Emergence of Modern AmericaThe Great Depression & World War IIPostwar United StatesLate 20th Century America
Rachel White
08/28/2016
With the ever increasing wave of feminism arising this century, it is important to travel back in time and explore the life of one of the most distinguished American feminists: Annie Oakley. With her sharp shooting skills and her ideology that women are as independent as
Nelson Smithwick
02/12/2017
In 1883, William “Buffalo Bill” Cody, famous frontiersman, army scout, and buffalo hunter, opened the doors of his Wild West Show for the first time.1 This show was a fantastical, exaggerated portrayal of life on the frontier, complete with reenactments of famous frontier battles with
Nelson Smithwick
04/03/2017
It was October 5, 1892. Three men wearing fake beards and wigs stood inside the C. M. Codon & Company Bank of Coffeyville Kansas, brandishing their revolvers and rifles at the cashiers and the patrons of the bank. They were forced to wait as the
Zeresh Haman
11/03/2017
It’s a quite October morning in 1881 in a small mining town in Arizona, when suddenly the sound of gunshots fills the air; two shots, then a pause, the town goes silent and just as quickly as the pause began, it’s filled with gunfire once
Gabriela Serrato
02/07/2017
The Ghost Dance, introduced by the Northern Paiute tribe, was a ceremony that acted as a hope to bring back prosperity and liveliness to all of the natives who had fallen under attacks and displacements from their homelands by white American settlers. These Ghost Dances sought
Thomas Fraire
04/12/2018
For many, flying was a dream, but Wilber and Orville Wright made it a reality. The Wright brothers accomplished something that seemed intangible to many in the early twentieth century. These two helped jump-start aerospace programs everywhere and became the stepping stone for all things air powered that we
Aaron Sandoval
05/04/2020
Cornelius Vanderbilt led a life of conflict and economic success, and during that life, he earned the nickname “The Commodore.” This nickname had an incredible impact on all who heard it. The child that grew up to become the Commodore was taught to be ruthless and smart
Iris Henderson
04/17/2018
Although it only lasted one year, in 1789, New York City was once celebrated as the first capital of the United States. Today, the city is recognized by many as the most densely populated city in America. In fact, the population of New York City
Rebekah Esquivel
09/21/2017
Moses “Fleet” Walker was born on October 7, 1857 in Mount Pleasant, Ohio. His parents were Reverend Moses W. Walker, M.D. and Caroline Maria Simpson. Moses was the fifth oldest out of seven children. His family nicknamed him “Fleet” growing up in order to distinguish
Gabriella Urrutia
11/10/2019
During the late summer of 1904, Upton Sinclair was approached by Socialist magazine Appeal to Reason. Having read his newly published book, Manassas, the editor of the newspaper, Fred D. Warren, enjoyed Sinclair’s portrayal of slavery so much that he approached Sinclair with an idea for a
Tyler Sleeter
05/12/2018
Charles Darwin was a naturalist that proposed the theory of natural selection and the theory of evolution still studied and widely accepted as true today. He wrote many books during his life, but the two most well-known books, The Origin of Species by Means of
Seth Roen
05/01/2021
Within the historic city of San Antonio, set between the Alamo and the River Walk, stands the Menger Hotel, a Victorian-era gem. This quiet antique hotel played center stage to the changing destiny of the United States. In 1898, recruits trained nearby and chanted the
Irene Astran
05/01/2017
In 1887, wealthy descendants of American missionaries forced the King of the Hawaiian Monarchy, King Kalakaua, to sign a constitution that would disenfranchise many native Hawaiian people, as well as place property qualifications on voters. At the time, those descendants dominated the sugar industry in
Tyler Sleeter
03/30/2017
General John Henry Parker is best known for his role as the commander of the Gatling Gun detachment during the Spanish-American War. In early 1898, then Lieutenant Parker, a recent graduate of the United States Military Academy, was placed in charge of training soldiers in
Kenneth Gilley
10/06/2019
Winner of the Fall 2019 StMU History Media Award for Article with the Best Introduction “Do you hear anything about Galveston?” “We have been absolutely unable to hear a word from Galveston since 4 p.m….” 1 It is September 8, 1900, and Galveston, Texas, is
Natalie Thamm
03/03/2018
Stepping into an open-air car just after 8 pm, Teddy Roosevelt stood to wave to the adoring crowd that had gathered around him. Just as he raised his hat, the shot of a .38 colt revolver rang out from no more than five feet in
Josselyn Arrieta-Meraz
09/27/2017
It was March 25, 1911, in New York City. It was a Saturday afternoon just like any other at the Triangle Shirtwaist factory, where young immigrant women sat in front of sewing machines, day in and day out, sewing. But on that day a fire
