New Thoughts On The Boston Tea Party

Presently, I am reading Defiance of the Patriots: The Boston Tea Party & The Making of America by Benjamin L. Carp.  Though not finished with the book yet, Carp's retelling of the Boston Tea Party reveals the hidden and untaught details surrounding this brazen and memorialized event in early American history. In spring 1773, the British Parliament passed the Tea Act to help the East India Company and upset the Thirteen Colonies, which ultimately led to the Boston Tea Party.
How do you remember the Boston Tea Party?  We often highlight the Boston Tea Party as a paramount event in our country's history and one of the greatest displays of protest and rebellion against the British Empire.  As the British government continued to pressure and place harsh restrictions on the colonies, a group of Bostonians raided the harbor and dropped tea chests into the ocean.  Tensions continued to rise over the next year culminating in open warfare between the Thirteen Colonies and the British Empire.  I know there are a plethora of details in these events' chronology, but we can admit teachers, lecturers, and reporters gloss over or disregard certain specifics.  Did they not impress upon a feeling of spontaneity when discussing the Boston Tea Party?  Regardless, we honor these patriot's daring and brave actions.
In Carp's book, we can accept participants, to some extent, secretively planned the Boston Tea Party.  From sources, it appears as though social status determined leadership roles during the harbor raid, but illustrated that men across different socioeconomic strata could unite under a common goal.  He also presents some interesting points in regards to the Boston Tea Party early in his book.  He states:

Throughout history, and today, the Boston Tea Party has given off mixed signals.  In part because it involved so little bloodshed...it became a formative expression of liberty, independence, and civil disobedience, representing the finest human tradition of non-violent resistance to tyranny...At the same time, the Boston Tea Party is also downright frightening, in that it seems to justify the bullying nullification of any law that an outspoken group dislikes--whether it is slavery, damage to the environment, racial discrimination, legal abortion, court-ordered busing, taxation of any sort, or illegal immigration.  The Tea Party opens up Pandora's box--out comes chaos, but also hope.  In this way it exemplifies an ongoing struggle in America between law and order and democratic protest.

I never thought about the Boston Tea Party in any of these regards, a very bizarre dichotomy between democratic protest and mob mentality.  Would a similar event be acceptable or frowned upon in this day and age?  Perhaps, we need to go back and rethink how we look at the Boston Tea Party.

Sources:

Benjamin L. Carp.  Defiance of the Patriots: The Boston Tea Party and the Making of America.  (New Haven & London: Yale University Press, 2011), 6.

Image courtesy of the Library of Congress.

Digital Or Brick & Mortar?

In the last twenty years, our world greatly accelerated and advanced into the Digital Age.  From computers to cellular (smart) phones, personal global positioning systems (GPS) to wireless networks, humans immerse their lives into developing and utilizing these inventions and devices for daily use.  Not owning or using a computer can be a shocking statement these days.  An historian and historical research benefits greatly from incorporating digital records and access.  My own blog entries result from my ability to discover digitized primary source documents, photographs, and other materials on the Internet.  Do these technological advancements have a downside though?  Archival facilities, historical societies, and other repositories need to formulate specific processes and policies when adapting their holdings into this digital world.  Some see it in a positive light; others challenge or doubt its advantages.
The Library of Congress (LOC) and the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) promote and contribute to the digitization of archival records.  These two government entities utilize search engines on their individual websites for the public and professional researcher to glimpse into the unique records and artifacts.  Accessibility becomes a major cornerstone in a facilities' decision shift to digitization.  By allowing patrons and website surfers to view government documents and other records, the group helps bring a precious Internet traffic presence.  The more items on the Internet to view; the more likely people will visit and search the site.  Also an item's physical condition makes it a potential candidate for digitization.  Centuries old paper documents or obsolete formats push a group to transfer materials into a safer, more durable, and more accessible format.
Between viewing an item and helping to preserve it for future generations, there are potential downsides to digitization records.  Simply stated, archives and historical societies are buildings.  They contain library stacks, archival boxes, photograph collections, and other artifacts.  Repositories invest large sums of money into buildings and collections management warehouses.  These institutions want and require visitation, be it the general public or the most serious historical researcher.  Archives directors and supervisors promote their facilities monthly and yearly based on quantitative data compiled about who visits, why they visit, and what they research.  What good is a building for research if no one comes to use it?  Now, I will not argue that website views and search results are acceptable means to quantify who visits or uses an archive's website.  But how often do we see something interesting on a webpage, look once, and not continue searching?  There remains a possibility for Internet viewership to be skewed by unique visitors.  Historical societies face a larger stumbling block to digitizing their holdings.  Financial and manpower concerns prevent these valuable institutions from transferring archival records into digital files and uploading them on the Internet.  Without question, it takes a large amount of time and money to begin to digitize anything.  An institution requires digital cameras, scanners, and software plus people properly trained to handle the items and technology.  The LOC and NARA have added federal benefits, but historical societies and other archives live off fundraising, grants, and donations.  Digitization may drop as a task and nonessential expense especially during these difficult economic times.
Personally, I think an institution must incorporate digitization in some fashion.  If not to upload to their website, it should be done to help preserve deteriorating document or artifact and be pulled from public handling.  On the other side, I think we also need to visit a facility and rummage through a cart full of archival boxes.  A delicate balance between providing digitized material and limiting the scope of digitization can be accomplished.

