t have the nerve and moral clarity of his son.

Unfortunately, W. fell into the trap of thinking he could bring Western Civilization to the Iraqis - in the form of democracy...This mistake cost him, America and the Iraqis terribly.

1997 - Scientists in Scotland announced they succeeded in cloning an adult mammal, producing a lamb named 'Dolly.'

Very nice...Just what the world needs, Dr. Frankenstein’s and Mengele’s playing God.

February 2 (A Double)

962 - Otto I, King of the Lombards, was crowned Holy Roman Emperor.

Otto is considered the first emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, but this history is very sketchy.

Some historians claim Charlemagne was the founder of the HRE, after being crowned Emperor of the Romans, but his empire was dissolved shortly after his death.

The first known use of the term Holy Roman Empire was in 1254, and the formal name of the empire, the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation (Heiliges Römisches Reich deutscher Nation) first appeared in the 1500's...But the HRE was fact long before this.

Also, I hope you understand the Holy Roman Empire was neither 'holy' nor 'Roman,' and wasn't much of an 'empire'...It was a collection of German states, which at times ranged outside of Central Europe but not often enough to be considered an empire.

1942 - The Battle of Stalingrad ended:  WWII.

There were approximately two million casualties in this battle, and the Soviets took the brunt of the beating, but on this day the German 6th Army surrendered, ending what is considered one of the greatest battles in history...If you are not a historian and want to read about any part of WWII this is the battle I recommend.  There are many excellent books on the subject, and I promise you will be enthralled by its enormity, barbarism, and turns of fate.

Not only was this battle one of the greatest ever, but Stalingrad was the beginning of the end for the Germans in the East - a true turning point in WWII.

1653 - New Amsterdam became a city.

The city is still there, but it's better known as New York...Never forget the Dutch had colonies in North America before having to cede them to the English.

1811 - Russian Settlers established Ft. Ross trading post.

Like the Dutch (above) it's important to remember the Russians held territory in North America, as well...Today this area is more or less the city of San Francisco.

1848 - The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo: This treaty ended the Mexican-American War, and turned over to the United States a huge portion of the present-day Southwestern United States, including Texas, New Mexico and California for $15 million.

America's 'Manifest Destiny' was getting closer to it's natural point...The Gadsden Purchase occurred a few years later, Hawaii and Alaska were a bonus, and 'space' is still to be conquered.

1933 - Two days after becoming German Chancellor, Adolf Hitler ordered the dissolution of the German Parliament.

Never forget good ol' Adolf was ELECTED by the German people. They should have seen this coming, yet they chose him anyway...And Europe sat around with its thumbs up their rectum allowing it to happen.

Sometimes you get what you ask for...We must keep this in mind in our time, as well.

1954 - President Eisenhower reported the detonation of the first hydrogen bomb.

This test occurred in 1952.  Thankfully, 60 year later the world has only seen them tested - not used in anger.

1971 - Ugandan Army strongman, Major-General Idi Amin took full power as military head of state and formed an 18-man cabinet to run the country.

Idi has gotten a bad rap. He was nowhere near as prolific a 'democidal dictator' as some of his peers...He only killed around 250,000 (give or take a few).

Compared to the other great butchers of the 20th Century (Hitler, Stalin, Mao, etc.), Amin is a pauper on the list of madmen...A pretty sad statement about the history of the 20th Century.

January 10

49 B.C. - Julius Caesar crossed the Rubicon and invaded Italy, beginning a civil war after being ordered to disband his army three days earlier.

"Alea iacta est!" = “The die is cast.”

Caesar is one of the ten most important people in history, and this day began the path towards his crowning achievement...It was also the beginning of the end of the Roman Republic, which was soon to become the Roman Empire.

1776 - Propagandist Thomas Paine anonymously published 'Common Sense,' a scathing attack on King George III's reign over the American colonies and a call for complete independence.

"O! ye that love mankind! Ye that dare opposed not only the tyranny but the tyrant, stand forth! Every spot of the Old World is overrun with oppression. Freedom hath been hunted around the globe...O! receive the fugitive and prepare in time an asylum for mankind." - T. Paine

Within a year over 500,000 copies of 'Common Sense' were purchased in the Colonies, which proved to be as much a spark for the American Revolution as anything.

Paine was a great man, and a Patriot of the first order...I can’t even express how proud I’d be to be called a modern-day Thomas Paine, who was known as a 'poison pen' during his time.

I admit to stealing this for my 'Blogger name,' and you’ll soon see where the 'Pero' part comes from.

1847 - General Stephen Kearny and Commodore Robert Stockton retook Los Angeles in the last California battle of the Mexican War.

