1/ A podcaster asked me what insight my last book #TheFieldOfBlood offers about politics now.

My answer:
* It shows how violence has been woven into even high politics for generations.

* It shows the power of emotion in moving political mountains, for better & worse.
2/ * It shows what bullying can accomplish in politics: the power of threats in gaining submission

* It shows how people who fear defeat by demographics often grasp at violence to maintain power

*It shows how a nation can be torn in 2, how Americans learn to turn on each other
3/ * It shows what happens when one party / group plays by the rules & the other doesn't -- the imbalance of power.

* It shows how new technologies (the telegraph / social media) can dramatically change the workings of democracy, sometimes in dangerous ways.
4/ * It's a reminder of the power of contingency; a reminder that -- like people in the years before the Civil War -- we DON'T KNOW what comes next.

The death of democracy isn't inevitable.
But neither is its survival.

What people do during a moment of crisis matters.
5/ My book -- The Field of Blood -- certainly shows more, but it's time for my Friday night martini.

So there my thread ends.

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More from @jbf1755

Jan 7
Hey folks.

Over the course of the last year, I've been asked to speak about the historical context and implications of the events of January 6.

Here's a thread of some of that commentary, going all the way back to January 6, 2021 itself.
On January 6, 2021, I was asked to speak about the day's events on the @realTrumpcast podcast from Slate.

slate.com/transcripts/Mk…
That same day -- 1/6/2021 -- I spoke to PBS Newshour about the significance of the specific words that we use to describe that day's events.

pbs.org/newshour/show/…
Read 8 tweets
Oct 3, 2021
I agree--& wake up in the middle of the night too.

I also think "minority rule" is too tame an expression for what may be coming.

And "authoritarian" has no meaning for many.

We're moving towards a time when VERY few have GREAT power & the rest of us have none & can't protest.
1/ I sometimes think we have a problem with words.

Words like:
Authoritarian
Oligarchy
Minority Rule
Socialism
Communism

Even democracy.

Some of them (socialism, communism) are buzz words used w/o meaning.

Some have dire meaning that often isn't grasped.
2/ It seems as though the meaning of "democracy" has slipped away.

That people don't grasp the vital way that democracy divides and distributes power, & gives a people the right to delegate that power & rule themselves.
Read 4 tweets
Jul 2, 2021
1/ On today's episode of "History Matters (...and so does coffee!), I discussed how July 4th has ALWAYS been a day infused with celebration AND conflict, w/"declarations" about values met & unmet.

Even the original signing of the Declaration was infused with conflict & distrust.
2/ In his old age, ex-President John Adams was asked repeatedly about the "glorious" Founding, & always replied that it wasn't so blindly glorious.

They made mistakes.
They made poor choices.
The Founders weren't a united band of like-minded heroes.
3/ Regarding the signing of the Declaration of Independence--signed OTD, July 2, 1776--Adams told one starry-eyed correspondent that he had watched members of the 2nd Continental Congress, one-by-one, sign the Declaration, & could see that many were unhappy to be signing it.
Read 7 tweets
Apr 2, 2021
So...on 4/8, in honor of the ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY of “History Matters(...and so does coffee!),” a special episode:

🍸History Matters (...and so do cocktails!)🍹

Join us at this fundraising event for @historyed

We’re even inventing a cocktail for it!

ncheteach.org/event/History-…
I started “History Matters” early in the pandemic at a time of crisis for health—& democracy.

Given that we were all stuck at home, I thought I could offer some historical insight into what we were experiencing, as dire and surreal as it sometimes seemed—with history as a guide.
Over the last yr we’ve discussed everything from extreme rhetoric & impeachment, to democracy & violence, & fears of foreign influence

In the process, we’ve created an AMAZING community that meets weekly to discuss what democracy can & should be, & how history can help get there
Read 8 tweets
Feb 13, 2021
1/ So...yesterday on “History Matters” I discussed why impeachments are important—besides conviction

Going to cling to that now

They create a record of events.
They construct a narrative.
They (in this case) reveal that record & narrative to the public

NCHEteach.org/conversations
2/ As hard as it feels to get past this verdict, it’s important to remember that the facts & implications of the 1/6 attack matter.

It’s important to remember that a president SHOULD NOT be above the law.

It’s important to recognize the threats to democracy that are before us.
3/ It’s important to dedicate ourselves to being aware of anti-democratic threats & to defend democracy.

It’s important to defend our right to vote which is already under attack.

It’s important for “us” to be a big inclusive “us”—unlike the vision of the last administration.
Read 4 tweets
Feb 5, 2021
OK.

TL cleanse.

APPRECIATION: A LIST

1. Sending appreciation to all parents dealing w/working from home & kids and schooling & everything else.

2. Sending appreciation to all teachers dealing w/the same.

3. Thank you musical theater on TV, for lowering my blood pressure.
4. Thank you Newbie--& all pets--for unconditional love.

5. Appreciation to folks who see how understanding the past can help us thru the present.

6. Thanks to the mutual support of #twitterstorians.

7. Thanks to cocktails.

8. Thanks to @historyed for sponsoring history ed..
9. Thanks to ice cream

10. Thanks to students who remind teachers of why they teach & why their work has meaning

11. Thx to my weighted blanket; no cure but it helps.

12. Thanks to folks of all kinds working in hospitals & health care & food prep & commerce; they deserve more.
Read 6 tweets

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