For further information on this topic, I suggest reading the National Archives' Strategy for Digitizing Archival Materials for Public Access, 2007-2016.

Telegram Mr. President...

Most people in their lives will spend significant amount of time reminiscing about past events and other occurrences either alone, with family or friends.  How often have the words “what if” crossed your mind?  Even historians center on such a simple question, manifesting into great debates.  What if the South won the Civil War?  What if the Bay of Pigs Invasion succeeded?  Similarly numerous debates usually go in circles with many sayings like, “He should have done this” or “We did not have the resources to take on such an endeavor or campaign.”  There is always one bright individual who mutters a comment summing up the futility inherent to some debates: “Hindsight is always 20/20.”  Many history seminars tackle these fruitless topics weekly.  Yet, regardless how on point this comment reflects the futility, talking about a “what if” moment always made class much more enjoyable.

World leaders struggle emotionally when reliving past decisions throughout their tenure, especially if anything involved citizen’s lives.  One cannot imagine the pressure weighing on a leader’s conscience as they deal with situations like military operations, disease outbreaks, food shortages, or natural disasters.  How does an individual sift through a nation’s problems and make the best choice for the nation?  Will the decision be a benefit or a detriment in the future?  I think it becomes a delicate tightrope to navigate because a decision contains many factors to consider.

For example, did you know President Harry Truman received a telegram in February 1946 from Ho Chi Minh, President of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam?  The message requested American intervention and assistance for Vietnamese independence from the French.  Now, we all know that the United States did not follow up on this request and eventually became belligerent with Vietnam about sixteen years later.  I think, after nonchalantly hearing about the Ho Chi Minh's letter on a recent television show, this would be an excellent "what if" discussion.  What if President Truman responded?  What if the United States assisted Vietnam's independence?  If we helped, would war with Vietnam been avoided?

I believe President Truman's decision to ignore the message was based on numerous reasons and limitations.  World War II ended no more than six months prior to receiving this message.  Next, the United States committed itself to demilitarization and to post-war reconstruction in both Germany and Japan.  After four long bloody years of conflict, American citizens would never agree to commit men and equipment into another hostile arena.  Finally, America's alliance with the French also presented a major stopping block to United States' intervention.  These represent a few possible thoughts running through President Truman's mind when evaluating this letter at this particular moment in history.  I do not feel we can criticize President Truman for ignoring Ho Chi Minh's appeal for help.  His previously tougher decisions made during World War II provides a gigantic buffer when questioning, revisiting, or critiquing Vietnam non-intervention.

Image courtesy of the National Archives.

Descendants Among Us

Our 10th President John Tyler

Historians, genealogists, and regular citizens relish in researching family histories for a multitude of purposes.  Some do it for scholarly papers; others want to fill their family tree.  Either way, it requires a large amount of dedication and desire in the pursuit.  This applies to all people, whether you are a typical person or the President of the United States.  Ever wonder about our President's descendants?  What happened to George Washington's descendants?  Where are Abraham Lincoln's?  The distance between our Founding Father's and their progeny probably equates to a great-great-great-great-great title to some degree or another.  Not unless you caught an interesting news story reported this past week.
President John Tyler's grandchildren still live.  I did a double take while looking at the headline.  Grandchildren?!  Not great-great, nor great, but simply grandchildren.  Wrap your mind around this.  Born in 1790, John Tyler became our tenth president in 1841 by vice-president succession after President William Henry Harrison's death.  (The first to do so.)  President Tyler died 150 years ago in 1862.  Does it seem unusual that a man who passed away 150 years ago still has grandchildren alive?  After reading the article, it is completely plausible that his grandchildren survive.  John Tyler fathered a son in the 1850s while in his sixties.  Tyler's son continued to have children well into his seventies with two sons in the 1920s.  What an amazing and peculiar family tree!

Image courtesy of the Library of Congress.