Gabriela Serrato
02/23/2017
Winner of the Spring 2017 StMU History Media Awards for Best Article in the Category of “Gender History” Emma Goldman, who would later in life be a known anarchist and women’s rights activist, had a very dismal beginning to life. Emma Goldman was born on June 27,
Kimberly Simmons
04/07/2018
Since its origins, the infamous Ku Klux Klan has influenced the attitudes and views of many Americans. The KKK will forever be recognized as the largest political hate group in United States history. Despite the rise and fall of the Klan, it wasn’t until the
Cameron Mays
03/26/2017
Catastrophic war is something most people loathe and fear, and World War I brought exactly that, with over 38 million causalities, including approximately 17-20 million dead. There were many efforts to end the war, and various strategies to crush each side’s enemies. However, few at the
Gabriela Serrato
02/14/2017
Winner of ten Spring 2017 StMU History Media Awards for Best Descriptive Article Most Captivating & Engaging Article Best Use of Multiple Images Best Featured Image Best Article in the Category of “United States History” Best Article in the Category of “Social History” Best Overall Research Best Use of Primary
Seth Roen
05/06/2020
Imagine the western front during the spring of 1917. The sound of the whistleblowing indicated the start of an assault. Masses of soldiers crawled out of their trenches and into No Man’s Land. They rushed across the field full of mud, craters, and remnants of
Patricia Arechiga
11/12/2019
Born in Manhattan, New York, on the 27th of March in 1895, Ruth was raised by Scandinavian immigrants. Though her family struggled to make ends meet from time to time, they tried their best to assure that she had the best possible life within their
Alicia Martinez
11/05/2020
On the night of May 31, 1921, the black community of Tulsa Oklahoma’s Greenwood district would fall victim to one of the deadliest and most destructive episodes of racial violence in American history.1 As described in his manuscript, “The Tulsa Race Riot and Three of
Jake Mares
10/31/2019
Babe Ruth is one of the greatest legends to ever step onto a baseball field. From batting average to slugging, Ruth topped basically every statistical leaderboard during his time with the 1920’s and early 1930’s New York Yankees. His fame and popularity knew no bounds.
Aurora Torres
10/07/2016
Winner of the Fall 2016 StMU History Media Award for Best Article in the Category of “Culture” When one thinks of the 1920’s era one immediately thinks about Flappers. A flapper was considered a young woman who was very fashionable. This was a young female
Victoria Villaseñor
03/25/2021
The moment she walked past the walls of one of the most influential Tejano radio stations in Texas, seventeen-year-old Lydia Mendoza knew that she was right where she was meant to be. She situated herself on a wooden stool, clutched her bajo sexto (12-string guitar),
Kathryn Martinez
11/01/2019
April 7, 1931. Thousands of people gathered in the small town of Scottsboro, Alabama. A brass band entertained them with the song “There’ll be a Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight.”1 The verdict of nineteen-year-old Clarence Norris was read, convicting him of a crime
Pamela Callahan
09/23/2018
What can a single image possibly say about our complex world? Of course, one picture can’t possibly capture everything. All of the tragedy and despair or all of the celebrations and joyful moments can hardly be captured in a million pictures. So, what difference can
Christine Sackey
09/22/2017
Winner of the Fall 2017 StMU History Media Award for Best Article in the Category of “Cultural History” Best Use of a Featured Image Mickey Mouse is a symbol of laughter and joy to many, but to Walt Disney, the character was a symbol of perseverance
Audrey Uribe
10/31/2019
Winner of the Fall 2019 StMU History Media Award for Best Article in the Category of “Cultural History” The pressure in the room is rising as every second passes. Her heart is pounding as she desperately hopes her name is called. Mickey Rooney approaches the
Mariah Cavanaugh
03/22/2019
Winner of the Spring 2019 StMU History Media Award for Best Article in the Category of “African and African-American History” New York City in the 1930s was a very different city from the sprawling metropolis we know and love today. At the time, Charles “Lucky”
Christopher Hohman
12/15/2021
Many issues troubled Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s mind in the waning days of 1940. Most importantly, the state of the war in Europe was exceedingly bleak. The United Kingdom stood alone against the might of Nazi Germany, which had already brought much of Western Europe to
Amanda Gutierrez
11/30/2020
World War II began in September of 1939 when Britain and France declared war on Nazi Germany after its invasion of Poland. Although other allied nations, such as Canada and Australia, joined Britain and France in their battle against Germany, the United States remained uninvolved.
