The hottest Historical Analysis Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top U.S. Politics Topics

Anne Bradstreet: An American Rorschach Test

The Recovering Academic • 197 implied HN points • 02 May 23
📚 Literature Poetry American Literature Feminism Historical Analysis Personal Reflection
  1. Anne Bradstreet, the first published American poet, challenges ideological assumptions through her work, requiring readers to reevaluate their preconceptions.
  2. Bradstreet's poems like 'The Author to Her Book' and 'Prologue' showcase her rhetorical mastery and ability to disarm while conveying powerful messages.
  3. In 'The Flesh and the Spirit,' Bradstreet explores internal conflicts and spiritual themes, providing a blend of personal introspection and theological exploration.

Behind the Op-Ed: My latest in the New York Times

Study Marry Kill • 157 implied HN points • 19 Feb 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Presidential History Political Commentary Historical Analysis
  1. The author is a presidential historian who dislikes Presidents' Day.
  2. The op-ed in the New York Times was inspired by a rewritten story of The Emperor's New Clothes.
  3. The author emphasizes the importance of public holidays for a sense of self and suggests celebrating Presidents' Day as a reflection of an active electorate's choice.

October 28, 2024

Letters from an American • 19 implied HN points • 29 Oct 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Economic Policy Government Role Historical Analysis
  1. The stock market crash of 1929 marked the end of the economic boom of the 1920s, leading to severe impacts like high unemployment and food waste. Many people struggled to find jobs, and farmers had to let crops rot because prices were too low.
  2. President Hoover tried to fix the economy by cutting taxes and government spending, which didn’t help struggling Americans. Instead of providing public works, he believed private charity was the solution.
  3. Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal aimed to help everyone, not just the wealthy. It created jobs and set up regulations that supported workers and civil rights, helping the country recover from the Great Depression.

A Grand Theft: Auto Industry Stole Our Streets And Our Future

As If We Were Staying • 1 implied HN point • 09 Feb 25
🎭️ Culture Urban planning Consumerism Transportation Environmental justice Historical Analysis
  1. The automobile industry changed the design of our cities, taking away spaces that were once meant for people. Streets used to be safe places for everyone, but cars changed that, leading to rises in accidents and fatalities.
  2. Big companies shaped public perceptions about cars being essential for modern life. They promoted the idea that owning a car was necessary, while at the same time, they bought and destroyed public transport systems to make way for more cars.
  3. We need to imagine a new future for our cities away from car dependency. It’s important for everyone to contribute ideas for a better urban design that prioritizes people, nature, and community, instead of serving corporate interests.

Cycles of Radicalization

America in Crisis • 219 implied HN points • 28 Feb 23
🎭️ Culture Ideologies Social Trends Historical Analysis
  1. Wokeness and sociopolitical instability are part of larger cycles of radicalization and cultural instability in American society.
  2. The analysis suggests that the social and cultural turmoil of the present time is likely to be temporary, with some new ideas becoming integral to the nation's fabric.
  3. Historical patterns show that previous radical ideologies that did not stand the test of time, while others, like the ideologies of the Abolitionists, became significant parts of American culture.
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Curator

Castalia • 119 implied HN points • 30 Mar 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Race relations Political Ideologies Cultural critique Media influence Historical Analysis
  1. Wokeness is seen by some as a call for a fresh start, especially within the Black community, moving away from past injustices towards a new political entity.
  2. Ernst Junger's writings highlight a fascination with death and a disdain for boring, comfortable living, linking militarism to a critique of modern society.
  3. A.O. Scott's retirement from film criticism signals changes in how movies are perceived, and the role of reviews in shaping art is being questioned as they affect creators deeply.

There are always choices

Comment is Freed • 82 implied HN points • 19 Nov 23
💾 History Historians Decision-making Leaders Historical Analysis
  1. History is shaped by the choices individuals make, especially during times of crisis
  2. While big impersonal forces like demography and geography matter, individuals in positions of power play a significant role in making crucial decisions
  3. It is important to understand the constraints and possibilities before individuals when analyzing historical events

New(ish) Books

Castalia • 99 implied HN points • 15 Mar 23
📚 Literature Book Reviews Fiction Non-fiction Cultural criticism Historical Analysis
  1. Andrew Martin's book 'Cool For America' explores millennials feeling lost and their struggles with identity in urban and rural settings. The stories highlight the challenges of relationships and the nostalgic, sometimes trivial concerns of a generation.
  2. Marie Favereau's 'The Horde' presents the Mongols as effective empire builders rather than just violent conquerors. It shows how their administrative skills led to a unique and lasting influence on trade and governance in the regions they ruled.
  3. Both books reflect on generational issues, whether through the lens of modern millennials or the historical Mongols. They encourage readers to think about how identity and culture evolve over time and the complexities of societal change.

A.I., Tech Revolutions & Society

The Digital Anthropologist • 39 implied HN points • 08 Sep 23
🕹 Technology Historical Analysis Societal Impact
  1. Revolutionary technologies do change society, but not as drastically or quickly as predicted.
  2. Cultural factors like economic systems, political governance, and aesthetics influence societal reactions to technological revolutions.
  3. History shows that society often overreacts to revolutionary technologies, making inaccurate predictions, but engaging in discussions can help shape the future.

Introduction: The Housing Crisis, What We Do and Do Not Know.

