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What's New About African History?

by John Edward Philips

In the generations that have followed World War II, African history gradually became so accepted in the history profession that one might wonder how it could have been left out of scholarly history for so long during the colonial period. This neglect of Africa by historians was not due merely to the colonial urge to denigrate Africans, nor even (as

The Lessons of Mr. Polk's War

by Jeffrey Mankoff

An American president, using politicized intelligence, launches a war on specious pretexts. American forces occupy the enemy capital but cannot impose a political settlement or extricate themselves from an increasingly expensive and unpopular war. Meanwhile, on the home front, partisan and sectional rancor increase. Even though the United States is ultimately victorious, the war exacerbates already deep divisions, laying the foundation for civil war. This is not some dystopian vision of

CIA Director Michael Hayden: A Student of History

by Daniel Sauerwein

Recently confirmed CIA director, Gen. Michael Hayden (USAF, Ret.) not only has intelligence credentials, having served as director of the National Security Agency (NSA) from March 1999-April 2005 and as Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence from May 2005-May 2006, but also possesses history credentials as well. Gen. Hayden graduated in 1969 from Duquesne University with a Master of Arts in History. He also received his Bachelors degree there as well as being a distinguished gradu

What the Iranians Are Probably Thinking

by William R. Polk

The American military learned from the German army that war gaming is often helpful in seeing what motivates the opponent, what he is likely to do and what effect his doing it would have. So, I will here imagine that I am an Iranian policy planner doing what I used to do for the American government. Here is what I would see and what would I advise. Reading what American officials are saying in the press I would assume that they are planning to attack the country, abort Iran’s nu

The Playwright Hitler Plagiarized

by Steven F. Sage

If asked, “Who was the most influential playwright in history?” for most people it’s a slam dunk. But in choosing Shakespeare they’d miss, as sometimes happens with sure slam dunks. The Bard of Avon has long been t

Avoiding History at the National Trust

by James W. Loewen

On May 10 the National Trust for Historic Preservation joined countless local historians who, over the years, have maintained a conspiracy of silence about one of America's most shameful secrets. Between 1890 and 1968, white

The Iraq War Was a Major Departure in American Foreign Affairs

by Colin F. Baxter

The Bush Administration's decision to intervene in Iraq resulted in a short, blitzkrieg victory over Saddam Hussein's conventional military forces, but a slow and agonizing struggle to return peace to a tyrannized and traumatized people. This experiment, with little or no precedent in American history, has provoked a steadily rising public outcry. Many critics, including Michael Barone in US News and World Report magazine, have argued that Americas proactive intervention in Iraq was a r

Stephen Ambrose: Corrected

by Peter Schrijvers

At dawn on Saturday, December 16, 1944, when Hitler ordered his troops to launch a counteroffensive against the Allies in the Belgian and Luxembourg Ardennes, he set in motion a battle that would become the stuff of American legends. Badly outnumbered GIs valiantly managed to delay

History Doyen: David Brion Davis

by Bonnie Goodman

What he's famous for.

Are the Opponents of Gay Marriage Toying with Our Independent Judiciary?

by James C. Cobb

The uproar that exploded last week over Fulton County Superior Judge Constance Russell’s decision to overturn a 2004 constitutional amendment banning gay marriage in Georgia makes a mockery of our society’s professed belief in the need for an independent judiciary. More than 76 percent of voters supported the measure, but because it dealt with both gay marriage and the legal ramifications of same-sex civil unions, Russell ruled that, as it appeared on the ballot, the amendment was

The Polyglot Manifesto

by Manan Ahmed

During the last few weeks, I have had occasion to think seriously about my discipline, my scholarship and my future. We had a conference recently on the Fate of the Disciplines [scroll down to Recent Events] at which many luminaries wrung their hands and furrowed their brows - worried that money and the right wing will soon destroy the Humanities. Sadly, the brilliantly organized conference had no space for new and recent graduates, those

Of Course, Historians Can Offer Their Assessment of Bush's Presidency

by Sean Wilentz

Larry DeWitt’s article is unfortunate. Dating back to George Bancroft, there is a long tradition of American historians bringing to bear their knowledge of the past in order to assess present politics and social issues. These historians view such commentary as part of a historian’s civic role, even as a civic duty. They have included, in recent decades, not just Arthur Schlesinger, Jr., but C. Vann Woodward, Richard Hofstadter, John

If History Is a Guide, The Immigration Debate Is Going to Get Ugly Very Fast

by Mark W. Naison

As someone who has spent his adult life studying American labor history, I watch the unfolding of the current immigration debate with growing trepidation. As conservative demands for sealing of borders clash with the newly awakened immigrant community's demands for amnesty and liberalized migration rules, I can't help but think of a time after World War I when a nation panicked by the growing visibility and assertiveness of Southern and Eastern European immigrants passed the tightest immigratio

Should Historians Try to Rank President Bush's Presidency?

by Larry DeWitt

“George W. Bush’s presidency appears headed for colossal historical disgrace. Barring a cataclysmic event . . . there seems to be little the administration can do to avoid being ranked on the lowest tier of U.S. presidents.” So begins Princeton historian Sean Wilentz’s latest foray into political commentary disguised as historical analysis, in the pages of the May issue of Rolling Stone magazine. Complete

Selling Iraq with the Wrong Pitch

by Michael R. Adamson

President Bush likes to tell his usually hand-picked audiences that Iraq will become more democratic and prosperous because of America's intervention. What he has in mind are the remarkable changes in Germany and Japan after World War II because of American aid to those countries. His comparison holds little water. So why does he invoke it? Because invoking the correct comparison -- with South Vietnam -- would give neither his beleaguered administration nor most Americans any comfort.

So Another Racist Finds Himself Behind Bars ... So?

by James C. Cobb

Coming close on the heels of the Senate apology for failing to pass one of the three anti-lynching measures laid on its doorsteps by the House between 1920 and 1940, the conviction of Edgar Ray Killen for the 1964 slaying of three civil rights workers in Neshoba County Mississippi marks another chapter in an ongoing drama of expiation and attempts to right some of the racial wrongs of the last century. In the space of a decade or so, we have seen successful prosecutions both of the murderer

Reporter's Notebook: Highlights from the 2006 OAH/NCPH Convention (Wash. D.C. April 19-22)

by Rick Shenkman

IndexHNN Daily Reports Days 1 & 2 Day 3 Day 4 Podcasts HNN Audio Interviews with HistoriansNews News & Blogs on the Annual Meeting Past OAH Meetings HNN Reports on the OHA Meetings in 2003, 20

Strangers in the Land: An Old Theme Replayed

by Dino E. Buenviaje

The United States begins the 21st century just as it began the 20th, by revisiting the debate on immigration and its impact on American cultural identity. The general boycott highlighting the plight of illegal immigrants on May 1, 2006, posed the question of what it means to be an American, a question that continues to polarize all Americans. Despite the hysteria concocted by cable news networks, this issue is as old as the Republic. While the topic of immigration reform is one that de

What Does History Bring to the Study of Jihadism?

by Fawaz A. Gerges

What does a historian bring to the study and understanding of Islamism and jihadism? History provides complexity, rich narrative, comparative perspective, and a healthy degree of skepticism. Let me illustrate what I mean. Most of the books wr

Stop the Presses: An Old Government Cry

by Christopher B. Daly

Bush administration officials, according to a recent report in The New York Times (which must have been “leaked,” since it was not announced) are considering a plan to escalate their battle against leaks of classified material. Now, they reportedly want to bring criminal charges not only against the government employees who divulge the secrets but also against the journalists who disseminate the information to the public. Such a policy is described as a departure