Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR) is the only president in American history to serve more than two terms. His unprecedented tenure at the White House was marked by both extraordinary triumphs and controversial decisions. From leading the nation through the Great Depression to steering the country through World War II, FDR’s legacy is as complex as it is enduring.   Wealthy Background and Overcoming Tragedy Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Franklin D. Roosevelt, at his Navy Department desk, circa 1920. Source: Navy History and Heritage Command   Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) was born on his father’s large estate in Hyde Park, New York. The son of a railroad executive, the young Roosevelt skipped public school in favor of governesses and tutors, supplemented with yearly summer trips to Europe and its vast array of museums. Following four years at the exclusive Groton Preparatory School and then Harvard University, Franklin took his history degree to Columbia Law School and later, in 1910, to the Democratic state senate seat from Dutchess County.   Having married his distant cousin, Eleanor Roosevelt, in 1905, the Roosevelts followed Franklin’s political trajectory to Washington when President Woodrow Wilson named him the Assistant Secretary to the Navy in 1913. Just one year after a failed 1920 vice-presidential campaign on James Cox’s presidential ticket, the thirty-nine-year-old Franklin suffered an attack of poliomyelitis—he would never again have the use of his legs. In 1927, the Roosevelts founded the Georgia Warm Springs Foundation to help polio patients who could not afford the treatment. Unwilling to have his handicap stop him, FDR continued his rise in politics, speaking at Democratic Conventions in both 1924 and 1928 for the Democratic nominee, Al Smith, until Roosevelt himself was nominated in 1932.   When Franklin arrived in Chicago to accept his nomination, millions of Americans were out of work, countless businesses had failed, and the Republican administration of President Herbert Hoover clung to the belief that direct federal aid was un-American. In his acceptance speech, the New Yorker bluntly stated: “Never before in modern history have the essential differences between the two major American parties stood out in such striking contrast… I pledge to you, I pledge myself, to a new deal for the American people.” In November, Roosevelt won by a landslide with 472 electoral votes to Hoover’s 59.   “All We Have to Fear Is Fear Itself!” Unemployed men queued outside a depression soup kitchen in Chicago, 1931. Source: National Archives   When he took office on March 4, 1933, Roosevelt was fifty-one years old. The whole nation tuned in to his inaugural address, where he famously said, “First of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself – nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance.”   In the hundred days that followed, the new president led the federal government through the most significant change it had ever encountered. “Our greatest primary task is to put people to work,” FDR stated, adding, “I shall ask the Congress for the one remaining instrument to meet the crisis—broad Executive power to wage war against the emergency as a power that would be given to me if we were in fact invaded by a foreign foe.”   As a starting point for his New Deal for the American people, which promised relief, recovery, and reform, the federal government sprung into action as it had never before, assuming powers that would have been seen as overextending its mandate at any other time in history.   Roosevelt promptly declared a national bank holiday to stop the panic-driven runs on banks. He then passed the Emergency Banking Act, which provided for federal inspection of banks and their slow reopening under government supervision, oversight, and federal loans. The new administration followed it with the passage of the Civilian Conservation Corps and the Federal Emergency Relief Act to help with the national unemployment, which hovered at around 25%. The Agricultural Adjustment Act that came next paid farmers subsidies to reduce surpluses, and the National Industrial Recovery Act set fair prices, wages, and working conditions across American businesses. The “Hundred Days” in office finished with, among other programs, the acts aimed at regulating the stock market.   FDR’s First Term as President FDR speaking in Washington. Source: National Archives   Following the momentum set by his first hundred days in office, FDR’s administration continued implementing New Deal policies, further transforming the federal government’s role in American life from a less direct to a more hands-on approach. Roosevelt pushed programs through Congress at as fast a rate as it could handle, and even then, done with emergency powers before the Supreme Court could evaluate them. The latter would eventually catch up and strike down the Federal Emergency Relief Act and the Agricultural Adjustment Act for being unconstitutional. Yet, none of this stopped the focus of FDR’s first term, which was the immediate recovery from the Great Depression.   “I am certain that the Special Session of Congress will go down in the history of our country as one on which, more than any other, boldly seized the opportunity to right great wrongs, to restore clearer thinking and more honest practices, to carry through its business with practical celerity and to set out feet on the upward path,” FDR would surmise.   The New Deal legislation continued to flow through Congress. The Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 regulated the stock market, and the Glass-Steagall Act established the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, insuring public bank deposits. In 1935 came arguably the most significant piece of legislation of Roosevelt’s first term, the Social Security Act, which established a system of old-age benefits, unemployment insurance, and welfare programs for disabled people and needy children.   After several labor reforms to help unions organize, FDR introduced more relief programs, including the Works Progress Administration. Created in 1935 to provide jobs to millions of unemployed Americans, the WPA funded various projects from infrastructure to the arts, employing musicians, writers, and actors. For FDR, reelection in November 1936 was a forgone conclusion.   Second Term as President Portrait of President Franklin D. Roosevelt taken in June 1936. Source: FDR Presidential Library and Museum   Roosevelt’s second term, presumably his last if he followed past precedent, was full of political and economic obstacles, further compounded by the increasingly tense global situation. Despite the recovery that started with FDR’s New Deal, the United States fell into a great recession in 1937. Reduced government spending, initiated by the Federal Reserve, hopeful that the worst was behind them, backfired with the drop in industrial production, rising unemployment, and a declining stock market. Roosevelt responded with increased spending and new legislation, but the recovery was slow, while the opposition to the president was rapidly amping up.   FDR’s political prowess took a severe hit in 1937 when, in response to the Supreme Court’s pushback to his countless New Deal programs, the president attempted to push the Judicial Procedures Reform Bill through Congress. The newspapers soon labeled the failed proposal to add up to six additional (and friendly to Roosevelt) judges to the Supreme Court the “court-packing scheme.” The opinion of the president was slow to recover. With more opposition from the coalition of conservative Democrats and Republicans arguing against FDR’s expanded government power, the Democratic Party suffered significant losses in the 1938 Congressional midterm elections. The president’s ability to pass new legislation was severely curtailed for the first time since taking office.   Stifled at home, FDR also had to contend with the dire situation abroad. The rise of Nazi Germany under Adolf Hitler and imperial Japan posed a significant threat to world peace, yet the Republican Congress continued mirroring the public’s isolationist sentiments. Although constrained by Congress, Roosevelt took a more direct approach to the global conflict on the horizon by advocating for increased military spending and greater support to American allies, namely Britain and France.   Wartime Necessity of a Third Term FDR waving at his third inauguration, January 20, 1941. Source: FDR Presidential Library and Museum   When Hitler’s forces invaded Poland in 1939 and plunged the world into a world war of which the US wanted no part, FDR did the unprecedented and ran for a third term as America’s president. FDR publicly shied away from the nomination, as he did not want it to look like he was seeking it but that the nation and his party wanted him to continue.   Nominated by the delegates for the third term to chants of “The party wants Roosevelt… Illinois wants Roosevelt… The world needs Roosevelt… Everybody wants Roosevelt!” The incumbent president easily defeated his opponent, Republican Wendell Wilkie, with 449 electoral votes to 82.   With the world at war, Roosevelt shifted his focus away from the New Deal and toward preparing his country for the inevitable. The funding for programs passed during the president’s first two terms was gradually reduced as resources were diverted for war preparation. While battling isolationist opposition in Congress, Roosevelt passed the Selective Training and Service Act in 1940, instituting the first-ever peacetime draft in US history.   Slowly and cleverly, the president found ways to help support America’s European allies without directly entering the war. In a series of public speeches, FDR touted the US as the “Arsenal of Democracy,” needed to support democratic nations across the world lest they fall to fascism. When Congress finally passed the Lend-Lease Act authorizing Roosevelt to lend or lease military equipment to any country deemed vital to the defense of the United States, the country had all but abandoned its isolationist stance and neutrality.   Following the US entrance into the war after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, Roosevelt navigated through the conflict while shaping its outcome in such a way that established the United States as a world leader.   