Sparks Commentary

Many pirate movies take place in this general time period, and so do many history movies I grew up on pirate movies like “Treasure Island,” ...

“Don’t know the manners of good society, eh? Well, I guess I know enough to turn you inside out, old gal – you sockdologizing old man-trap!...

“An act to discontinue, in such manner, and for such time as are therein mentioned, the landing and discharging, shipping of goods, wares, a...

“England's course towards the United States during the rebellion exasperated the people of this country very much against the mother cou...

The Napoleonic Wars lasted for twelve years, with a death toll in the millions … The Napoleonic Wars lasted for twelve years, with a death ...

Note: The edition that I’m reviewing here was expanded by Boris Fausto’s son Sergio Fausto, to bring it up to date. The most populous countr...

If you feel like you don’t understand the Gettysburg Address, this post is for you. What the heck does “Fourscore and seven years ago” mean?...

Long before the  Panama Canal  was built, the Suez Canal was opened in 1869. This is the same year that America ’s  Transcontinental Railroa...

Warning: This blog post contains some disturbing pictures. One of these, in particular, is very graphic, and may merit special caution. The ...

Warning: For obvious reasons, this post does not censor the offensive language out of the historical sources that it quotes from. To do so w...

Japan's initial contact with the West in 1543 In the year 1543, a Portuguese trading ship arrived in the Japanese island of Tanegash...

"Nevada Territory is fabulously rich in gold, silver, lead, coal, iron, quicksilver... thieves, murderers, desperadoes ... lawyers, ...

"[The Mexican Empire] solemnly declares by means of the Supreme Junta of the Empire that it is a Sovereign nation and independent of...

"Andrew Jackson was a patriot, and a traitor. He was the greatest of generals, and wholly ignorant of the art of war. He was the most...

"The plaintiff [Dred Scott]... was, with his wife and children, held as slaves by the defendant [Sandford], in the State of Missouri...

"The executive power [of the Confederacy] shall be vested in a President of the Confederate States of America. He and the Vice Presid...

"The war between the States was a very bloody and a very costly war. One side or the other had to yield principles they deemed dearer...

" ' A house divided against itself cannot stand .' I believe this government cannot endure, permanently, half slave and half ...

"Sincerely and earnestly hoping that this little book may do something toward throwing light on the American slave system , and haste...