james Fester
eNotes Educator
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About
I've taught History in California for grades 5-12. I currently teach middle school in Marin County.
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eNotes Educator
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Recent Activity
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Answered a Question in World War II
As the power of Germany and Italy expanded, both countries became bolder. Soon, they began making aggressive moves into other countries. In March of 1938, Germany annexed Austria with little... -
Answered a Question in Social Change in the Nineteenth Century
While it is true that the change in state voting requirements was the most revolutionary change to American elections, the two party system was nothing new. Even before George Washington retired... -
Answered a Question in History
The Great Plains of the U.S. was used primarily for grazing cattle, but after the Homestead Act of 1862, thousands of settlers started farms in the grasslands. Many of these farms failed due to the... -
Answered a Question in History
When the U.S. Census Bureau announced the closing of the frontier in 1890, American foreign policy made a fateful shift. Politicians, intellectuals and industrialists began to wonder what the... -
Answered a Question in History
The Justinian Code formed the foundation of Western Law in many different ways. First, it made a clear distinction between public law (law for the government) and private law (law for individuals)... -
Answered a Question in History
After 1763, the British government began trying to repay the enormous war debt they incurred after The French and Indian War. Parliament felt that the American colonies had a responsibility to help... -
Answered a Question in History
The state of African Americans in the 1950’s was a bleak history, especially in the south. After Reconstruction ended, southern blacks were slowly disenfranchised through legal means and... -
Answered a Question in America: Pathways to the Present
During the second half of the 19th century, a new wave of industrialization spread throughout the U.S. There were several factors spurring this technological movement on. First, several new... -
Answered a Question in History
The Scientific Revolution ushered in a new era of enlightened thinking and observation-based science. These ideas were contrary to many championed by the church, and despite fierce opposition,... -
Answered a Question in Causes of World War II
World War II had many contributing causes. First, a growing sense of nationalism began moving many nations towards aggressive and belligerent foreign policy choices. The resulted in a wave of... -
Answered a Question in History
Native Americans have a deep respect for their natural environment. Since they depended on their surroundings for everything they needed to survive, they developed a spiritual connection to the... -
Answered a Question in History
The Sepoy Rebellion of 1857 occurred for a few different reasons. One reason was that the Sepoy soldiers, most of whom were either Muslim or Hindu, were forced to use paper wrapped rifle cartridges... -
Answered a Question in The Communist Manifesto
The communist manifesto attempts to explain the basic tenets of Communism. It argues that class struggle has been the driving force of history, and that the sides are determined by the era’s means... -
Answered a Question in History
Lenin was a very important figure in bringing on the Cold War. He helped bring on the Cold War in many different ways, but the most formative were as follows; 1) Introducing Marxism to... -
Answered a Question in Theodore Roosevelt's Presidency
Theodore Roosevelt was well known as a progressive president who used science, technology and the power of government to solve perceived social inequalities and ills. Under his leadership, the... -
Answered a Question in The Space Race and the Arms Race
The United States began the Cold War with a monopoly on nuclear arms. Although they were aware that the U.S.S.R. was trying to develop their own nuclear weapon, most American scientists estimated... -
Answered a Question in Asian History
The Indian Rebellion of 1857, which was also known as the Sepoy Rebellion, was caused by a number of different factors. The rebellion began within the ranks of the Sepoys, an Indian arm of the... -
Answered a Question in History
The Constitution had long been a source of conflict amongst the states regarding slavery and a states rights issue. Even during the debates in the Constitutional Convention itself there was a good... -
Answered a Question in History
The Progressive Party formed in 1912 and sought to correct social ills and remove the influence of powerful lobbies and trusts. Progressives were in favor early forms of social security, disability... -
Answered a Question in History
The three main revolutionaries that helped free the people’s of Latin America were Miguel Hidalgo, Simon Bolivar and Jose de San Martin. These three men helped ignite and win revolutions against... -
Answered a Question in History
Both Benito Mussolini and Francisco Franco utilized airpower to great effect in their military operations. Mussolini, in hopes of creating a “New Roman Empire” decided to invade Ethiopia in 1936.... -
Answered a Question in History
In the early 1830’s, Alexis de Tocqueville observed that, “in no country of the world has the principal of association been more successfully used or applied to a greater multitude of objectives... -
Answered a Question in History
When Columbus "discovered" The New World in 1492, he set into motion one of the most cataclysmic and important cultural exchanged in world history. The arrival of the Spanish in the New World had... -
Answered a Question in Native Americans and the Colonists
The Comanche tribe historically dominated the southern plains of central North America. The tribe hunted and gathered to survive, but in addition to that they raided neighboring tribes, stealing... -
Answered a Question in History
