Moments in History - The Fall of the Berlin Wall

Moments in History" is a regular feature here at FIJ—today we present "The Fall of The Berlin Wall."

WHY STUDY HISTORY?

The American Historical Association explains it this way

People live in the present. They plan for and worry about the future. History, however, is the study of the past. Given all the demands that press in from living in the present and anticipating what is yet to come, why bother with what has been? Given all the desirable and available branches of knowledge, why insist—as most American educational programs do—on a good bit of history? And why urge many students to study even more history than they are required to?

Any subject of study needs justification: its advocates must explain why it is worth attention. Most widely accepted subjects—and history is certainly one of them—attract some people who simply like the information and modes of thought involved. But audiences less spontaneously drawn to the subject and more doubtful about why to bother need to know what the purpose is.

Historians do not perform heart transplants, improve highway design, or arrest criminals. In a society that quite correctly expects education to serve useful purposes, the functions of history can seem more difficult to define than those of engineering or medicine. History is in fact very useful, actually indispensable, but the products of historical study are less tangible, sometimes less immediate, than those that stem from some other disciplines. Read more.

The Berlin Wall was a barrier constructed by the German Democratic Republic starting on 13 August 1961 that completely cut off West Berlin from surrounding East Germany and from East Berlin.  On November 9, 1989 under the presidency of George H. W. Bush it was torn down by the people of what was then West Germany.

RELATED MEDIA

• Berlin Wall 1961 - 1989
• Berlin Airlift

Moments History: 1923 Weimar in Crisis

Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.”

—George Santayana

After World War I, the German government is forced to print money to pay for WWI reparations, this lead to hyperinflation and drove millions into debt. The people's hard earned savings became worthless in a matter of years.

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• Federal Reserve launches QE3(CNNMONEY)

Moments in History: The First Time America Invaded Libya

"Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.”

—George Santayana

The situation unraveling today between the United States and Libya is fluid at best, but a look back at our Libyan invasion in 1805 shows a president and Congress who authorized military activities without a war declaration.

The “shores of Tripoli” is best known as a verse in the Marine Corps anthem. Today, Tripoli is the larget city in Libya, with 2.2 million people.

Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution gives Congress the power to declare war. But it specifies little else in the process. The War of 1812 was the first one that saw a Declaration of War approved by Congress.

Prior to this 1812 declaration, three U.S. military actions were sanctioned by the president and Congress without a war declaration: the "quasi-war" with France, and two military campaigns in North Africa.

However, in 1805 Tripoli was literally a pirates’ den that was a huge thorn in the side of three U.S. presidents: George Washington, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson.

It would take actions started by Jefferson, and then later by James Madison, to send U.S. military forces to the region, without a Declaration of War from Congress. The legislature did approve the military actions by statute, in a manner similar to some recent U.S. actions.

Moments in History: 1935 The Hitler Youth

"Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.”

—George Santayana

 The Nazi regime draws young people into attractive recreation programs through the Hitler Youth and the League of German Girls. Participants are sworn to a dictator and his vision of Germany.

In 2008, candidate Barrack Obama had this to say about a “civilian security force” in America:

“We cannot continue to rely on our military in order to achieve the national security objectives we've set. We've got to have a civilian national security force that's just as powerful, just as strong, just as well-funded."

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• Obama Gives It Another College Try (WSJ)

Moments in History: 1932 The Demise of Germany’s First Republic

“Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it”

—George Santayana

The Weimar Republic is the name given by historians to the Federal Republic and parliamentary representative democracy established in post-WWI (1919) in Germany to replace the imperial form of government.

Watch the events and actions of the German people and a government that allowed Democracy to fail. What the Germans wanted was a promised savior, what they received was a murderous monster.  The video for this episode did not include an embeddable video.  >>here is the link for “1932 The First Republic’s Demise”

Moments in History: Nazi Propaganda

 “Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it”

—George Santayana

Today we present the first episode of our latest feature “Moments in History”

 A few times each week we will present seminal moments of the 20th century through short videos that include historical archive material, original locations, re-enactments and eyewitness accounts. Each video focuses on an event that represents larger historical contexts, such as the battle of Verdun in 1916, the day of Hitler’s seizure of power in 1933, the end of WWII and much more.

This premier episode takes us inside Adolf Hitler’s rise to power. Showing the true power of the National Socialist Party's (Nazi) propaganda and teaches us that blind faith to silver-tongued politicians, their empty promises and party devotion can lead to disastrous consequences.