Reba Reyes
11/18/2020
Balls were thrown all over, girls trying to look their best in front of the scouts. Outfielders showed off their arms, pitchers showed off their best pitches, while catchers were diving left and right to block every ball they could. It may have seemed like
Samuel Vega
03/11/2020
Sunday, December 7, 1941 promised blue skies and warm temperatures at Pearl Harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii. Just prior to 8:00 a.m., the course of America’s history changed when the Japanese dropped bombs across the naval station from 350 planes. The unanticipated attack
Raymond Nash Munoz III
10/16/2018
BOOSH…In an instant the United States naval base, Pearl Harbor, was attacked by Japanese military planes; hundreds of U.S. military personnel, as well as U.S. civilians, were killed. The country was shaken to its core, even President Franklin D. Roosevelt. President Roosevelt wasted no time
Antonio Coffee
04/06/2019
General Dwight D. Eisenhower knew he was fast approaching a crucial moment in the Western theater of the Second World War. In the early morning hours of June 5, 1944, Eisenhower was faced with one of the hardest decisions of his life, and one of
Cameron Mays
03/29/2017
The United States’ entrance to World War II was sudden and unexpected, and Americans were stunned by the Japanese sneak attack at Pearl Harbor. While the Germans had attacking Poland, France, and Great Britain in the years just prior to Pearl Harbor, the U.S. had remained
Luis Morales
04/08/2018
J. Robert Oppenheimer, often referred to as one of the “fathers of the atomic bomb,” was a world-renowned physicist whose discoveries and contributions made a great impact on modern physics and on history itself. However, Oppenheimer’s legacy is also clouded by the shadow of accusations
Tyler Sleeter
04/21/2017
“Remember us children and we will remember you our whole life” -ten year old Helma Lurch 1 Near the end of World War II, the Allied Powers had to decide what to do with Germany and its largest city, Berlin. At the Potsdam Conference in
Mariana Sandoval
11/28/2016
I think it’s criminal that we are not permitted to make dramatic note of social evils that exist, of controversial themes as they are inherent in our society. I think it’s ridiculous that drama, which by its very nature should make a comment on those
Emmanuel Ewuzie
12/10/2019
Emmett Louis Till was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, which is situated in the northern part of the United States where racism and discrimination were much less overbearing when compared to its southern counterparts. Desiring a vacation, Mamie Till, Emmett’s mother, sent her fourteen-year-old
Abilene Solano
10/27/2020
“That was the whole point of the segregation rules – it was all symbolic – blacks had to be behind whites.” – Claudette Colvin: Twice Towards Justice It was Montgomery, Alabama, in 1955. A young black girl boarded a city bus and sat down
Jeremiah Durand
11/13/2019
—There were 58,000 cases already reported in the year of 1952, and the number quickly escalated. With no cure, no progress, and very little hope, one physician rose to the challenge of ending the Polio epidemic: Jonas Salk. Salk’s first obstacle to ending the outbreak
Rafael López-Rodírguez
04/08/2018
Latin America and the Caribbean is mostly known for the rich culture of its music, particularly the genre of Salsa. But this famous genre came to be during the decades of the 1960’s and 1970’s thanks to many artists from many parts of Latin America
Josselyn Arrieta-Meraz
12/10/2017
“The Marlboro Man is dead” read the morning headline once again. Eric Lawson became the fourth “Marlboro man” in a row to die from a smoking-related disease. Aside from Lawson’s sad death, what made this international news? For two decades, the “Marlboro Woman” had been
Nathan Alba
10/19/2018
July 20, 1969—a day that would go down in history, as the first humans went on to set foot on the Moon. With an estimated 530 million people worldwide watching at the time, today’s generation can recall their parents or grandparents describe the chills they
Eduardo Foster
11/08/2017
The Apollo 13 lunar expedition suddenly turned into a survival mission when an explosion risked the lives of the crew, but turned out to be a successful failure. Before we examine the remarkable success accomplished by NASA, let’s travel back to the beginning of the
Samuel Stallcup
04/17/2018
It’s November 21, 1960, and it’s fifteen minutes before launch. Chris Kraft, the Mercury flight director, is a little nervous. He and his team have been preparing the past month, and it’s finally time to see if it works. Gene Kranz, a former Air Force
Matthew Rios
12/06/2017
The United States is the greatest country on the planet. While we don’t always win (Vietnam War), we do always prevail (back to back World War champions). But our venture to continue to be the dominant super power of the world does not stop at
