The Mysteries of History (January 31 Edition)
Guy Fawkes, Slavery, U-Boats, Private Slovik, H-Bomb
“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” — Spanish-American philosopher George Santayana, 1905
1606 — Guy Fawkes Dies
image at left generated using Bing Image Creator; public domain image from wikimedia commons on right
Guy Fawkes had planned to blow up the British Parliament with the entire Protestant British government (Fawkes was Catholic) — including King James the First — present, but was caught in the nick of time, tried for treason, and sentenced to hang. He didn’t end up hanging, but suffered pretty much the same fate: he died from a self-inflicted broken neck as he catapulted himself off the ladder leading to the gallows.
The British still commemorate Guy Fawkes with a celebration named in his dishonor (Guy Fawkes Day/Night) on the anniversary of when “The Gunpowder Plot” was intended to be put into explosive effect. Each November 5th, an avatar of the failed conspirator and suicide is burned in effigy as the sun sets on the British evening.
Questions: How much gunpowder had Fawkes smuggled into the basement of the Parliament building? How was he able to accomplish that herculean feat? Fawkes implicated Robert Catesby as the organizer of the Gunpowder Plot. What happened to Catesby? In their effort to punish all involved, were any innocent people also "caught in the crossfire"? Was the conspiracy to kill the King and his political allies mostly about politics, religion, or equal parts both?1865 — Slavery Abolished in America
public domain image from wikimedia commons
The 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, abolishing slavery in the entirety of the United States, was ratified by the House of Representatives on this date in 1865, the final year of the Civil War.
Questions: How much longer after this Amendment was adopted did the Civil War officially end? By how many votes did the Amendment pass? What percentage of votes are needed for an amendment to go into effect (is it anything over 50% or something else)? What is the only exception that allows involuntary servitude (in what circumstance is this legal in the U.S.)? When did Abraham Lincoln issue the Emancipation Proclamation, and why was this not enough — why was this amendment still needed in order to end slavery?1917 — German U-Boats Deployed En-Masse
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On this date in 1917, in the middle of The Great War/World War 1, Germany announced that its torpedo-wielding submarines would resume attacking all vessels (including those carrying civilian passengers and those transporting goods) in waters they considered to be part of the war zone.
The German submarines (or “U-Boats [sic],” meaning Unterseeboots or Undersea Boats) were the most advanced of those in existence at the time, many of them over 200 feet long and equipped with a dozen torpedoes.
In 1915, the German embassy advertised a warning in New York newspapers, advising people against traveling on British ships or those of their allies. On May 7, the British passenger ship Lusitania was sunk off the coast of Ireland, claiming 1,198 lives, 128 of which were Americans.
After more sinkings of civilian vessels and deaths of civilian passengers, attitudes hardened on both sides, and Germany made the proclamation stated above. Soon thereafter, the U.S., which had been neutral in the war but assisting its partner Britain indirectly with supplies, declared war on Germany.
Questions: How many passenger ships did Germany sink in The Great War/World War 1? How many lives were lost? What did Germany expect to gain by doing this? What plans did the German government have regarding Mexico, should the U.S. enter the war?1945 — Private Slovik Executed for Desertion
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Only one American soldier was executed for desertion in World War 2, the first in eighty years (since the Civil War). Private Eddie Slovik, a draftee from Detroit, Michigan, hated guns and was at first rejected by the military due to a criminal record. But he was later reclassified as being suitable for battle after all, and sent oversees. Eventually, Slovik stated his nervousness and fear would cause him to absquatulate, which he did. When he returned the next day and turned himself in to the military authorities, he was charged with desertion and signed a confession to that effect, adding that he would run away again if forced to fight. Knowing the severe consequences that would result to the recalcitrant soldier, the officer witnessing the confession advised Slovik to take it back, but he refused to do so. Slovik was executed in eastern France in 1945, 80 years ago and also at the time 80 years since the end of the Civil War. Slovik was 18 days shy of his 25th birthday.
Questions: What was Eddie Slovik's crime, for which he was at first deemed unfit for military service? Did he have any siblings? What did those that knew him say about him after his death? Have you read the book or seen the movie The Execution of Private Slovik? Who played Slovik in the film? What is your favorite role played by that actor?1950 — Truman Announces H-Bomb
public domain image from wikimedia commons
Seventy-five years ago today, U.S. President Harry Truman announced his approval of the development of Hydrogen (“H”) bombs (or, as Truman put it, a “superbomb”), expected to be orders of magnitude more deadly and destructive than the atomic bombs dropped on Japan five years previously.
Hydrogen bombs are also known as Thermonuclear bombs.
Questions: Why did Truman decide to pursue the building of such powerful weaponry? Had Russia made advancements in this technology and, if so, how? Who was Klaus Fuchs? Have any H-bombs ever been detonated "in anger"?