Mexico lost the war, but has never given up the battle of reclaiming its former territory...The Mexican Reconquista has long been underway, and the re-population of the Southwest U.S. is more of a Mexican success than anyone wants to acknowledge.

1901 - Oil was discovered in Texas - at Spindletop Hill, in Beaumont.

A huge state was soon to become an economic monster.

1920 - The League of Nations came into being when the Treaty of Versailles went into effect. The United States did NOT join the League.

The League was an abortion from its very first day, and the U.S. was smart enough to stay out ...We will see this intelligence reversed shortly.

1928 - The Soviet Union ordered the exile of Leon Trotsky.

It's amazing Trotsky wasn’t simply assassinated...Most of Uncle Joe’s rivals met a much quicker death.  Not that Joe didn't eventually kill him.

For those who don’t know, Trotsky was called 'Pero' by Lenin, for his writing ability (Pero = Pen, in Russian)...Although I am no admirer of Trotsky, I admit to stealing this for part of my 'Blog name.'

1944 - The G.I. Bill of Rights was passed by the U.S. Congress. The bill, formally known as the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944, was intended to smooth demobilization for America's almost 16 million servicemen and women.

This is a small token of what this country owes its brave troops.

Unfortunately, some of our current troops joined the military with the intention of doing so ‘just to collect on the benefits’...The reality of the job was not in their minds, and now they are bitching about being called on as warriors.

Luckily, most of our troops are not like these, and joined the military to defend our great nation.

1946 - The League of Nations was officially superseded by the United Nations when the first meeting of the General Assembly began in London.

The U.S. stayed out of the League (rightly), but didn’t have the foresight to stay out of the U.N...Which has proven to be every bit as corrupt and useless as its evil mother.

1967 – PBS (the Public Broadcasting System) began as a 70-station network.

Why is the federal government funding a Liberal propaganda network?

I have no problem with Lefty networks, like CBS, CNN, MSNBC, etc., because they are at least privately funded...The fact PBS is paid for by the American taxpayer is completely absurd.

2003 - North Korea announced it was pulling out of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

As if it was following the declaration anyway...Every country should pull out of it (including the U.S), and just do what they are doing.

The next global war will occur in due time anyway, and treaties with participants who refuse to follow them are useless.

September 8

1380 – The Battle of Kulikovo.

Also called the Battle of the Snipes Field.

According to Russian legend, the Russians defeat the Tatars in this battle, even though they were outnumbered 150,000 to 300,000 troops...The real numbers are probably closer to 80,000 to 125,000, but there is no doubt the Russians were greatly outnumbered.

The importance of the battle is it marks the beginning of the end of Mongol (Tatar) control of Russia.

1664 - The settlement of New Amsterdam was seized from Dutch governor Peter Stuyvesant by the English.

This area shortly change its name to one we all know: New York - after falling from Dutch to English control.

But make no mistake, New York has kept many of the characteristics of a Dutch town. Some good, some bad.

1847 – The Battle of Molino del Rey: Mexican-American War.

General Winfield Scott defeated the Mexican army in one of the bloodiest battles of the war.

1892 - The original 'Pledge of Allegiance' was written on this date.

The history of 'The Pledge' is an interesting one...Go here to read a Short History of The Pledge .

1926 - The League of Nations assembly voted unanimously to admit Germany as a member.

How nice...Hitler ripped Germany out of The League soon enough, though.

1935 - Louisiana Senator Huey P. Long was shot by Dr. Carl Austin Weiss Jr., while attending a session of the state House of Representatives in Baton Rouge; he died two days later.

The 'Kingfish' was an incredibly powerful Democrat senator, and a legitimate threat to FDR...Hmmmmm. Take that how you will.

1939 - President Franklin Roosevelt declared a "limited national emergency" due to war in Europe:  WWII.

94% of Americans wanted to stay out of the war - something to keep in mind in all of our current foreign policy problems.

Sadly, FDR was a politician, not a statesman. He knew the U.S. had to get in the war (and would eventually be dragged in), but didn’t have the testicular fortitude to do what had to be done at the expense of pissing off the electorate.

So, while the Nazi’s ran amok in Europe for two years, America watched from the sidelines as millions died...Oh, and at the same time the Japanese trashed China and grew stronger.

1941 - The entire Jewish community of Meretsch, Lithuania, was exterminated:  WWII.

WooHoo! Another big day for the ‘master race’...Psychos.

1943 - General Eisenhower announced the unconditional surrender of Italy:  WWII.

Italy the nation surrendered, but Italy the territory still had to be fought for...The Germans had no intention of giving it up without a fight.

1944 - Russian troops reached Bulgaria, and Bulgaria promptly declared war on Germany:  WWII.