Address A Crisis & Prepare A Nation

USS Arizona after Japan's attack

December 7th marked the seventieth anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.  A brazenly daring air attack that crippled the United States Pacific Fleet in Hawaii and shocked a nation, that, until that moment remained on the sidelines in the global conflict.  The next day, President Franklin D. Roosevelt spoke the immortal words "a date which will live in infamy" and Congress declared war on the Empire of Japan.  On December 9, 1941, the President, speaking on the radio, reached out to the shaken and uncertain American people in his nineteenth Fireside Chat.  At a time of crisis, citizens look to their leaders for hope, inspiration, and confidence. President Roosevelt's words needed to inform and comfort, but also to focus the emotional toll while guiding the American people into their upcoming missions.
President Roosevelt began his address to the American people by laying out the evil perpetrated by the Japanese military on the United States.  Yet, he weaved their attack on us into the many instances of Germany and Italy's blatant aggression.   Roosevelt declared "We are now in this war.  We are all in it - all the way."  Without sugarcoating any facts, he informed the American people with negative news.  Japan inflicted a heavy blow at Pearl Harbor.  Our bases in the Pacific, though not confirmed, have probably been overrun.  Despite facing this horrific act, the President urged Americans to remain vigilant and to battle the rising propaganda monster.  In simple terms, he asked citizens to not believe the hype.  The government would provide as much information as possible to the American people as long as it did not endanger the American military or tip off the enemy.  Reaching his conclusion, President Roosevelt indicated the hard work and sacrifice required to maintain the war effort.  Americans must be dedicated to our nation's needs.  Our mission did not mirror the goals of Japan or Germany.  Roosevelt states, "We are now in the midst of a war, not for conquest, not for vengeance, but for a world in which this Nation, and all that this Nation represents, will be safe for our children...We are going to win the war and we are going to win the peace that follows."
Here stood a man leading our nation through a decade of economic and financial turmoil.  Here stood a man watching for two years as great powers brutally faced off on the other continents.  Now, here stood a man making a crucial speech to our country uneasy about its situation, confused about its global standing.  Franklin D. Roosevelt needed to address a crisis and prepare the United States.  Though far less quoted and overshadowed by his speech the day prior, the President succeeded in these goals.  He laid out the implications of America's entry into the war: uncertainty, struggle, sacrifice, but success.  It worked better as a realistic description of our nation's plight as opposed to a blood and guts speech with war drums beating in the background.  The country required a level-headed analysis to counteract the deadly and surreal events witnessed two days before at Pearl Harbor.  Our citizens listened to President Roosevelt and met the dire challenges facing them.

Sources:

Franklin D. Roosevelt: "Fireside Chat.," December 9, 1941.  Online by Gerhard Peters & John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project. http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=16056.

Photo courtesy of the Library of Congress.

Federalist No. 14

We should remember that every single day on the calendar an historical event occurred.  I admit there are events that receive shorter discussions and dialogue, but historians need to dig up these lesser-known gems and give them their just dues.  So let us look back 224 years ago to the last day in November 1787 and analyze an overshadowed piece of political writing released at a time in our country's history where it sat poised to take a dramatic step or possibly an epic fail.
Uncertainty about our nation's course led our Founding Fathers to meet again and evaluate the current form of government.  After the final draft of the Constitution left the Constitutional Convention in September 1787 to be examined and decided upon by the States, many papers arguing in favor and against the new document surfaced for the public to read.  The Anti-Federalists and Federalists battled to influence the public and state legislatures to either continue with the Articles of Confederation or to ratify the new Constitution.  The Federalist Papers helped convince those who saw the Articles of Confederation as a failing form of government.  Under the pseudonym "Publius", Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison contributed to the 85 essays.  Alexander Hamilton actually wrote and coauthored a total of 65 of the essays, which is a highly extensive amount of writing, especially on the topic of a newly envisioned government.  On November 30, 1787, "Federalist No. 14" reached the New York public's hands and minds.  Though not as famous or noteworthy as other essays, "Federalist No. 14" presents some interesting points.
In this short piece, James Madison reiterates, in a concise manner, arguments from previous essays rebutting the Constitution's opponents.  He begins by clarifying that the new government will form a republic, and not solely a democracy.  By its nature, the government will be democratic because the people will participate in the process.  Yet, a democracy and a republic are different entities.  A democracy requires direct participation, not simply in voting, but by being present in the city or building where the government meets, thus causing it to be limited in size.  In a republic, individuals participate by choosing others to represent them and instead, those representatives travel to the government.  This allows for greater size and even expansion.  He points out how the United States had been a large, functional, and successful republic by stating:

It will not be said by those who recollect that the Atlantic coast is the longest side of the Union, that during the term of thirteen years, the representatives of the States have been almost continually assembled, and that the members from the most distant States are not chargeable with greater intermissions of attendance than those from the States in the neighborhood of Congress.