Nathaniel Bielawski
04/21/2020
On April 20, 1962, Neil Armstrong, wearing a bulky and cumbersome space suit, sat in the ejection seat of a dart-shaped aircraft. Looking out the aircraft’s window, he viewed the massive B-52 mothership carrying his aircraft over Mud Dry Lake, Nevada, at 45,000 feet. As
Gabriela Serrato
10/15/2017
As one walks into school on their first day, feeling nervous is normal to most. But in 1960, walking into a newly integrated school as a black student meant extreme danger and numerous threats. There would be crowds of dozens, maybe hundreds of people yelling
Samuel Vega
04/11/2020
It was mid-morning on Friday, November 22, 1963. President John F. Kennedy, along with his wife, the First Lady, Jacqueline Kennedy, and Mr. John Connally, Governor of Texas, and his wife, Nellie, were in a motorcade procession to the Trade Mart in Dallas, Texas. This
Maria Mancha
04/29/2018
“Not a day goes by that I don’t think of Richard and our love, our right to marry, and how much it meant to me to have that freedom to marry the person precious to me, even if others thought he was the ‘wrong kind
Cameron Adelman
04/16/2017
Winner of the Spring 2017 StMU History Media Awards for Article with the Best Introduction What is your vote worth to you? Is it worth the half-hour it takes to stand in line while you wait to fill out your ballot? The five dollars in gas it
Amanda Figueroa
10/18/2017
It is a jaunty ragtime melody that fools listeners into briefly perceiving the number as a feel-good pop song, yet sustains its relevance by acknowledging the continued failure of a full realization of Black freedom a century after the Thirteenth Amendment.1 It took Nina Simone
Jose Sanchez
10/22/2018
Winner of the Fall 2018 StMU History Media Award for Article with the Best Use of Images Article with the Best Introduction The year was 1968. The month of January was almost over and “Tet,” the Vietnamese Lunar New Year, was about to begin. By
Bictor Martinez
10/10/2018
In the year 1968, across the globe, many college campuses cried out for change as the civil rights movement, the Vietnam war, and the draft inflamed the passions of college students everywhere. Students pushed for change and as a result, in some places, violence resulted.
Thomas Fraire
03/19/2019
1968 was a year of racial division and tragedy. African American’s had discussed the possibility of a boycott of the 1968 Summer Olympics. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a huge supporter of this boycott, said he would join Olympians John Carlos and Tommie Smith in
Matthew Swaykus
05/12/2019
“Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I’m not concerned about that now. … I’m not fearing any man. [I] have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord.” — Conclusion of Dr. Martin Luther King’s
Annissa Noblejas
10/06/2018
Winner of the Fall 2018 StMU History Media Award for Best Article in the Category of “Year 1968” The moment of truth was finally at hand for Stanley Kramer. Flashing camera lights could only capture his calm reflection, but underneath his tailored tuxedo, carefully styled
Rebeca Escobar
04/02/2019
Winner of the Spring 2019 StMU History Media Award for Best Descriptive Article Best Article in the Category of “Social History” Many people are familiar with the lovable beagle Snoopy and the other members of Charles M. Schulz’s ‘Peanuts’ comics. The series revolves around Charlie
Sterling Henarie
11/28/2020
A Buddhist monk, donning a stark-white robe with graying hair on his face, was bent over a sick elderly woman, praying, when he heard the gruff voice of an American soldier demand, “VC Adai?” Not knowing where they could find the Viet Cong (VC), he
Charli Delmonico
12/09/2019
The night of September 20, 1973 is considered one of the most influential nights in history for women in America. On this grand night, at the Houston Astrodome, the famous “Battle of the Sexes” took place, and to this day, it is considered one of
Thalia Romo
11/15/2019
Winner of the Fall 2019 StMU History Media Award for Best Article in the Category of “Political History” “People have got to know whether or not their President is a crook. Well, I’m not a crook. I’ve earned everything I’ve got.”1 President Richard Nixon at
Maria Esquivel
05/14/2018
Alison Krause, 19; William Schroeder, 19; Jeffrey Miller, 20; and Sandra Scheuer, 20. These four individuals come from different backgrounds, but they share the same piercing story. What is it that binds them together? Could it be their age? Could it be that they each
Cameron Mays
04/17/2017
Winner of the Spring 2017 StMU History Media Awards for Article with the Best Use of Scholarship The Nixon Watergate Scandal was one of the worst scandal that a president has ever been embroiled in. Americans put all of their trust into this highest and more
Sydney Hardeman
11/10/2019
