The RoseWood Journal

The world is a fickle place. We as humans tend to put people on pedestals and are unwilling to ever let them fall. Yet, what if everything we were taught in school was wrong? What if our heroes are not what we want them to be? In all honesty, it should be no surprise to us when those we treasure most of fall flat on their face, or that we learn a mistakes they made. To err is human. Take Martha Washington for example. She was the first first lady of the United States and the wife of President George Washington; she was also a slave owner.  When we think of Martha Washington we often think of a reserved and private woman, we also think of her freeing slaves. Yet, "great emancipation" is sometimes not what It seems. The Washington's lived a very comfortable life. After George passed on, it became well known that after the death of Martha his slaves would be freed. We know that, about two years before her death, Martha Washington freed those slaves.   Based on a

The United States Supreme Court case entitled Gibbons vs. Ogden is yet another vitally important case, it is also a complicated one. In 1808 the Legislature of New York granter Robert Livingston and Robert Fulton exclusive rights over all waters within the jurisdiction of the state. They started a ferry company that was successful for thirty years and had grown to have a similar contract with the Orleans Territory, essentially creating a monopoly.  A man by the name of Aaron Ogden, a former New Jersey Governor, attempted to start his own ferry business, but was crushed by the existing monopoly. He ultimately decided to purchase a licence from Livingston and Fulton in 1815 and entered into business with a partner, Thomas Gibbons. Their partnership was unable to last three years, collapsing after Gibbons licensed and operated a steamboat on Ogden's rout between Elisabethtown, New Jersey and New York City (fun fact: Cornelius Vanderbilt was one of the ferry captain's). Althou

History is not an easy subject, and it never will be. Yet, history is vitally important for the survival of the human race. If we do not study and learn from the lessons our ancestors were forced through, than we are doomed to repeat them. That is why history is important. Saying that... do not simply pick up a thick and boring textbook because the mysterious Northern Rose says to. Instead, learn in the way that works for you. I read heavy textbooks because I find them utterly fascinating. You can look in a newspaper, (yes, those still exist) or browse through Wikipedia randomly, or watch a historical drama. Just remember to keep an open mind and question EVERYTHING. That is how we learn from the past. Questions. Questions. Questions.

Most fans of the Hamilton play know that it was Alexander Hamilton that helped establish the National Bank. What most people do not know is that Hamilton's supposed defeat of Jefferson on the issue was not a long lasting victory. In fact, one could say that it was not a victory at all. The debate did not end with the creation of the First National Bank. Many years after the death of Hamilton the debate still lived on. In 1816 the Second National Bank was created to help the federal government in the wake of the War of 1812. The began to call in the loans they had made to states, which of course was met with great displeasure. In Maryland, the state government attempted to retaliate in the form of a tax. The levied a fifteen thousand dollar annual tax on any bank operating in Maryland that was not chartered by the state of Maryland. Of course, there was only one bank fitting that description, the Baltimore branch of the Second National Bank. James McCulloch was the head of this

"Do you want to know who you are? Don't ask. Act! Action will delineate and define you." ~Thomas Jefferson

Marbury vs Madison is one of the most important Supreme Court cases in American history. This is because it is the case that established judicial review. The idea of judicial review had been introduced in the Federalist Papers, but had not been officially in American law until John Marshall declared it to be so in his decision regarding this case. Marbury vs Madison was tried in 1803 but revolves around actions taken in 1801. This case had to do with what is now referred to as the midnight appointments. On the final few days of his Presidency John Adams made a few last minute appointments. Adams was a Federalist trying to make sure that Federalists still had power after he had left office. You see his successor, Thomas Jefferson, was a Democratic-Republican. Both parties had vastly different beliefs and Adams knew his party was at risk. He specifically filled these positions with peoples that were known to be very anti-Jeffersonian. After the transition of power was

General Ulysses S. Grant was two things, a war General and a President of the United States. He, like many, are well known by the people yet not truly known. This is a strange sentence but a valid one. Most figures remembered by history only have a small section of their life that is known. We know Grant as the great General of the Civil War, the man that finally defeated Robert E. Lee. Yet, that was a very small part of his life and career. There is so much more to the story… Grant was born Hiram Ulysses Grant on April 27, 1822. At this point in time the last founding father to hold the office of the President of the United States, James Monroe, was still in office. Grant was born in Ohio to abolitionist parents. He was named Ulysses because it was the name his father pulled out of a hat. The future General's grandfather had suggested Hiram, thusly it was there but no one ever used that name. At sixteen years old a young Grant was nominated for the United States Military Aca

There are many historical events that scream odd, but this one takes the cake. On January 15, 1919, a large storage tank burst in the North End neighborhood of Boston. What was this tank filled with? Only 2,300,000 gallons (12,000 tons) of molasses. Yes, molasses. A wave of molasses rushed through the streets of Boston at an estimated thirty-five miles per hour. This disaster happened at the Purity Distilling Company. The temperature that day had risen above forty degrees Fahrenheit (four degrees Celsius). The problem was that the temperature had raised way too quickly causing the storage container to explode. This happened at 1:30 pm, witnesses say that they felt the ground shake and heard a very loud bang. The resulting tsunami like wave of molasses caused a lot of damage. It killed twenty-one people and injured another one hundred and ninety five. At its peak, the wave is estimated to have reached twenty-five feet high (8 meters). Several streets were covered in two to three fee

The grand Canyon is one of those great wonders of the world. A majority of the world, and most Americans, make it a goal to see the beauty and splendor of the Grand Canyon at least once in their lives. The Canyon itself is 277 miles (446 km) long, up to 18 miles (29 km) wide, and gets to the depth of one mile (446 Km) deep. It is safe to say that this wonder is also fairly dangerous.  The Canyon has formed over two billion years, as what we know know as the Colorado River has cut through the earth. At the same time, the Colorado Plateau was uplifted (the tectonic plate rose) and helped create a deeper depth. Many geologists argue about when the Colorado River formed and began this process. Yet, the main argument is that the largest proponents of the Canyon began to be created five to six million years ago. The grand Canyon was designated a national monument in 1908. It became a National Park in 1919, making this its centennial year! The grand Canyon had become an American treasure

We have all heard and used the term "the founding fathers" but who are these founding fathers? And why are they so important? the fact of the matter is that the term founding father can be used to describe almost any person who aided the American cause in some way. From fighting in the battlefields to sending food to the front lines, the founding fathers fought for a nation. Yet, where would  this notion leave the Washington's of the world? that question is simple. Washington, Jefferson, and all of the other famous American heroes, are what we call "founding framers." Why is this important? I mention this idea here because it is important to remember the little people. The names that we have left long behind. The ones that were never written in any history books. These are the peoples that made the actions of Washington and Jefferson possible. They were heroes among men, all of them. Nevertheless, history books do remember many of the bigger figures of the A

Good Afternoon! My name is Morgan aka The Northern Rose. I am here today to welcome you to my new project (and dream) The Rosewood Journal. For now, this Journal will be a history themed blog. History and politics are my passions in life, along with writing, and I am here to share my passions with you.  So... come one come all... and I hope you enjoy. If you do please share with your friends.  Also, check out my favorite blog The White Viking. Enjoy! With love, The Northern Rose

Top of the morning readers! Coming May 1, 2019.... (drum roll please)...  THE ROSEWOOD JOURNAL!!!