Woman in the gunpowder empires shared some similarities. They exercised significant power as patrons of the arts and were also widely involved in the production of handicrafts, especially textiles... -
Answered a Question in History
“Gunpowder empires” is a term used by historians when referring to the Ottoman, Safavid and Mughal empires of the Middle East and Southern Asia. These three empires used newly developed gunpowder... -
Answered a Question in History
Elizabeth I was well-known for the foreign policy accomplishments, but lesser known were her domestic policy accomplishments involving the English Economy. There were more immediate problems with... -
Answered a Question in History
The Silk Road was much more than just an important trade route. In addition to the valuable trade goods that were transferred along it, many religions and technological advancements were also... -
Answered a Question in History
The Tang Dynasty rules China between 618 and 907 A.D. This was a period of great progress and stability in China, and is considered by many historians to be China’s Golden Age. Woodblock... -
Answered a Question in History
The federal government was designed with three separate, but equal, branches to divide up the power vested in our national government. The framers of the constitution were all too familiar with... -
Answered a Question in History
It wouldn’t be accurate to say that Rasputin started the Russian Revolution, but he was one of many causes that made it inevitable. Although the roots of the revolution can be traced back before... -
Answered a Question in History
Scott v. Sanford, also known as the Dred Scott decision, is well-known as a contributing cause to the American Civil War. The decision ruled that as property, an African-American had no right to... -
Answered a Question in European Exploration of America
The voyages of Columbus had a large impact on Europe. Although Columbus was not the first European to try and settle in the New World (vikings tried to move into Newfoundland hundreds of years... -
Answered a Question in Warren G. Harding's Presidency
“Normalcy” was a term coined by President Warren G. Harding during his presidential campaign. Republicans decided to play on isolationist wishes and anti-foreign feelings of most Americans... -
Answered a Question in Railroads and Conflict in the West
Federal Indian policy really began to take shape around the time of Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson was a very forward thinking president, and realized that unless American Indians could be convinced... -
Answered a Question in The Great Depression
The Great Depression was a global phenomenon, and struck both Canada and the U.S. with mostly similar results. Both countries began suffering the effects in 1929 following periods of great economic... -
Answered a Question in World War I
World War I was a direct result of a tangled system of secret alliances. Beginning after the unification of Germany in 1871, many European nations began secretly allying themselves with each other.... -
Answered a Question in History
The overall trend that led to the Civil War was the nation’s inability to compromise effectively on the issue of slavery. Starting at the signing of the Declaration of Independence, slavery became... -
Answered a Question in History
Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee is full of very famous historical events. The film opens with the Battle of Little Bighorn, where Custer and his 7th cavalry were slaughtered by the Sioux under Crazy... -
Answered a Question in History
Jackson actually argued that the Bank was unconstitutional, and since it wasn't "nessecery" or "proper" for the government to authroize the existance of a financial entity that only benefitted the... -
Answered a Question in History
Without knowing precisely what period of American history you are referring to, it is a little hard to explain who the Big Four are. There were a few cadres who were called the Big Four; The Big... -
Answered a Question in History
The Gadsden Purchase was negotiated in 1853 in order to provide the U.S. with a southern route for the transcontinental railroad. If one was to attempt to argue that this territorial acquisition... -
Answered a Question in World War II
The Nazi party first came into being in 1918 as World War I was coming to a close. A loose alignment of young, unemployed workers, the party began to gain prominence through its opposition to the... -
Answered a Question in History
Roger B. Taney was first appointed secretary of the treasury as a recess appointment, which is a temporary appointment to fill a vacancy. This vacancy at the treasury occurred after his two... -
Answered a Question in History
Following the end of the French and Indian War in 1763 the British government was strapped for cash and in no mood to intercede in any new conflicts in its American colonies. To prevent further... -
Answered a Question in Native Americans and the Colonists
Spain: The spainish were the first European power to interact with native american populations. When they arrived in the new world, they began they found amazing new trade items which they began... -
Answered a Question in History
Jefferson's views on taxes are not really well known, but some of the quotes from his writings give us clues as to what his overall economic policies were. His most famous quote is probably, "Taxes... -
Answered a Question in History
The tequestas were an indigenous tribe of indians that lived in the Miami area as early as 1200 A.D. They were semi-nomadic, occupying the Florida Keys and the area around Biscayne Bay at times.... -
Answered a Question in History
Hey isk8jth521863, Here are some bullet points to get you started in your assignment. The Abbasid Caliphate - ruled from 750-1258 and then from 1261-1517. The breif interruption was due to the... -
Answered a Question in Asian History
Hey stereolove101, I'd like to add something to the answer provided by pohnpei397 that I think is very important in discussion Sun Yat Sen's influence on modern China; The Three Principals of the...
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