Bulgaria’s nothing more than the eastern version of the Italians...Which is barely better than being French.

1945 - Hideki Tojo, Japanese Prime Minister during most of World War II, attempted suicide rather than face a war crimes tribunal.

He failed...And justice was served when the hangman got him on December 23, 1948.

1968 - Saundra Williams won the first Miss Black America pageant.

Imagine if there was a Miss 'White' America pageant...All Hell would break loose in Race-Baiterville, USA.

1974 - President Ford granted Richard Nixon an unconditional pardon for all federal crimes he may have committed while in office.

Stinking Nixon!!! He had the opportunity, ability and public support to be one of our better presidents...Instead he was paranoid, sent the nation into a period of confusion, and crushed the Republican Party.

If nothing else, we should never forgive him for bringing Jimmy Carter to the presidency.

1998 - Mark McGwire's 62nd home run broke Roger Maris' record of 61 homers set in 1961.

'Big Mac' (also known as 'Roids Mac') is a disgrace, and should come out and admit he ‘juiced.’

He should also request that Maris’s record be reinstated...Ooops. Another ‘roid monster’ (Bonds) topped 'Big Roids' record.

Here’s hoping none of them get in the Hall of Fame.

May 13

1927 - 'Black Friday' occurred in Germany, signaling the collapse of its economic structure.

The poison pills in the Treaty of Versailles (ending WWI) were too much for the Germans economically, they never believed they were 'beaten' in WWI, and the Weimar Republic was powerless and corrupt at best...These events, which set the stage for overall lawlessness in the country, set the stage for a strongman to come in and right Germany’s ship.

That strongman proved to be Adolph Hitler.  And make no mistake, he did right the ship.  Unfortunately, he also rammed it right into his neighbors - which ultimately sunk Germany.

1846 - The U.S. Congress formally declared war on Mexico, although fighting began days earlier.

The Mexican-American War wasn't a major war, but it did much to increase the territory of the U.S...Plus, the Mexican-American War was a proving ground for many of the future leaders of the American Civil War - on both sides, but mostly the South.

1865 - The last engagement of the Civil War occurred in Brownsville, Texas.

This sounds silly for a battle to occur after the war ended, but we must remember the South had been destroyed and the spread of information through telegraphing was hampered.

1940 - After setting up Britain's wartime coalition, Winston Churchill told parliament he could offer "...nothing but blood, toil, tears and sweat":  WWII.

The Brits had the perfect war leader, and Churchill made sure the Nazis suffered as much “blood, toil, tears and sweat” as they inflicted.

Without this great man it is debatable if Britain would even exist at this time...He was also lucky the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, because the U.S. seemed willing to allow Germany to swallow up Europe. Something we should all be ashamed of and never allow to happen again.

1941 - Martin Bormann was named Head of the Nazi Party Chancellery, following Rudolf Hess's mysterious flight to Scotland:  WWII.

One psycho succeeding another...Bormann had a nice title, but he was small peanuts compared to some of Hitler’s other henchmen.

1988 - The U.S. Senate voted 83-to-6 to order the U.S. military to enter the war against illegal drug trafficking, approving a plan to give the Navy the power to stop drug boats on the high seas and make arrests.

Who were the 11 crack-head Senators who abstained from this vote? And why did they abstain?

Unfortunately, like all the rest of our post WWII wars, this one has been poorly prosecuted...Mostly because far too many couldn't truly care about fighting against drug use in the first place.

May 8 (A Triple)

1945 – V.E. Day (Victory in Europe Day) is celebrated by the Western Allies in WWII, for ending the war against Germany...Victory Day is celebrated by the Russians, for ending their war against Germany May 9, 1945.

After hundreds of years of general war, Europe was finally saved from itself...It's important to remember, WWII was nothing less than an extension of WWI, which was an extension of the hundreds of wars fought on the continent for thousands of years.

Luckily, since this day Europe has seen the longest period of general peace since the time of the Romans...Which is why this period is known as the Pax Americana - the American Peace.  A peace enforced by the strength of the American military and economy - and it's people's willingness to provide such strength.

To understand what an incredible human undertaking this war was, look at the death statistics from the major players in the European Theatre:

USSR: Over 23 million dead
Germany: Over 7 million dead
Poland: Over 5 million dead
Yugoslavia: Over 1 million dead
Romania: Over 830,000 dead
Hungary: Over 580,000 dead
France: Over 560,000 dead
Italy: Over 450,000 dead
United Kingdom: Over 450,000 dead
United States: Over 410,000 dead
Lithuania: Over 350,000 dead
Czechoslovakia: Over 340,000 dead
Latvia: Over 220,000 dead
The Netherlands: Over 200,000 dead

By far the most destructive war in the history of humankind.