FDR’s Fourth Term as President Joseph Stalin, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Winston Churchill at the Tehran Conference in 1943. Photo by Dennis Charles Oulds. Source: Wikimedia Commons   Following a successful war mobilization and the strengthening of alliances through numerous conferences and diplomatic efforts, Roosevelt became a wartime president in every sense, one whose number one goal was seeing the conflict through to its conclusion and victory. In a way, this was as much about the post-war world as it was about the war, which by 1944, and the first wartime presidential election since 1864, was only a year away from the Allies’ ultimate victory.   Before the US entrance, Roosevelt and Britain’s Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, met secretly to draft the Atlantic Charter. The Charter outlined principles such as self-determination, economic cooperation, and freedom from aggression—the very same principles that would, after World War II, form the basis of the United Nations.   With his health in decline, the president took what he perceived to be his people’s and party’s mandate to see the war to its conclusion and ran for a fourth term. After the defeat of the Republican candidate Thomas E. Dewey with Roosevelt’s 53% of the popular vote, the New York Times observed, “Franklin D. Roosevelt has been re-elected in a war year as a war President who could promise the country victory in the war and on the basis of victory, a lasting peace.”   After traveling to the Yalta Conference in February 1944 to discuss post-war Europe, the president could no longer hide his deteriorating health. Cardiovascular disease and exhaustion were affecting his physical capabilities and decision-making. With the war in Europe just weeks away from the ultimate Allied victory and just a few months from the end of World War II, Roosevelt died suddenly from a cerebral hemorrhage at his retreat in Warm Springs, Georgia, on April 12, 1945.   Legacy FDR in Warm Springs, Georgia, 1930. Source: National Archives   FDR’s unprecedented four terms in office expanded the role and power of the presidency at home and abroad. Yet, it only took Congress three years after his death to ratify the 22 Amendment to the Constitution, limiting all future presidents to two terms. While there are detractors who still view Franklin D. Roosevelt as a president who abused his power and turned the executive office into the face of the American political system, the prevalent consensus among historians and citizens alike is that, for better or for worse, FDR’s New Deal and wartime policies laid the foundation for modern social welfare and economic regulation in the United States, influencing subsequent administrations and shaping American society into what it is today.   President Roosevelt’s last written words on the day of his death were: “The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today. Let us move forward with strong and active faith.”

  Sun-soaked beaches, theme parks, and bustling cities are the first things that might come to your mind when “Florida” is mentioned. However, the Sunshine State has much more to offer other than tourist attractions. Florida is actually home to lots of charming historic small towns that offer a glimpse into its lesser-known past. The state is known for its diverse heritage and vibrant history. It boasts a rich tapestry of quaint communities that have preserved their unique cultures and stories. The ten historic towns in Florida we’re listing below should definitely be on your bucket list.   1. Briny Breezes Briny Breezes, Florida. Source: Flickr   This small coastal town in Florida is a treasure trove for you history lovers. Founded in the 1920s, Briny Breezes was actually a dairy farm before it was transformed into a seasonal retreat and then became an incorporated town in 1963. What makes this beautiful town a living piece of history is its unique blend of community spirit and mobile homes.   Some of the major historical sites that you need to visit in this Florida town include the Briny Breezes Historical Society. The latter preserves the town’s heritage. As for the Briny Breezes Chapel, which was built in the 1940s, it showcases the community’s dedication to faith and fellowship.   Make sure to also visit the town hall, which was originally a modest space in a mobile home park. This place reflects grassroots governance, with the first mayor, Hugh David, serving for 34 years and shaping the town’s development.   2. Cortez Cortez, a fishing village in Florida. Source: Flickr   This historic Florida fishing village will offer you a glimpse into the Gulf Coast’s maritime culture. Families from North Carolina founded Cortez in the 1880s, and the town is one of the last remaining authentic fishing communities in Florida. As a history enthusiast, you will definitely be amazed by the rich heritage preserved in several historical sites across Cortez.   The Florida Maritime Museum should be first on your list when visiting this town. The museum is housed in a restored 1912 schoolhouse, and it showcases the village’s fishing industry and boat-building heritage.   As for the Cortez Cultural Center, it serves as a community hub and hosts events that celebrate local art and history. When in Cortez, you’ll also enjoy exploring the Bratton/Burton Store. This is the first commercial building in the village. It played a vital role in connecting the Florida town with the outside world. Don’t forget to visit in time for the annual Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival, which celebrates the village’s fishing heritage with music, food, and activities.   