History Blog

 Introduction         One need not think too hard about an influential figure of the 1920s and come to the conclusion that Henry Ford was one of the top names in that decade. After all, his father had built a massively successful automobile company, the Ford Motor Company. After his father's death, however, the next generation Henry Ford took over the company, which, many business historians argue, led to its eventual decline in later years.1 However, Henry Ford was able to run a massively successful business in the 1920s, using modern thinking to create things such as the standard 40-hour workweek, the demonstration of "charismatic leadership," and streamlining assembly and construction lines.2 The result was not only a revolution in business practices but a revolution in large businesses shaping the communities around them.3 Henry Ford's Forward Thinking in the 1920s         After taking control of the Ford Motor Company from his father, Henry Ford did something rad

 Introduction     This blog post will examine the economic growth and conditions of two territories of the postbellum United States: the South Atlantic region versus the North Atlantic region immediately following the Civil War. Additionally, this blog post will examine human capital and postbellum human economic behavior in those same regions. First, human capital must be explained in postbellum terms, understanding that white plantation owners in the South Atlantic had to contend with a new mode of existence after slavery which included policies that made it difficult for African Americans and poor whites to succeed in planting. Next, a description of the emerging differences in postbellum societies of the South Atlantic and North Atlantic regions should be compared to show the differences in economic growth in relation to human capital. Third, a conclusion can be drawn that shows the North Atlantic region far exceeded the South Atlantic region of the United States when it came to hu

     My Genealogical Story: Maternal Line and Military Service     I chose to detail my maternal line of my family because of the line's rich American military history. I was born January 25, 1985, to Luke Mahdi and Susanne Wilson, in Los Angeles, California. My mother was born June 1, 1946, in Terre Haute, Indiana, where her family had lived for several generations. Her father was older in life when she was born. Her father, Gene Wilson Sr., was born August 4, 1902, in Terre Haute, Indiana. He served honorably as a Major in the Army Air Force in Papua, New Guinea, during World War II, and left lengthy maps, notes, and collections of artifacts that any historian would enjoy viewing. My maternal grandmother was Virginia Bateman, born in Elsinore, Utah, in 1918. However, we will go back to Gene C. Wilson Sr, my maternal grandfather's line. Gene C. Wilson Sr. was born to Ethel Haller, born 1881 in Lebanon, Indiana, and Everett E. Wilson, born 1881 in Hamilton, Indiana. Now we will

  Early Catholic Christianity in America: Catholic Influences on the Colonies and American Indians     Catholic influence on early American Christianity is a subject that is fascinating. In 1855, Thomas D'Arcy McGee, an Irish Catholic and one-time clergy member, put together a series of his lectures on Catholicism in early America into a book form. His book is called  The Catholic History of North America : Five Discourses :To Which are Added Two Discourses on the Relations of Ireland and America.  The goal of his book is to demonstrate that Irish Catholicism paved the way for future development of the British Colonies to become the United States. McGee also writes that the Catholic Church was the best evangelism movement to the Native American Natives. Specifically, he mentions the case of Father Marquette and the Iroquois and the high conversion rates in the area which is now the state of Michigan (McGee 1855, 59). Next, McGee claims that since Christopher Columbus was a Catholic

What is a Christian worldview of history? "It is not a spiritualization of history."- Dr. Samuel Smith It is not trying to fit God into historical events. - Dr. Smith We interpret past events with the understanding of Providence (Smith 2014). We view events through the lens of our faith (Smith 2014) Christian Historians  Susan Fletcher (image link here ) This week's textbook readings highlights Susan Fletcher, a historian living in Colorado (Fea 2009). Fletcher, despite being skeptical at first of Christianity as a lens for history, became convinced that historians can show evidence of God (Fea 2009). Fletcher came to this conclusion after a series of wildfires devastated Colorado several years ago (Fea 2009). She believes that God protected the property of Christian ministry The Navigators, using the lack of property damage as proof of her belief (Fea 2009). Eusebius (image link here ) John Fea cites Eusebius as an important Chr