Before his conclusion to the New York citizenry, Madison enumerates four benefits inherent to the new republic.  First, the State's governments and legislatures will not be overruled or overpowered by the national government.  Secondly, the republic's goal is to unify the States and provide avenues for the incorporation of new ones.  Next, traveling improvements in infrastructure for roads and canals will help with diffusing information and promote solidarity.  Lastly and highly crucial, the new union grants security from foreign invasion.
With 85 essays written, it is easy for any of these writings to be overlooked.  It can also be said that some are not noteworthy.  "Federalist No. 14" succinctly illustrates the dissimilarities between democracies and republics and also how the States can mutually benefit from joining together under a national government.  Personally, I have an affinity for The Federalist Papers.  They are awe-inspiring works done by educated men attempting to promote a government that surprisingly, at the core, still functions how they envisioned it.  I suggest reading them, but do so slowly because the language and wording can be daunting at times.

Refresh your memory with "The Anti-Federalist Debate About the Supreme Court."

Sources:

"Federalist No. 14: Objections to the Proposed Constitution From Extent of Territory Answered."

Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison in The Federalist: A Commentary on the Constitution of the United States.  ed.  Robert Scigliano.  New York: Random House, 2000.

The 509th Parachute Infantry Battalion

Through my younger years, I spent an exorbitant amount of time with my nose in historical books.  I preferred to read everything that I could about World War II.  Anyone who has paged through the plethora of written material about this pivotal time in history will most likely read about the United States Army Airborne.  In the early 90's Stephen Ambrose wrote, Band of Brothers,  a riveting book about Easy Company of the 101st Airborne.  It, coupled with the movie Saving Private Ryan, created a bounty of excitement into popular history books on the conflict and fueled a new generation of Americans to look back at their grandparent's role in the war.  There is a heavily favored fascination with the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions and their combat history.  However, most Americans would never know that there was another group of men with the same tenacious vigor and bravery.
Author Jim Broumley illuminates the lesser-known and overshadowed story about the 509th Parachute Infantry Battalion in his recent book, The Boldest Plan is the Best: The Combat History of the 509th Parachute Infantry Battalion during WWII.  He proceeds to trace the formation of the Battalion up to its bloody deactivation after the Battle of the Bulge.   The 509th made the first combat jump into North Africa and I can honestly say I did not know this.  Broumley weaves in notable soldiers like Colonel Edson Raff, Lieutenant General William P. Yarborough, and my personal favorite the indispensable Colonel "Doc" Alden.
In the history community, there are two sides when approaching research for a historical work: academic history versus popular history.  Academic history presents an historical question with a powerful thesis.  The average person would not regularly look to these books for pleasure reading.  Relying on primary sources, these works contain dense arguments and can be weighed down with heavy notes and citations.  Yet, they offer significant contributions to the historical community.  Popular history takes the opposite approach.  Present historical narratives, events, and figures for the general public to read and understand.  It will not have those dreaded footnote eyesores, endless note pages, or bibliographies.  After reading Broumley's book, I feel he managed to take these two different historiographical styles and meld them successfully into a cohesive work.  By utilizing repositories like the National Archives and the U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center, he grabs the primary sources needed to gain the first hand knowledge and stories in the book.  His language, knowledge, and personal military background allows for his book to be effectively disseminated to the average American for enjoyment.  I personally urge everyone to pick up this book honoring these brave mens' trials, tribulations, and sacrifices.

Jamaican Bobsledding

Recently, I traveled to the island nation of Jamaica located less than 100 miles south of Cuba in the Caribbean Sea.  Jamaica, much like a number of other Caribbean islands, relies heavily on foreign tourism.  A culturally rich country with beautiful beaches and verdurous landscapes, Jamaicans take great pride in promoting their nation and well-known individuals such as Harry Belafonte, Bob Marley, and Usain Bolt.  With the Olympics, Jamaica illustrates this patriotism most prominently, and tourists become informed quite quickly.  Usain Bolt, the fastest man in the world, continues to gain notoriety and keeps popping Jamaica into international headlines.  Yet, one thing can almost always be mentioned when speaking about Jamaica: bobsledding.  After watching a pushcart derby, two Americans visiting Jamaica pursued the creation of a Jamaican bobsled team because of its striking parallels to the winter sport.  Jamaican bobsledding hit the international stage in the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics.  Though they did not medal, the Jamaican team burned a lasting impression on critics, other competitors, and the world for their efforts.    I have to mention the slightly farcical movie Cool Runnings about the 1988 Jamaican bobsled team because it could probably be noted as the way most people have heard of the team.
At the Mystic Mountain Rainforest Adventure in Ocho Rios, any visitor has the opportunity to become a bobsledder.  An individual climbs into a mock bobsled car fit for one person and drives down a mountain on a metal track.  Dips and sharp turns come at you as you careen down at roughly forty miles per hour.  The only things controlling how fast the car travels down the track are gravity and the rider.  Two handles on the car allow the rider to release the brakes or to slow down the car.  Pushing forward lets gravity pull the car down the track and pulling back on the handles engages the breaks.  I can personally say I enjoyed this part of my excursion and I would recommend checking it out if you ever are in Jamaica.

