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April 1917: The governor of Minnesota put the State Capitol in St. Paul under heavy military guard. Newspapers filled their columns with rumors of terrorist activities. Then the United States declared war on Germany. In the midst of patriotic hysteria, the state legislature passed a bill establishing the Minnesota Commission of Public Safety to "do ... all acts and things necessary" to defend the state from its enemies. In compelling narrative style, this book offers the first hard look at the motives and activities of this uniquely powerful state agency, which used loyalty as a weapon to protect the existing socio-economic order against a rising tide of radicalism on the home front.
The inebriate asylum movement of the 19th and early 20th century was guided by a dystopian vision which sought to incarcerate all drinkers until they were cured, and to incarcerate incurable inebriates for life. This plan to create a nationwide chain of state-run inebriate asylums to rival the insane asylums of the era, which was promoted by the American Association for the Cure of Inebriates, ended in abject failure. Few inebriate asylums were ever established, and those that were established did not last long. Many were shot through with political corruption and graft. Moreover, no state government was willing to pass a law to incarcerate drinkers indefinitely, perhaps for life. Most state...
This handy guide locates the final resting places and tells the stories of more than 375 notable Minnesotans. Author Stew Thornley travelled throughout Minnesota in pursuit of the historical fact, the little-known tale, the striking monument, and the truth behind the colourful exaggeration. Visiting cemeteries from every era and every region of the state, Thornley recounts the histories of the famous, infamous, and just plain interesting Minnesotans who lie at rest in the state. The book contains a useful appendix with a county-by-county listing of the cemeteries and individuals mentioned within. Perfect for road trippers and armchair travellers alike, 'Six Feet Under' is an enlightening guide to the state's history.
The only president to later serve as chief justice of the United States, William Howard Taft remarked in the 1920s that "I don't remember that I ever was President." Historians have agreed, and Taft is usually portrayed, when written about at all, as nothing more than a failed chief executive. In this provocative new study, the first treatment of the Taft presidency in four decades, Lewis L. Gould presents a compelling assessment of Taft's accomplishments and setbacks in office. Rich in human interest and fresh analysis of the events of Taft's four years in Washington, Gould's book shows why Taft's presidency is very much worth remembering on its own terms. Gould argues that Taft wanted to b...
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Iowa Biographical Dictionary contains biographies on hundreds of persons from diverse vocations that were either born, achieved notoriety and/or died in the state of Iowa. Prominent persons, in addition to the less eminent, that have played noteworthy roles are included in this resource. When people are recognized from your state or locale it brings a sense of pride to the residents of the entire state.
From the Salem Witch Trials of 1692 to the Sandy Hook school massacre of 2012, this two-volume encyclopedia surveys tragic events—natural and man-made, famous and forgotten—that helped shape American history. Tragedies and disasters have always been part of the fabric of American history. Some gave rise to reactions that profoundly influenced the nation. Others dominated public consciousness for a moment, then disappeared from collective memory. Organized chronologically, Disasters and Tragic Events examines these moments, covering both the familiar and the obscure and probing their immediate and long-term effects. Unlike other works that concentrate on a particular type of disaster, for example, weather- or medicine-related tragedies, this two-volume encyclopedia has no such limits. Its entries range from natural disasters, such as hurricanes and tornadoes, to civic disturbances, environmental disasters, epidemics and medical errors, transportation accidents, and more. The work is a perfect supplement for history classes and will also prove of great interest to the general reader.