It should also be noted V.E. and Victory Days didn't end WWII...There was another enemy who needed to be finished off:  The Japanese - who were on the verge of collapse, but the killing in the Pacific Theatre didn't stop for another couple months.

1952 - The U.S. conducted the first hydrogen bomb test, at the Eniwetok Atoll.

This was a massive upgrade on the atom bomb - Many hundreds of times larger.

The big question isn't who will ultimately have them.  The big question is: Who will be the first to use one - and equally, who will be the first to take one?

1980 - The World Health Organization announced the eradication of smallpox.

One of the true scourges of mankind was killed off...Hopefully.

Smallpox has been with man for at least 10,000 years, and with the expansion of cities it became one of man's greatest killers...In the 20th Century alone, it's estimated 500 million people died worldwide from smallpox.  To put this number in context:  It's estimated 200 million people died in the 20th Century due to war, genocide and famine - less than half the number killed by smallpox.

It must also be remembered smallpox pretty much wiped out the original inhabitants of the Western Hemisphere - the 'Indians'.  A fact which drastically changed the world.

Only time will tell, but it's a pretty safe bet the germ-world will find another great man-hunter.

Hopefully mankind isn't stupid enough to re-introduce such a killer in the form of a re-branded - and newly 'banded' - biological weapon, which would be much more devastating then nuclear weapons.

1541 - Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto discovered the Mississippi River.

No he didn’t, the Indians had been there for thousands of years...I’m practicing to be a Liberal.

1846 - The Battle of Palo Atlo: The first major battle of the Mexican-American War.

General Zachary Taylor gave the Mexicans a 'whoopin,' which was the norm for the whole war...But make no mistake, the result of this battle was more a result of Mexican military inferiority than U.S. superiority.

It is kind of funny this same Mexican army, which couldn’t win a single battle against U.S. troops, spanked an invading French force 16-years later.

1864 - The Battle of Spotsylvania Courthouse began: U.S. Civil War.

Another bloodbath, another day closer to Union victory…Grant wasn’t winning battles but he was winning the war.  It was a brutal last year, however.

March 29

1973 - The last United States troops left South Vietnam, ending America's direct military involvement in the Vietnam War.

Vietnam was the “right war, at the right place, and at the right time,” but our government didn’t have the testicular fortitude to fight it as Americans...Instead they chose to fight it as Frenchmen, or worse - the Obama Foreign Policy Sorority.

Liberalism run-amok won out, and the country took a beating psychologically...It took a decade for America to wake up. Thankfully, Ronald Reagan was there to lead this awakening.

Unfortunately, we have forgotten this lesson, and are walking ourselves right back into a 1941/1979/2001 position.

87 B.C. - Chinese Emperor Han Wu Ti died.

Han was one of the greatest Chinese emperors. He ruled for over 50-years, and greatly expanded Chinese power (conquering parts of Vietnam and Korea), and professionalized China's civil service system.

His name (Han) is what the dominant people of China were named after.

1847 - The Battle of Vera Cruz ended: Mexican American War.  Victorious U.S. forces led by General Winfield Scott occupied the city of Vera Cruz after Mexican defenders capitulated.

The Battle of Vera Cruz was the first amphibious landing in U.S. history, and its victory brought a virtual end to the Mexican-American War.

1936 - 99% of Germans voted for the Nazi Party in an election.

WOW!  That's awesome!  And it proves democracy is useless unless it is paired with freedom...It also proves Stalin's quote about who votes not being as important as who counts the votes.  Again, back to freedom.

1942 - The British bombed Lubeck, Germany:  WWII.

It took almost three years, but the Brits were finally able to hit back at the German homeland...In the next three years, along with tons of American help, they made up for lost time.

1943 - Meat, butter and cheese rationing began in the U.S.:  WWII.

Can you imagine the ACLU(seless), and the rest of the Liberal jackals, if the government declared a need to restrict anything in our current time? They’d be howling mad at the thought of giving up an ounce of butter.

1951 - Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were convicted of conspiracy to commit espionage. They were executed in June 1953.

Oh for the 'Good Ol’ Days'...Back when we used to execute traitors, and do so in short order.

Today, these two pukes would be given ACLU honors for sharing with the rest of the world, and if they were miraculously convicted would have 25-years of appeals.
 
1995 - The U.S. House of Representatives rejected a constitutional amendment placing term limits on lawmakers. The rejected proposal would have limited terms to 12-years in the House and Senate.

You would think 12-years as a Congressman would be enough, but these jackasses were looking for lifelong jobs, and couldn’t possibly be asked to give them up...Sadly America continues to pay the price for the lack of new blood and ideas in Congress - or true accountability.