3. Sopchoppy Old Sopchoppy High School Gymnasium in Sopchoppy, Florida. Source: Wikimedia Commons   Established in 1894 when the Carrabelle, Tallahassee, and Georgia Railroad was built through the area, Sopchoppy is situated along the Sopchoppy River at the edge of the Apalachicola National Forest. The charming, historic, small town was officially chartered as a city in 1905.   Obviously, it’s an intriguing destination for history lovers, as the town is rich in history and natural beauty. One of the key historical sites you need to visit is the Sopchoppy Depot, which was built in 1891. It served as a crucial transportation hub for the community and has been restored as a museum.   As for the Sopchoppy High School, it was constructed in 1924. This is another significant landmark which now functions as the Sopchoppy Education Center. Add also to your bucket list the Sopchoppy Gymnasium, which is made entirely of native limestone. This one is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is available for community events.   It’s worth noting that Sopchoppy is also known as the “Worm Gruntin’ Capital of the World,” hosting an annual festival that celebrates this unique local tradition. With rich natural resources in the area, you can enjoy plenty of outdoor activities such as kayaking, hiking, fishing, and much more.   4. Waldo Waldo Historic District Building, Waldo, Florida. Source: Wikimedia Commons   The rich history of this small Florida town dates back to the mid-19th century when it was established. It was originally called “Walden” and became a hub for the growing citrus industry in the 1880s. It attracted settlers and tourists alike. What further spurred the development of Waldo was the arrival of the Carrabelle, Tallahassee, and Georgia Railroad in 1894, which allowed for the shipment of local produce and goods.   The Waldo Historic District is the first place to see for history lovers, as this iconic site encompasses approximately 560 acres and features around 60 historic buildings. It includes homes that showcase 19th and 20th-century architectural styles. In 2001, this district made it to the National Register of Historic Places. One of the notable sites in the historic district is the Waldo Depot, a former railroad station built in 1894. It now serves as a museum.   Many resort hotels, theaters, and industries existed in Waldo. This includes an ice factory and a cigar factory. This reflects the town’s bustling past. Visitors can also enjoy the local charm at the Waldo Antique Village. The latter is known for its iconic shops and vibrant community.   5. Micanopy Feaster Building Historic District in Micanopy, Florida. Source: Wikimedia Commons   This one is celebrated as the oldest inland town in Florida. It has a rich history that dates back to when it was founded in 1821. It’s located just out of Gainesville, in Alachua County, and was originally home to the Timucua and Seminole peoples. Micanopy later became a significant settlement for American pioneers. The name of the town derives from a Seminole chief and translates to “head chief.”   The Micanopy Historic District is the first key historical site you need to visit in town. This landmark encompasses around 470 acres and is home to several well-preserved buildings that date back to the 19th and early 20th centuries. All of these sites reflect the architectural heritage of Micanopy. The Micanopy Historic District made it to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.   Some of the other notable landmarks in Micanopy include the Herlong Mansion, which is a stunning Greek Revival structure completed in 1845. As for the Micanopy Historical Society Museum, it highlights the diverse history of the town, including Native American culture and the impacts of the Seminole Wars.   6. Steinhatchee Steinhatchee River in Steinhatchee, Florida. Source: Wikimedia Commons   The rich history of this charming Gulf coastal community dates back to prehistoric times. Steinhatchee has been inhabited since at least 12,000 BC, with evidence of Native American presence, such as the Timucua and Seminole tribes. The name of the area, Steinhatchee, is derived from the Native American term “Esteen Hatchee,” or “River of Man.”   Since early European exploration, both the Deadman Bay and the Steinhatchee River have been really significant. Spanish conquistadors, including Pánfilo de Narváez and Hernando de Soto, traversed the region in the early 1500s. During the 19th century, the area became a hub for timber and sponge fishing, which were vital to the local economy. In 1931, the community was officially renamed Steinhatchee, moving away from its previous name, Deadman Bay, which was reportedly linked to historical incidents involving early settlers.   When visiting this coastal community in Florida, the first place you’d want to explore is the remnants of salt works from the Civil War era. These have provided essential resources to the Confederacy. Another place to see is the 1838-built Fort Frank Brooke, which served to protect settlers during the Second Seminole War.   Steinhatchee is also often referred to as the “Scallop Capital of the World,” thanks to its vibrant fishing community, which makes it a prime destination for outdoor enthusiasts.   