It was 6:50 p.m. on Friday, August 14, 1970, and a warrant was issued by Marin County Superior Court Judge Peter Allen Smith for the arrest of Angela Yvonne Davis, an African-American Communist, scholar, and activist who advocated for prisoners’ rights. Angela Davis was charged
Natalie Thamm
04/07/2019
Winner of the Spring 2019 StMU History Media Award for Best Use of Images On the morning of December 4, 1969, just before 5 am, a small team of officers stormed the home of the chairman of the Chicago chapter of the Black Panther Party
Erin Vento
03/25/2018
In a time of Phyllis Schlaflys, Anita Bryants, and rhetoric that depicted homosexuality as a crime, going from being a careful and closeted man to California’s first openly-gay elected public official seems like a leap, but it was a leap Harvey Milk made. Despite knowing
Samuel Ruiz
03/12/2018
Winner of the Spring 2018 StMU History Media Award for Best Article in the Category of “Music” When people think of rock guitar players in classic rock bands, they typically think of guys who are loud, have long hair, are in it for the money,
Michael Hinojosa
05/06/2019
When one thinks of the musical hall of fame, names such as The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, Pink Floyd, AC/DC, Guns N’ Roses, and Metallica are sure to come to mind.1 One band, however, deserves to be brought back into the spotlight due to the
Maria Callejas
10/25/2017
Winner of the Fall 2017 StMU History Media Award for Best Article in the Category of “People” It was a sunny summer day. A sea of graduates, proud parents, family members, and faculty had their sights fixed on a bony and haggard individual. It seemed age
Eduardo Foster
10/19/2017
The evening of November 9, 1989 quickly became a historical one as Günter Schabowski, an official of the Socialist Unity Party of East Germany, announced in a press conference that the inhabitants of East Germany could now travel to the West German side of the
Alicia Guzman
04/07/2019
Winner of the Spring 2019 StMU History Media Award for Best Article in the Category of “Political History” Being admitted into law school is difficult. Being admitted into Harvard Law is significantly harder. However, being admitted into Harvard Law as a female in the 1950s
Michaela Jeanis
11/05/2020
In the 1980’s, America was a storm of confusion, grief, and pain for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) community. Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) spread rapidly through the gay community as the decade progressed. A lack of knowledge on the disease and the
Nicole Ortiz
11/08/2019
Winner of the Fall 2019 StMU History Media Award for Best Article in the Category of “Social History” In 1989, members of the media, as well as portions of the criminal justice system of New York City, wrongfully accused a group of Black and Latino
Mariah Cavanaugh
11/03/2018
In December 1989 Sean Strub sat nervously in a pew near the front of St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City. He quietly listened to the chants of 4,500 angry people outside as they yelled and waved signs that read: “Condoms, not Coffins” and “Papal
Michael Lazcano
10/19/2019
Winner of the Fall 2019 StMU History Media Award for Best Descriptive Article The year was 1985. Coca-Cola just released its “New Coke” with a new formula, the Unabomber began a massive spree of bombings, an earthquake in Mexico claimed the lives of thousands; but
Kimberly Simmons
05/06/2018
The beauty industry is one that has dominated in terms of sales and marketing for decades. It is a field that many are attracted to, yet few take the time to understand how their projected images affect one’s self-image. Though, as many say, “beauty is
Timothy ODekirk
03/11/2018
Winner of the Spring 2018 StMU History Media Award for Best Article in the Category of “United States History” Best Descriptive Article It was April 20, 1999 in Littleton Colorado. Seventeen-year-old Eric Harris and his eighteen-year-old friend Dylan Klebold both drove separately on a Tuesday
Joshua Breard
12/07/2017
On the night of June 12, 1994, the bodies of Nicole Brown Simpson, ex-wife of Orenthal James (O.J.) Simpson, and Ronald Goldman were found brutally murdered outside Nicole’s town home in Brentwood, California.1 When police arrived on the scene, Detective Mark Fuhrman quickly recognized the body
Valeria Hernandez
11/03/2017
Texas is known for its unique culture, food, traditions, sports, and music. The Texan attitude towards Tex-Mex bands is uniquely appreciated and patriotic for Texan residents, especially to those living in Texas during the 1980-1990s when singer/songwriter Selena Quintanilla-Perez was at the peak of her
Deanna Lummus
11/08/2017
With its blends of French, Spanish, German, African, Irish, and Native American influence, Louisiana is very culturally diverse. Folk tales, spicy food, Jazz music, and its swampy perimeter come together to form a very deeply connected and proud population that is unlike any in the