9/11/01 - Ten Years Elapsed

1 World Trade Center

Here we stand on the ten-year anniversary memorializing the September 11th attacks.  We reflect on that day's events and the years that have passed.  We think about our feelings.  Surreal sensations rise up when reminiscing, reliving the day.  We hope to be at a point of healing with the memorials being opened in New York City.  Many Americans feel and display a variety of emotions across different spectra of expression.  I think this all returns to how we were connected to those moments, places, and people.  On this tenth anniversary, Americans recall their every movement, emotion, and reaction when they became glued to the television or radio.
Ten years ago, I was a lowly freshman at college in Philadelphia, only two weeks into classes, just a few months out of high school.  On September 11th, 2001, I woke up and walked to my morning Spanish class.  I knew nothing about what had transpired when class ended.  As I returned to my dorm, I overheard comments and mutterings about a plane crashing into buildings in New York City.  Sensing no real urgency or fear from what I heard, I continued to the dorm and inquired about what was going on from the security desk in the lobby.  All he would say was, "You better check the television and see for yourself."  I went to the lobby couch room where they had a television.  I could not believe my eyes when I saw black smoke billowing out of both towers of the World Trade Center.  Ten years later, I still recall that day as it was just happening.  9/11/01 will be forever etched in my memory and our country's collective memory.
Where do we stand as a nation on 9/11/11?  Are we on the right path in action, in remembrance, or in healing?  Has the blow lessened after a decade?  It will be impossible to forget its place in history.  Will it only be remembered by the generations who lived and witnessed it?  Can the United States ever be whole again?  Will 9/11/01 be a moment of vulnerability or a unifying catalyst?
We, as citizens regardless of our standing, occupation, experience, or political motivation will shape our nation's course in the coming years.  How we move forward will depend on our national dialogue and directly affect the history surrounding this tumultuously tragic and heroic moment.

South Tower Footprint

Photos courtesy of John Mikuljan.

Keeping Soldiers' Stories Alive

Americans enjoy a good soldier's story.  They allow us to view the world from a different point of view and help us to understand pivotal moments in military history, but also our country.  Each story can shed new light on a major campaign, describe camp life, or bring out a lesser-known event.  With over two hundred years of American history, brave men and women have served in the military for varying reasons and passed on their stories to new generations.  Families recall an ancestor's sacrifice or a parent retells a grandparent's World War II experience.  It invokes a search for a deeper understanding of past generations and helps swell pride into a young mind.  These kind of stories and experiences can be learned about not solely by hearing it from an older family member, but by viewing the Army Heritage Center Foundation's (AHCF) website.  One of their goals and motto is to "Tell the Army Story...One Soldier at a Time."  I have the great privilege to research, learn about, and upload these stories.  I urge you to check out these excellent educational resources for personal interest and national honor.  First go to www.armyheritage.org and click on Education & Programs.  Follow the drop down menu to Educational Resources, and then choose either Education Materials Index or Soldier Stories.  Both will take you to screens where you can learn about Army men and women from the Revolutionary War to the present.
A Soldier's Story begins with utilizing an incomparable resource, the United States Army Military History Institute (USAMHI) at the United States Army Heritage and Education Center (USAHEC) located in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.  The archives and library at MHI provide an uncanny and almost limitless amount of published sources, primary source documents, and an unrivaled photograph collection.  These stories are pulled from these resources and other governmental entities.  How a story evolves depends greatly on the information provided in the personal handwritten letters, diaries, or typed memoirs preserved in the archives.  The story does not only detail the individual's military career, but offers additional narratives interconnected to the soldier's life and experiences.  Please check out all the Soldier Stores on the AHCF's website.  Definitely view the ones I have personally worked on though: Corporal Abial Hall Edwards and Nurses Jane and Bell Robison.  Keep the AHCF in your browser's bookmarks and check back periodically.  There will be new additions frequently and definitely stories that will pique everyone's interest.