7. Cedar Key Island Hotel in Cedar Key, Florida. Source: Wikimedia Commons   This hidden Floridian gem was once a bustling port in the 19th century. Back then, it played a major role in the cotton trade as well as the development of the Gulf Coast. The first landmark to explore in Cedar Key is the Cedar Key Museum State Park, which features artifacts from the rich history of the area. These include collections by local naturalist St. Clair Whitman. The park also highlights John Muir’s visit in 1867.   As for the Cedar Key Historical Society Museum, it’s housed in a historic building and showcases the town’s history, including Native American artifacts and the area’s maritime past.   It’s also worth exploring the Cedar Key Historic District, where you can see preserved buildings from the boomtown era of Cedar Key, such as the Island Hotel, which dates back to the 1850s.   Other historical landmarks to visit in Cedar Key include the Seahorse Key Lighthouse, which was built in 1854, as well as the Atsena Otie Key, which contains ruins from the pencil factory.   8. Eatonville Town Hall in Eatonville, Florida. Source: Wikimedia Commons   This town holds a significant place in American history as it is the first incorporated African American municipality in the US, and it was established in 1887. Eatonville was founded by 27 Black voters in the wake of emancipation, and because of that, it symbolizes Black self-determination and autonomy.   The Zora Neale Hurston National Museum of Fine Arts is a key historical site to visit in Eatonville, and it’s dedicated to the renowned author and folklorist who grew up in town. Hurston’s works, such as Their Eyes Were Watching God, celebrate the rich cultural heritage of the community.   History lovers can also explore the Hungerford School which was once a premier educational institution for Black students, as well as the Eatonville Historic District, which highlights the legacy of the town.   Lovers of art, literature, and culture will enjoy attending Eatonville’s annual ZORA! Festival where they will learn more about African American history.   9. Port St. Joe Old St. Joseph Cemetery in Port St. Joe, Florida. Source: Wikimedia Commons   This treasure trove of history is known as the site of the first Constitutional Convention in Florida. This coastal boomtown was established in 1835 as St. Joseph and quickly became a hub for trade and politics.   One of the main historical attractions in Port St. Joe is the Constitutional Convention Museum State Park, where visitors can explore exhibits detailing the drafting of Florida’s first constitution. The museum features artifacts from the lost city of St. Joseph, a life-sized animated reconstruction of the convention, and a replica of the state’s first railroad locomotive.   The Cape San Blas Lighthouse is another key site to explore. This is where you can see stunning views and learn about the area’s maritime heritage. As for the Old St. Joseph Cemetery, it preserves the graves of early residents and connects visitors to Port St. Joe’s vibrant past.   You will enjoy witnessing the beautiful coastline and charming atmosphere of Port St. Joe. It is indeed a must-visit destination for all history enthusiasts.   10. DeFuniak Springs DeFuniak Springs Historic District building in DeFuniak Springs, Florida. Source: Wikimedia Commons   Rich cultural heritage and well-preserved Victorian architecture are what DeFuniak Springs is known for. The town was originally founded as a railroad stop in the 1880s and became a prominent writer retreat for the Chautauqua movement. It attracted thousands for educational and cultural programs from 1885 to 1927.   One of the main historical sites you need to visit when in DeFuniak Springs is the Chautauqua Hall of Brotherhood. The latter was built in 1909 as a centerpiece for the assembly. Despite the fact that the original auditorium was lost to a hurricane, the hall remains a significant landmark up to this day.   Another key historical site in this Floridian gem is the Walton-DeFuniak Library, which was established in 1887. This one claims to be the oldest library in Florida still operating in its original building.   You can also explore the DeFuniak Springs Historic District, which features plenty of historic homes, of which many are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. All of this makes DeFuniak Springs a must-visit for history enthusiasts.

  The history of elections spans thousands of years, from early rudimentary forms of communal decision-making to the complex, formalized processes of contemporary representative democracies. Across much of the world today, election systems serve as a cornerstone of political legitimacy and fundamental means through which societies select their leaders. Yet the structure and practice of different election systems vary widely, reflecting the diverse cultural and political landscapes in which they are found. Some, it would appear, are stranger than others.   Confessionalism in Lebanon Alfred Naqqache, Maronite Christian and fourth president of Lebanon, saluting the Lebanese flag during the French colonial mandate, c.1941-3, Source: Wikimedia Commons   Since the creation of Lebanon under the French Mandate in 1920 and the Republic of Lebanon after 1943, the country has been governed by a confessional election system designed to divide power between Maronite Christians and Muslims.    