If anything, it was the idea of personal superiority that consumed Prussian thought during the late-19th century, and Otto von Bismarck (1815-1898) was the foremost follower of Prussian nationalism. Throughout his political career, all of his actions seemed to stem from a universal hatred of all things Austrian and a personal belief that Prussia stood … More German Unification
Italian Unification With a revolutionary fervor spreading across Western Europe in 1848, the Italian states found themselves in a precarious situation. All of the Western powers had hoped to retain centralized control around the monarchies through the Congress of Vienna, but the West’s impassioned voices could not be silenced. During this period, Guiseppe Mazzini gained … More Italian Unification
Despite its short brevity, the Gettysburg Address has come down as one of the most influential speeches given in American history. It was only three paragraphs long, but it became the North’s creed for the rest of the Civil War. Today, selections from that creed are still remembered and exonerated as the mission statement of … More Lincoln Mastered the Sound of the King James Bible
If the capitalist West wishes to vanquish any legacy of Karl Marx, it must attack the foundation he built on. If his underlying assumptions are thwarted, the entire socialist dogma will crumble. But that will only happen if socialism is recognized as not only impractical but also deeply immoral and if its foundation is shattered. … More Shattering Marxism
[Author’s note: Originally, these Marxist essays were written as one long essay. However, my research went into far more depth than I anticipated, resulting in an essay far longer than I planned. Because the section on Christianity became so long and deviated somewhat from my original thought, I broke it off into its own essay.] … More Marxism as Anti-Christian
France With the dawn of Louis Philippe’s reign, France would go on to experience economic prosperity unseen since the days before the French Revolution. However, the citizens were still fervently waiting for governmental reform, and the revolutionary spirit still gripped the nation tightly. While Louis Philippe’s moderate rule may have appeased Americans, the revolution-struck French … More The Revolutions of 1848
With the death of his reigning brother, Charles X was crowned the king of France in 1824. However, his reign would hardly prevent further revolutions as the delegates in Vienna expected. By 1830, the popularly elected Chamber of Deputies passed a verdict of no confidence in the King. … More The July Revolution of 1830
Asher K. Sisneros Dr. Gary North American Literature January 2, 2025 Mark Twain wrote a scathing review of his contemporary James Fenimore Cooper, Cooper’s Literary Offenses. Both were 19th-century American fictional authors, but Twain thought Cooper was an embarrassment to the literary profession and said he broke 114/115 rules of good literature in his novel, … More Mark Twain thought Cooper Sucked. Was He Right?
Asher K. Sisneros Dr. Gary North American Literature December 23, 2024 Washington Irving was the first American author with international prowess, and he used words masterfully, painting a picture in his readers’ minds. His two most prominent tales are The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Rip Van Winkle. Both, though very different, share light-hearted and … More Irving and the Legend of Detailed Descriptions
Asher K. Sisneros Thomas E. Woods, Jr. Western Civilization Since 1493 December 23, 2024 The Neoclassical and Romantic eras were two distinct, contrasting artistic periods that covered literature, poetry, music, and architecture. “Noble simplicity” encapsulates the attitude of the Neoclassical era. Rather than embrace the grandeur of the Baroque period, the Neoclassics sought to beautify … More Neoclassical and Romantic Eras
Asher Sisneros 