Gilbert M. Stack's Blog, page 126
August 23, 2018
Today in History: Stockholm Syndrome
On this day (August 23) in 1973 a bank robbery went badly wrong in Stockholm, Sweden, resulting in one of the most famous hostage situations in world history. The bank robber took four hostages, threatened them mercilessly, but somehow still bonded with them to the extent that they began to sympathize with him. After five days, the police used tear gas to end the crisis, but the sympathetic attitude of the hostages toward their captors stunned the world and led to the coining of the term Stockholm Syndrome.
August 22, 2018
Today in History: The Loch Ness Monster
On this day (August 22) in 564 Saint Columba reported seeing a monster in the region of Loch Ness. Columba's biographer recorded a century later that the saint had been staying in the lands of the Picts when he came across locals burying a man by the River Ness. They explained that he had been attacked by a "water beast" that had mauled him and dragged him under. Columba stunned the Picts by sending his friend to swim across the river. When the beast came, Columba made the sign of the cross and ordered the beast to, "Go no further. Do not touch this man. Go back at once," which it reportedly did. Nessie believers cite this at the first recorded observation of the Loch Ness Monster. Skeptics point out that confrontations with water creatures are common place in early saints' lives.
August 21, 2018
Today in History: Nat Turner's Rebellion
On this day (August 21) in 1831, African-American slave began a rebellion to free slaves in Virginia. Turner and his freedom fighters went from plantation to plantation freeing slaves and confiscating guns. In retaliation, the Virginia legislator raised the militia and passed legislation denying jury trials to free blacks and mandating that any free black convicted of a crime be sold into slavery and relocated. The rebellion lasted for two days before being suppressed. Turner escaped until October 30. He was executed on November 5, 1831.
August 19, 2018
Today in History: Augustus Died
On this day (August 19) in the year 14 the first Roman Emperor Augustus died. Augustus had succeeded in pulling all executive power in Rome into his own hands, but he was always careful to preserve the appearance that the Republic was still functioning. He was succeeded by his stepson, Tiberius.
August 18, 2018
Today in History: Virginia Dare Was Born
On this day (August Eighteen) in 1587, Virginia Dare was born in Roanoke Colony. She was the first English person born in the new world. Three years later, her grandfather, Governor John White, would find her missing with the rest of the colony when he finally succeeded in returning from England with fresh supplies. Her ultimate fate is still unknown.
August 17, 2018
Today in History: Pioneer 0
On this day (August 17) in 1958, the United States attempted to launch Pioneer 0 into orbit, but the booster rocket blew up shortly after launch. The satellite was called Pioneer 0 (instead of Pioneer 1) because it failed to reach orbit. This rocket was launched by the U.S. Air Force. The rest of the Pioneer launches would be carried out by NASA.
August 16, 2018
Today in History: The Levee en Masse
On this day (August 16) in 1793 the National Convention declared a levee en masse to protect the French Revolution from invasion by other European powers. All able-bodied men ages 18-25 were conscripted into the army. This created massive French armies which were often able to overwhelm the small professional armies of the other European states. At its peak in 1794, the levee en masse put 1,500,000 men into the French army.
August 15, 2018
Today in History: Carloman
On this day (August 15) in 747, Carloman renounced his office of Mayor of the Palace and became a monk. This allowed his brother, Pepin the Short, to reunite all of the Frankish lands, paving the way for himself to become king and his son, Charlemagne, to become emperor.
August 14, 2018
Today in History: Social Security
On this day (August 14) in 1935 Franklin Delano Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act. This legislation is the foundation document of the modern welfare system in the United States. It provided direct financial assistance to the elderly, the unemployed, and some children. The act was challenged before the Supreme Court both as an unconstitutional payment and an unconstitutional tax but the Supreme Court upheld the act in 5-4 and 7-2 decisions.
August 13, 2018
Today in History: Cardinal Richelieu
On this day (August 13) in 1624, French King Louis XIII appointed Cardinal Richelieu prime minister of France. Richelieu worked tirelessly to break political factions in France and elevate the power of the monarchy. And of course, he is an important antagonist in Alexandre Dumas’ The Three Musketeers.
