History Shorts

In the late 19th century, a distant island kingdom became the center of one of America's most heated political debates. Was the annexation of Hawaii a bold step toward global power—or the unjust overthrow of a sovereign nation?
As American businessmen tightened their grip on the islands, Queen Liliʻuokalani fought to preserve Hawaiian independence. Meanwhile, in Washington, politicians, presidents, and the public were deeply divided: should the United States expand across the Pacific, or stay true to its anti-imperial roots?
 
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Before TikTok, before livestreams, and long before instant communication with home, there was one organization dedicated to bringing a piece of America to those serving far from it—the United Service Organizations, better known as the USO.
Born in the anxious days before the United States entered World War II, the USO quickly became a lifeline for millions of servicemen and women. From makeshift stages in war zones to packed auditoriums on military bases, Hollywood's biggest stars—Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, and countless others—traveled across oceans and into danger to deliver something priceless: laughter, music, and a reminder of home.
 
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In June 1977, one of the most infamous prisoners in America briefly slipped through the bars of one of the nation's toughest prisons. The man was James Earl Ray—the convicted killer of Martin Luther King Jr.—and his escape sent shockwaves across the country.
Ray had been serving a 99-year sentence at Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary, a fortress-like facility tucked deep in the mountains of Tennessee and widely considered one of the most secure prisons in the United States. Yet on June 10, 1977, Ray and six other inmates managed to break out, launching one of the largest manhunts in Tennessee history.
 
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When Americans think of the leadership of the American Revolutionary War, one name immediately comes to mind: George Washington. But before Washington ever took command of the Continental Army, another man briefly held that title—and today, he is largely forgotten.
That man was Artemas Ward, a Massachusetts general who found himself suddenly leading the rebel forces in the earliest days of the revolution. In the chaotic aftermath of the Battles of Lexington and Concord in April 1775, colonial militias surrounded British forces in Boston. Someone had to organize and command this improvised army—and Ward became the senior officer placed in charge.
 
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What can the ruins of Pompeii really tell us about the people who lived there—and whose stories have been forgotten for nearly two thousand years?
In this episode of the History Shorts Conversation Series, host Peter Zablocki sits down with historian and classicist Jess Venner to discuss her new book, The Lost Voices of Pompeii. While Pompeii is one of the most famous archaeological sites in the world, Dr. Venner argues that the traditional story of the city has long overlooked the lives of its most ordinary residents.
Follow Jess on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifeinthepastlane_/ 
Buy the Book: https://www.amazon.com/Lost-Voices-Pompeii-Death-Pompeiis-ebook/dp/B0FBRX1VJ1 
 
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