Month: November 2022

Construction of Canadian Pacific Railway Completed (1885)

The Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) was originally built between eastern Canada and British Columbia, fulfilling a promise made to British Columbia when it agreed to join the Canadian Confederation in 1871. The railway’s transcontinental passenger service was instrumental in the settlement and development of Western Canada. Today, however, the CPR functions mainly as a freight railway and has US hubs, such as New York City and Chicago. What scandal disrupted the railway’s construction in 1873? Discuss

Leon Trotsky (1879)

Trotsky was a Russian Communist revolutionary whose ideas form the basis of Trotskyism, a Communist ideology based on the theory of worldwide revolution. He was a key figure in the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution in Russia and organized the Red Army in the civil war that followed. After a power struggle with Joseph Stalin in the 1920s, Trotsky was exiled from the USSR. In 1940, he was assassinated in Mexico by a Spanish Communist with alleged ties to Stalin. From whom did he borrow the name “Trotsky”? Discuss

Dominican Republic Adopts First Constitution (1844)

After declaring its independence in 1821, the colony that is now the Dominican Republic was overrun by Haitian troops. The Haitians were driven out in 1844, leading to the creation of the Dominican Republic under its first president, revolutionary Pedro Santana. Santana was dictatorial, and the republic suffered under his repressive rule. Faced with continued Haitian attacks and convinced of the need for foreign protection, Santana placed the Dominican Republic under what country’s rule? Discuss

Suleiman the Magnificent (1494?)

Reigning from 1520 to 1566, Sultan Suleiman I, or Suleiman the Magnificent, brought the Ottoman Empire to the height of its power and prestige. He continued his father’s conquests, greatly expanding his empire. He also restructured the Ottoman legal system, earning himself the epithet Kanuni, or “Lawgiver.” The sultan was also a great patron of the arts, and his reign saw the flowering of Turkish literature, art, and architecture. Why did Suleiman have his son Mustafa killed? Discuss

"Mad King Ludwig" of Bavaria

Ludwig II became king in 1864 and reigned until his death in 1886. While the handsome, talented, and liberal young prince faced high expectations upon his accession, his eccentricity alienated his subjects. He did, however, remain the patron and friend of composer Richard Wagner, who for many years exerted a strong influence over him. In time, Ludwig began to isolate himself, and his insanity eventually necessitated confinement at his Bavarian château. What was mysterious about Ludwig’s death? Discuss