History as Prologue

Author: Mark Thomas

  • Least appreciated event in African-American history?

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    Mark Thomas
    in

    August 21, 1831 seldom receives much national publicity. The date seldom triggers responses from even ardent students of antebellum history the way April 15, June 6, and November 22 awakens the memories of U.S. History fans. Even among followers of African-Americans history and those who keep alive the messages from the long civil rights struggle,…

  • Critical Thinking, History and Dissent

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    Mark Thomas
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    In these days where skills not readily measured by standardized tests are under-taught, teaching critical thinking skills has become something of a subversive act. Still, dedicated teachers know the importance of developing such skills among their charges. One of the most engaging means of taking history students to the levels of evaluation and synthesis is…

  • Herbert Spencer’s Supreme Court Revenge

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    Mark Thomas
    in ,

    In siding with neither his fellow conservatives, nor the more liberal members of the Supreme Court in his opinion upholding the a key element of the affordable Care Act, Chief Justice John Roberts took aim at one of the two most problematic parts of the U.S. Constitutional as viewed by contemporary conservatives. That ominous, deciding…

  • Self Evident Truths about The Declaration of Independence

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    Mark Thomas
    in

    There seems to me a common thread that runs through impassioned references about the Declaration of Independence, that being a profound lack of basic knowledge of the historical document’s content. Worst among all claims relating to our nation’s celebrated artifact is the use of the Declaration by non-secular con artists whose livelihoods are made duping…