Category Archives: United States History and Society

Texas Legislators Exert Influence over Social Science Teaching

Conservative legislators in Texas are waging a new fight in the so-called “culture wars” over historical memory and public education in the State of Texas. Jim Grossman, Executive Director of the American Historical Association, writes: “The Texas legislature is scheduled … Continue reading

Posted in Education Policy, History in the Media, History of Race and Racism, Human Rights, Humanities Education, Political Culture, The Past Alive: Teaching History, United States History and Society | Leave a comment

New Research at Cahokia Mounds Site in Illinois

New archaeological excavations at Cahokia, Illinois, have been investigating evidence of deforestation and flooding at the site of a major indigenous urban center. The New York Times reports that “A thousand years ago, a city rose on the banks of … Continue reading

Posted in Cultural History, Environmental History, Illinois History and Society, Material Culture, Medieval History, Museums and Historical Memory, United States History and Society, Urban History, World History | Leave a comment

Pre-Modern World History Position

University Laboratory High School in Champaign-Urbana is hiring a high school teacher in pre-modern World History. History graduates of the History and Social Science Secondary Educator Licensure Programs at Northern Illinois University may be interested in applying for this position. … Continue reading

Posted in Ancient History, Careers in History, Early Modern Europe, Early Modern World, European History, History of the Western World, Illinois History and Society, Jobs and Positions, Medieval History, Northern Illinois University, Renaissance Art and History, The Past Alive: Teaching History, Undergraduate Work in History, World History | Leave a comment

Irish in Illinois

I would like to celebrate the publication of The Irish in Illinois a new book by my friends and colleagues, Sean Farrell and Mathieu W. Billings. Sean Farrell works on sectarian violence in Irish history and teaches with me as … Continue reading

Posted in Cultural History, European History, Illinois History and Society, Northern Illinois University, Social History, United States History and Society | Leave a comment

NIU Undergraduate Researcher Publishes Research

I want to highlight the accomplishments of one of our undergraduate students in the Department of History at Northern Illinois University, whose research experiences reminded me of my own experiences conducting research as an undergraduate History Major at the University … Continue reading

Posted in Academic Publishing, Civil Conflict, Cultural History, History in the Media, History of Violence, Illinois History and Society, Material Culture, Museums and Historical Memory, Northern Illinois University, Undergraduate Work in History, United States History and Society, War and Society, War, Culture, and Society | Leave a comment

Political Tensions and Presidential Inaugurations

President Joe Biden’s Inauguration Ceremony went smoothly yesterday, despite security concerns and political tensions following the Storming of the U.S. Capitol on 6 January. President Biden’s Inaugural Address stressed the theme of unity in a time of crisis. This inauguration … Continue reading

Posted in Civil Conflict, Political Culture, United States History and Society, War, Culture, and Society | Leave a comment

Historians Criticize “1776 Report”

“Historians responded with dismay and anger Monday after the White House’s ‘1776 Commission’ released a report that it said would help Americans better understand the nation’s history by ‘restoring patriotic education.’” “It’s a hack job. It’s not a work of … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic World, Digital Humanities, Early Modern World, Globalization, History of Race and Racism, History of Violence, Human Rights, Humanities Education, Political Culture, The Past Alive: Teaching History, United States History and Society | Leave a comment

Politicized National Guard Poses Threat

In the aftermath of the Storming of the Capitol on 6 January 2020, political tensions and civil violence continue to grow across the United States, creating a dangerous situation that National Guard forces is now being called to address. At … Continue reading

Posted in Civil Conflict, Comparative Revolutions, Crowd Studies, Early Modern Europe, Early Modern World, French Revolution and Napoleon, History of Violence, Political Activism and Protest Culture, Political Culture, United States History and Society, War and Society, War, Culture, and Society | 1 Comment

Siege Warfare and the Storming of the Capitol

The Storming of the Capitol of the United States of America on 6 January 2020 represented an insurrectionary act and a military operation, not a riot by a mob. The Pro-Trump supporters who participated in the “Save America” rally and … Continue reading

Posted in Civil Conflict, Comparative Revolutions, Crowd Studies, Early Modern Europe, Early Modern World, History of Violence, Political Activism and Protest Culture, Political Culture, Revolts and Revolutions, United States History and Society, War and Society, War, Culture, and Society, Warfare in the Early Modern World | 2 Comments

Historians Condemn Violent Insurrection at the U.S. Capitol

The American Historical Association, the flagship professional association of historians in the United States, has issued a statement condemning the violent insurrection at the United States Capitol on 6 January 2021. I am an active member of the American Historical … Continue reading

Posted in Comparative Revolutions, Education Policy, History in the Media, History of Violence, Humanities Education, Political Activism and Protest Culture, Political Culture, Revolts and Revolutions, United States History and Society | Leave a comment