The system was shaped under the orientalist gaze of French colonial rule in the 1920s and 1930s, with the intent of bolstering French interests by promoting their Maronite Christian allies over the region’s Muslim majority.     Although every Lebanese citizen can vote, parliamentary seats and government positions are constitutionally allocated by religious affiliation. The principle behind this power-sharing system is to maintain balance and foster cooperation and stability. The Prime Minister must be a Sunni Muslim the president a Maronite, and the Speaker of Parliament a Shia Muslim.    However, in practice, the confessional system has been widely criticized for fueling political instability, parliamentary deadlock, corruption, and deepening of sectarian divisions, rather than alleviating them.     The French Two-Round System Charles De Gaulle (left) with Chancellor of Germany, Konrad Adenauer. In 1965, De Gaulle became the first French President elected by universal suffrage, through the two-round system, Source: Wikimedia Commons   The title of President of the French Republic was first held by Louis-Napoleon Bonaparte in 1848, during the early years of the Second Republic, before he declared himself Emperor by coup d’état.    Since 1965, France has used a two-round system to elect a president by universal suffrage. Elections are held approximately every five years on a Sunday. The president of the Republic, as head of state, commander-in-chief of the armed forces, and ex-officio co-prince of Andorra, is the most powerful politician in France.    In the first round of voting, multiple candidates from various parties run for the presidency. If any one candidate wins more than 50% of the votes, they are elected outright, and no second round is needed.    However, if no candidate reaches an absolute majority, the top two candidates move into a second round run off held two weeks later. The candidate that receives the most votes in the second round wins, and is elected president.    North Korea’s Single-Candidate Ballot “Let’s all vote yes!” North Korean election poster, Pyongyang, North Korea 2009, Source: Wikimedia Commons   North Korea has been ruled by a single family since 1948. The nation’s founder, Kim Il-Sung, skillfully leveraged Soviet and Chinese support during the Cold War, playing off both powers to strengthen his regime. Today, the Kim family has turned into a hereditary dynasty that tightly controls the secretive, nuclear-armed state with absolute authority.    In the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, there is no freedom of the press or freedom of association. However, there are “elections” for the national legislature, the Supreme People’s Assembly, every four to five years. Candidates are preselected by the ruling Worker’s Party of Korea (WPK), with no alternatives allowed to stand.    The two options for the one-man ballot system are either to submit the ballot with the party-approved candidate’s name or cross out the name in front of election officials with the red pen next to the ballot box. Spoiling the ballot is considered an act of treason, and those who do so face severe consequences.     San Marino: The Captains Regent The throne of the Captin’s Regents, within the Basilica di San Marino, 2004, Source: Wikimedia Commons   San Marino, a tiny landlocked republic, surrounded by north-central Italy, is the fifth smallest country in the world. The Italian-speaking Sammarinese number some 33,000, and hold the dubious distinction of having the lowest-ranking national team in world football. San Marino celebrated their first competitive victory in their 20-year history in 2024.    The country’s parliament, The Grand and General Council, consists of 60 members who serve five-year terms. The most distinctive feature is the dual heads of government, the Captain’s Regent, two ceremonial heads of state, who are elected every 6 months on April and October 1st.    The office of the Captains Regent was established in 1243, modeled after the Consul system of the Roman Republic. By the late 13th century, the title “Captain” had replaced “Consul.” To be eligible for the position, candidates must be over 25 years old, native-born, an elected member of parliament, and cannot have held the position in the last three years.    The US Electoral College A comparison of the four US presidential elections in which the Electoral College winner lost the popular vote, Source: Wikimedia Commons   Contrary to popular belief, the President of the United States is not elected directly by the national popular vote. Instead, when the public casts their ballot in a presidential election, they are actually voting for a group of “electors” chosen by the political party they support.    The Electoral College is not a physical place but a process. After the general election, electors from each state cast their official votes for the president. Each state is assigned a certain number of electors based on its representation in Congress (number of Senators + Representatives). To win the presidency a candidate must secure a majority of 270 out of 538 electoral votes.    The strangest aspect of the system is that a candidate can lose the popular vote but still win the presidency through the Electoral College. In recent history, both George W. Bush (2000) and Donald Trump (2016), won the presidency under such circumstances, highlighting how the Electoral College can produce outcomes that diverge from the national popular vote.