The Origins of the Housing Crisis • 79 implied HN points • 07 Jul 21
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Housing Crisis Housing Market Policy Impact Historical Analysis Financial system
  1. The average house price being higher over time may not necessarily indicate a crisis as other factors like larger houses or increased income availability can contribute to it.
  2. The complaint in the housing crisis is not just about higher prices overall, but about lack of affordability for every property, especially compared to historical norms and international standards.
  3. Britain's housing crisis has deep roots dating back to the 1960s due to a mix of demand subsidies and supply limits, leading to market volatility and historical financial crises like in 1974-75 and 2008-2009.

Chris Mansour: Notes on Cryptofash

Do Not Research • 19 implied HN points • 15 Feb 22
🚌 Education Marxism Political Discourse Historical Analysis
  1. Cryptofash argues that Marxism is contrary to the history of the Left, emphasizing class antagonisms over ideological struggles like those on the Left.
  2. The Left/Right political distinction became prominent during the French monarchy's crisis in the 1810s, shaping modern political landscapes, but according to Cryptofash, perpetuates bourgeois parameters.
  3. Cryptofash distinguishes Marxism from the Left, criticizing the Left for failing to understand class dynamics and revolutionary potential, emphasizing the importance of the proletariat as a revolutionary agent.

Monday APD Blogging: Civil War and Western Politcial Development

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 07 Nov 11
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Civil War Political Development Historical Analysis Federalism
  1. The Civil War changed many important parts of American politics, like how states were formed and the power of the federal government. This period shaped the U.S. we know today.
  2. War often leads to big political changes. The Civil War pushed Congress to make quick decisions about new territories and statehood in the West, which wouldn’t have happened without the conflict.
  3. By the end of the Civil War, the political map of the West was set, with new states and territories established. This laid the groundwork for the future of American politics, shifting focus away from slavery issues to new regional interests.

Facts that Stun

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 21 Jun 10
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Foreign Policy Economic Policy Geopolitics Cognitive Bias Historical Analysis
  1. Smart people can make big mistakes when they ignore reality, as shown in both The Best and the Brightest and The Big Short. It's dangerous to let outdated views cloud decision-making.
  2. People often avoid facts that challenge their beliefs, which can lead to poor outcomes. Instead of facing uncomfortable truths, they find ways to shield themselves from the information.
  3. Personal memories can also be unreliable, just like beliefs about politics or economics. Our past can be shaped by what we choose to remember or ignore, leading to false narratives.

The 2012 GOP nomination, as told by the 1860 general election

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 07 Mar 12
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Elections Candidates Political parties Voting Systems Historical Analysis
  1. In a multi-candidate election, it's possible for a winner to get less than half the votes due to a split among other candidates. This makes understanding how the voting system works very important.
  2. The winner-takes-all approach in some states means that a candidate can lose the popular vote but still win overall by securing enough electors from states where they had a plurality.
  3. Political tensions and divisions can lead to multiple candidates running, making it hard for opponents to unite against a common front, which can affect the outcome of the election.

Torture and Plea Bargaining

Something to Consider • 0 implied HN points • 12 Feb 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Criminal Justice Legal system Reform Human Rights Historical Analysis
  1. Plea bargaining and torture have similar roots in needing confessions, showing how justice systems can push for admissions under pressure. This means that, like in medieval times, the system isn't always fair or just.
  2. In the past, strict proof requirements meant torture was sometimes used to force confessions. Today, the heavy use of plea bargains can feel like a modern form of this pressure.
  3. The author suggests reforms to the justice system, such as adopting practices from Germany. This would help ensure more fair trials and protect the rights of individuals better.

Thomas C. Chamberlin: The Global Carbon Cycle

The Climate Historian • 0 implied HN points • 05 May 22
🌞 Climate & Environment Climate change Geology Environmental Science Historical Analysis
  1. Thomas C. Chamberlin played a key role in developing the planetesimal hypothesis, which explains how planets formed from solid particles instead of a hot gas cloud. This challenged earlier ideas about how our solar system emerged.
  2. Chamberlin was one of the first to link changes in carbon dioxide levels to climate shifts, suggesting that rising CO2 could lead to warmer temperatures and impact the Earth's ice ages.
  3. Despite his early support for the carbon dioxide theory of climate change, he later changed his mind after conflicting experiments, highlighting the evolving nature of scientific understanding.

Summer of '64

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 31 May 12
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Civil Rights Political History Party Politics Legislation Historical Analysis
  1. In the 1964 Civil Rights Act vote, geography played a big role in how members of Congress voted. Northern Democrats were more supportive, while Southern Democrats and Republicans had very little support.
  2. The intensity of support for civil rights varied among party members. Northern Democrats were the strongest advocates, while the Republicans had mixed support, often not pushing for civil rights despite some members voting for it.
  3. Party labels don’t define who supported civil rights; individual actions mattered more. Some heroes and villains in the civil rights movement existed in both parties, and it’s important to focus on their contributions instead of just party affiliations.

Like this and like that and like this and uh

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 23 Jan 12
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Political strategy Elections Historical Analysis Legislation Political Commentary
  1. The rise of Newt Gingrich in politics might not be as strong as people think. It could be better to invest in other candidates like Mitt Romney instead.
  2. Discussions about whether the Civil War could have been avoided with compensated emancipation often miss the long-term strategies of both sides. It wasn’t just a money issue; it was about political power and strategy.
  3. To make the Super Bowl more exciting, it should be held at the home stadium of one of the teams instead of a neutral site. This way, the atmosphere would be more electric and the weather could add to the game's drama.