History Archives

History of the Telegraph: How It Eliminated Relevance

How did the invention of the electronic telegraph undermine print-based discourse? How did the inclusion of photography add to the telegraph’s assault on print culture? The electronic telegraph was invented to send messages over long distances and create the opportunity for a national conversation. But in the process, the relevance of information was undermined and newspapers started printing decontextualized information. Keep reading to learn about the history of the telegraph and how it paved the way for the entertainment era.

Racial Predatory Mortgage Lending and the 2008 Crisis

What is predatory mortgage lending? How did years of predatory lending affect Black families during the 2008 financial crisis? Predatory mortgage lending is the imposition of unfair loan terms that diminish the borrower’s ability to repay. Predatory lending practices that were designed to exploit low-income Black families such as subprime mortgage loans led many of these families to default and lose their homes during the 2008 crisis. Read more to learn more about how predatory mortgage lending ensured African Americans were disproportionately affected by the 2008 crisis.

The Causes of Residential Segregation in America

What are the causes of residential segregation? What are the effects of residential segregation? Discriminatory public housing policy, housing unaffordability, and the failures of government agencies are the primary causes of residential segregation. Residential segregation has led to isolated black neighborhoods that have lower housing quality, high rates of poverty, and less access to good education. Read on to learn more about the causes of residential segregation.

Understanding Real Estate Discrimination Tactics

How did estate agents perpetuate real estate discrimination? What was the response of the government to racism in real estate? Agents perpetuated real estate discrimination using tactics like restrictive covenants, contract sales, and blockbusting to deny African Americans access to quality, high-value properties. The government’s response to racism in real estate was to condone and even help enforce these unfair practices. Read more to fully understand the scope of real estate discrimination by estate agents.

De Facto and De Jure Segregation: How They Differ

What is the difference between de facto and de jure segregation? Are all forms of segregation banned by the constitution? The difference between de facto and de jure segregation is that de facto segregation is by personal choice or private practices, while de jure is due to discriminatory government policy. The Supreme Court ruled that de jure segregation is unconstitutional, while de facto segregation cannot be remedied by the constitution. Read on to discover the history and examples of de facto and de jure segregation in housing.

Thomas Paine’s Best Common Sense Quotes

Are you looking for Common Sense quotes by Thomas Paine? What are some of the most noteworthy passages worth revisiting? Thomas Paine’s Common Sense provides both an intellectual backing and a roadmap for full American independence from England. While it is often read as a book that’s only concerned with questions related to America and England, Paine also lays out a comprehensive political philosophy. The following Common Sense quotes encapsulate the essense of his argument.

Public Policy and Housing Segregation in the 1950s

How did the government enable housing segregation in the 1950s? What was the role of the Housing Act of 1949 in facilitating this segregation? The segregationist stance of the government with policies such as school placement, slum clearance, and segregated housing projects all contributed to pervasive housing segregation in the 1950s. The Housing Act of 1949 permitted public authorities to segregate within housing projects which gave legal justification to segregationist practices in 1950s housing. Read on to learn more about housing segregation in the 1950s.

Common Sense: The Pamphlet by Thomas Paine

Why did Thomas Paine write the 1776 pamphlet Common Sense? What were its purpose and historical significance? Common Sense was written by English-borne philosopher Thomas Paine to provide intellectual backing for American independence from England. While Paine’s ultimate goal certainly included convincing Americans of the righteousness of separation from England, the pamphlet itself is actually more directly concerned with larger questions of political philosophy. In this article, we’ll take a look at the main principles of Paine’s Common Sense argument.

How Regulatory Agencies Enabled Racism in Housing

Which regulatory agencies facilitated racism in housing? What are the effects of systemic racism in housing? The IRS, FHA, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) all introduced and enforced discriminatory housing policies that entrenched racism in housing. The primary effect of systemic racism in housing is that it prevents Blacks from building wealth through property ownership, which has led to the massive racial wealth gap seen today. Read on to fully understand how government institutions enabled racism in housing.

The Rise of For-Profit Health Insurance in America

How did health insurance become for-profit? What were the first for-profit insurers to enter the industry? Health insurance didn’t start out as a for-profit business. It began as an employer-sponsored incentive. However, as demand increased, for-profit insurers like Aetna and Cigna began entering the industry. Keep reading to learn about the rise of for-profit health insurance and its pricing mechanisms.