    The history of blackface dates back to the American minstrel shows of the 19th century, in which white performers caricatured black characters in a derogatory way, perpetuating harmful racist stereotypes and openly mocking Black culture. Blackface minstrelsy traveled to Britain, was rebooted by Hollywood, and endured to make its mark on 21st-century television. While contemporary society widely condemns blackface as offensive and unacceptable, persistent recent instances of the practice serve as a reminder of the ongoing need for awareness, education — and accountability.   The Social Origins of Blackface  The social relations of the South: Black cotton pickers and a white overseer in Mississippi, 1898. Source: Wikimedia Commons   Between the War of 1812 and the onset of the American Civil War (1861-1865), the Antebellum South was deeply stratified along racial, class, and gender lines. The largely rural economy relied upon slave labor and focused on cultivating and exporting cash crops like cotton, tobacco, and sugar.   Cash crops were exported to industrial economies (textile mills) in Europe and New England in the Northern United States. The result was a significant lag in industrial development between the South and the non-slave states of the North. Unlike the North’s burgeoning urban centers, concentrated urbanization in the South was limited to Baltimore (Maryland) and New Orleans (Louisianna) — social inequality was also far deeper.   The planter elite dominated Southern society, controlling the lion’s share of the land and the vast majority of enslaved labor. Their exploitation of slaves fuelled immense profits and deeply entrenched their power and influence as a political class. Below them were Yeoman farmers, who owned and managed smaller-scale farms, without heavy reliance on slaves.   Beneath these groups lay “poor whites” — economically disadvantaged communities that found sustenance as tenant farmers, squatters, sharecroppers, and day laborers. At the lowest rung, were enslaved Africans and African Americans, who were considered property with no legal rights.   The circumstances of poor whites were deeply intertwined with the institution of slavery. They were marginalized from the economy (due to the elimination of free labor in the South) and hindered by a widespread lack of public education. During the Civil War, many poor whites were enlisted as Confederate soldiers.   In the Reconstruction Era and beyond, Southern politicians exploited and perpetuated conflict and division between poor whites and Blacks. With the collapse of the plantation economy, competition over resources combined with resentment over Reconstruction policies fanned the flames of racial tension. White supremacy, enforced through brutal violence, thrived within a climate of hatred and division. The Birth of Blackface Etching of Jim Crow character published by Hodgson, circa 1835. Source: Library of Congress, Washington DC   According to the African American National Museum of Culture, blackface emerged amid the frustrations of the grievances of working class and poor whites in the Antebellum South, who felt “squeezed politically, economically, and socially from the top, but also from the bottom.”   Blackface minstrelsy—exaggerated highly racist comedic performances of “blackness” by white people in black makeup—allowed working-class and poor whites to codify whiteness as “its antithesis.”   Though its precise origins are unclear, the first blackface performers seem to have emerged in the 1830s. The most famous of all was the so-called “Father of Minstrelsy,” Thomas Dartmouth Rice. Rice’s character, “Jim Crow,” deployed buffoonish behavior, erratic dance moves, and exaggerated Black vernacular speech to establish a wildly popular, racially charged genre of entertainment — the blackface minstrel show.   Blackface minstrelsy quickly became a favored form of family entertainment in Northern and Midwest American cities, where white contact with Black people was limited. Over the next century, blackface minstrel shows codified negative Antebellum stereotypes of Black people as criminal, cowardly, lazy, ignorant, and hypersexual — authenticating whiteness as superior and other in the process.   Writing in 1848, the abolitionist and statesman Frederick Douglass described blackface imitators as having “stolen from us a complexion denied to them by nature, in which to make money, and pander to the corrupt tastes of their fellow white citizens.”    Such was the impact and popularity of blackface minstrel shows on white America that the raft of segregationist laws to restrict the political and civil rights of Black people passed by southern legislatures became collectively known as the “Jim Crow” laws.   Thus, as Black people in America were demanding citizenship and the right to vote in the post-Civil War era, their physical appearance, language, intelligence, and character were being openly ridiculed, denigrated, and stereotyped by white society.   