Category: Past & Kins

Background Joseph Stalin had ruled the Soviet Union with an iron grip since the late 1920s. Under his leadership, the USSR transformed from an agrarian society into a global superpower, but at a great human cost. His rule was marked by mass purges, forced collectivization, and the deaths of millions due to famine, forced labor, […]

Background: British rule in India imposed harsh economic restrictions, including a monopoly on salt production and taxation through the Salt Act of 1882. This law prohibited Indians from collecting or selling salt, forcing them to buy heavily taxed British salt. Mahatma Gandhi sought to challenge this injustice using nonviolent resistance. What Happened: On March 12, […]

Background Anne Frank was a Jewish teenager who became one of the most well-known victims of the Holocaust. Born in Frankfurt, Germany, in 1929, Anne’s family fled to the Netherlands in 1934 to escape the rise of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party. In 1940, Germany invaded the Netherlands, bringing Nazi racial laws into effect. […]

Background The end of the American Civil War in 1865 brought a new era in the United States: Reconstruction (1865-1877). The federal government worked to reintegrate Southern states and secure rights for newly freed African Americans. During this time, three landmark amendments were passed: However, in practice, African Americans still faced rampant discrimination, particularly in […]

Background A filibuster is a political strategy used in the U.S. Senate where a senator delays or blocks legislation by speaking for an extended period. By 1957, civil rights legislation had gained momentum in the United States, sparking resistance from Southern segregationist politicians who sought to prevent racial equality reforms. At the center of this […]

Background In the early 19th century, Texas was part of Mexico, but tensions grew between the Mexican government and American settlers who had moved into the region. By 1835, those settlers, along with Tejanos (Mexican-born Texans), rebelled against Mexican rule, seeking independence for Texas. This led to the Texas Revolution, which pitted Texian forces against […]

Background Despite the passage of the 15th Amendment in 1870, which granted African American men the right to vote, Southern states used literacy tests, poll taxes, and violent intimidation to suppress Black voters. By the 1960s, less than 2% of Black residents in Selma, Alabama, were registered to vote. Civil rights leaders, including Dr. Martin […]

Background The Mexican-American War (1846-1848) stemmed from territorial disputes between the United States and Mexico. After Texas gained independence from Mexico in 1836 and later joined the U.S. in 1845, tensions escalated. The U.S., under President James K. Polk, was pursuing Manifest Destiny, aiming to expand westward. After two years of fighting, U.S. troops, led […]

Background Japan, heavily reliant on nuclear energy, faced an unprecedented crisis when a natural disaster overwhelmed its safety measures. By 2011, nuclear power supplied 30% of Japan’s electricity, and facilities were built with earthquake resistance in mind. However, concerns remained about tsunami preparedness, particularly at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, which lacked sufficient defenses […]

Background: For decades, scientists sought to understand how genetic information was stored and transmitted. Early research on DNA suggested it played a role in heredity, but its exact structure remained unknown. Researchers, including Rosalind Franklin, Maurice Wilkins, James Watson, and Francis Crick, worked independently and collaboratively to uncover the molecular structure of DNA. What Happened: […]

Background: Following the Civil War, the Reconstruction era brought new opportunities for African Americans, including political representation. The passage of the 15th Amendment granted African American men the right to vote, enabling them to participate in government and seek public office. However, despite these constitutional changes, racial prejudices remained strong, and Black politicians faced immense […]

Background: Following the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln, Andrew Johnson, a Southern Democrat who remained loyal to the Union, became the 17th President of the United States. His lenient approach to Reconstruction, which aimed to restore the Southern states to the Union quickly with minimal conditions, clashed with the Republican-controlled Congress. Johnson opposed civil rights […]

Background: Cuba had long sought independence from Spanish colonial rule, and tensions between Spain and the United States escalated in the late 19th century. The U.S. had economic interests in Cuba and sympathized with Cuban revolutionaries fighting against Spanish oppression. Sensationalist journalism, known as “yellow journalism,” further fueled anti-Spanish sentiment among the American public. What […]

Background By early 1945, World War II was nearing its final months. Nazi Germany was losing ground on both the Eastern and Western Fronts, while the Soviet Red Army was advancing rapidly into Eastern Europe. The Allies—comprising the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Soviet Union—recognized the need to plan for post-war Europe and […]

Background Apartheid, a legalized system of racial segregation, had been enforced in South Africa since 1948, denying basic rights to the country’s Black majority. Nelson Mandela, a prominent leader in the African National Congress (ANC), became a symbol of resistance. Arrested in 1962 and sentenced to life imprisonment in 1964 for sabotage and conspiracy to […]

Background Following the American Revolution, the newly independent United States faced the challenge of forming a stable government. The Articles of Confederation, the nation’s first governing document, had proven inadequate, leading to the drafting and ratification of the U.S. Constitution in 1787. The new Constitution established a democratic system of government with a powerful but […]

Background The Space Shuttle Columbia was the first shuttle to fly into space in 1981 and had completed 27 successful missions before its final launch on January 16, 2003. The STS-107 mission was intended as a research flight, carrying out experiments in microgravity. However, during takeoff, a piece of foam insulation broke off from the […]

Background The Space Shuttle Challenger was set to launch Mission STS-51-L, a historic flight that included Christa McAuliffe, a teacher from New Hampshire selected for NASA’s Teacher in Space Program. The mission was intended to promote space education, and McAuliffe planned to broadcast lessons from orbit. However, NASA engineers and managers were aware of a […]

Background Black History Month originated from the efforts of historian Carter G. Woodson, often called the “Father of Black History.” In 1926, he and the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History launched Negro History Week to highlight African American achievements, choosing February to coincide with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln (February 12) […]

Background: Slavery in the United States began in 1619 when British settlers brought enslaved Africans to North America. Over two centuries, slavery became deeply entrenched in the Southern economy, where enslaved labor was used primarily for agriculture, particularly in cotton and tobacco plantations. The abolitionist movement gained momentum in the 19th century, with activists like […]

Background: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s leadership in the civil rights movement was instrumental in dismantling segregation and advocating for racial equality in the United States. His nonviolent approach and powerful speeches, including the iconic “I Have a Dream,” left an indelible mark on the nation. Following his assassination in 1968, his legacy became a […]

Background: World War I left a devastating toll on nations worldwide, prompting leaders to seek ways to prevent future conflicts. U.S. President Woodrow Wilson’s Fourteen Points outlined a vision for lasting peace, including the establishment of an international organization to mediate disputes and promote cooperation. What Happened: On January 10, 1920, the League of Nations […]

Background: The United States was in the midst of the Civil War, a conflict that erupted primarily over the institution of slavery and its expansion into new territories. As the war dragged on, President Abraham Lincoln recognized the need to redefine its purpose. Beyond preserving the Union, addressing the moral issue of slavery could strengthen […]