The Napoleonic wars have a magnetic pull, and I often find myself studying them when I should be doing other things, like taking a shower, or cutting down trees. The magnetism is due in part to the grand scale of the battles, the magnificent uniforms, and the fact that the wars were part of the…
Category: This Day in History
This Day in History: India and Pakistan
This day in 1947, India became an independent state from Great Britain, and August 14th, 1947, Pakistan had also become independent. How is this information useful? Understanding these two countries helps us understand the region, and current events. Let’s learn more… End of the empire Prior to independence, the Indian subcontinent had been under British…
This Day in History: Vanguard 1
Are you worried about Russia? They may do something first, but we do it best. On March 17, 1958, the United States successfully put its second satellite into orbit: Vanguard 1. It is still there. Sputnik’s effect In 1955, the U.S. announced intentions to launch a satellite, but the Soviet Union launched Sputnik 1 in…