Black Face in Britain  Unknown man in blackface as a minstrel, in typical style, 1890. Source: Wikimedia Commons   Long before the emergence of minstrelsy in the United States, white English men were “blacking up.” Evil in medieval English religious dramas was sometimes portrayed as black, and Shakespearian characters like Aaron the Moor and Othello, who frequently graced the stages of Elizabethan England, were portrayed by white actors in black makeup.   The portrayal of sin and spiritual debasement in medieval times poses its own set of problems. However, it is crucial to distinguish the emergence of blackface in 19th-century Britain as belonging to the development of minstrelsy in the United States.   Blackface performers—including Thomas Dartmouth Rice’s Jim Crow—journeyed to Britain to seek success as early as the 1840s. These performers found a receptive audience in Victorian Britain and swiftly became a cherished element of the British music hall scene. The success of the American acts inspired numerous British imitators. So ingrained was blackface minstrelsy in British popular culture that it remained immensely popular well into the 1950s.   Billy Van, minstrel show poster, 1900. Source: Wikimedia Commons   With the advent of television, blackface took on a disturbing new dimension. Following the success of a one-off special, in 1958, the BBC commissioned a prime-time Saturday evening show. At its peak, The Black and White Minstrel Show was watched by over 20 million people. For 45 minutes every week, white men in black makeup performed Jazz, Dixie, and Big Band songs about the Mason-Dixon line and Mississippi. The show ran continuously from its inception in 1958 until it was finally discontinued in 1978.   In Britain, as in America, the popularity of blackface meant that white people engaged with other whites in blackface, over Black people themselves. On the one hand, minstrelsy framed Black people as something to laugh at — as buffoonish, slap-stick entertainment for white people. On the other hand, it reinforced an idea of Blacks as inferior to whites in character and intellect, which worked to normalize their degraded condition and historical enslavement.   Hollywood Blackface  Lithuanian-American actor, Al Jolson in blackface, 1915. Source: Wikimedia Commons   From the silent blockbuster Birth of a Nation (1915), which depicted blackface characters as rioters, criminals, and rapists, to the films of renowned blackface actor Al Jolson in the 1920s, and Judy Garland in Everybody Sing (1938), Hollywood cinema has cashed in on blackface since its earliest days.   Blackface was family entertainment: Mickey Mouse blacked up in Mickey’s Mellerdrammer (1938), Shirley Temple wore blackface in The Littlest Rebel (1935) and danced alongside blackface actors in Dimples (1936). In a now infamous scene from Mary Poppins (1964), Mary the magical nanny, rather than wipe chimney soot off her face, cheerfully powders her nose with it.   More surprising is that the blackface tradition in cinema continues in the 21st century. In O Brother Where Art Thou? (2000), the white main characters darken their faces to disguise themselves in the dark, only to stumble upon a rally of the Ku Klux Klan. Zoolander (2001) features Derek Zoolander (Ben Stiller) parodying Al Jolson’s blackface minstrelsy. More recently, Robert Downey Jr blacked up for his role in Tropic Thunder (2008) — another Ben Stiller Film.   Twenty-first-century television is also rife with examples. A whole host of British comedies from Little Britain and Come Fly With Me, to The League of Gentlemen, and The Mighty Boosh, feature white actors in blackface, as do all three of Australian comedian Chris Lilly’s hit shows (We Can Be Heroes, Summer Heights High, and Angry Boys).   In America, long-running comedy sketch show Saturday Night Live (SNL) has been a repeat offender, from Billy Crystal portraying Sammy Davis Jr in 1984, to Jimmy Fallon wearing blackface to “impersonate” Chris Rock in 2000. In the age of web streaming services, many offending sketches and episodes—and even whole shows—have been removed or scrubbed from the internet altogether.   The Legacy of Blackface Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau wearing blackface makeup. Source: Skynews.com   Since the arrival of the first enslaved Africans in the Virginia Colony in 1619, Black people in America have grappled with the dual challenge of “self-conception and self-determination” (West, 1982). Despite the undeniable influence of Black culture on modern society, narratives surrounding Black identity often place it in opposition to the achievements of white civilization.   The tradition of blackface minstrelsy, serving as a set of metaphors and controlling stereotypes, has played a significant and deeply harmful role in perpetuating the notion of Black people as lacking in intelligence, moral characters, and cultural sophistication.   In Spike Lee’s film Bamboozled (2000), a Black TV writer, Pierre Delacroix, becomes embittered by the constant rejection of his scripts by his boorish white boss. In a desperate attempt to get fired—and get free—Delacroix pitches what he considers to be the ultimate outrage: a blackface minstrel show. To his horror, the idea is accepted and the show becomes a hit.   Bamboozled lampoons America’s ease with the racist dehumanization of Black people. A phenomenon evident in twenty-first century film and television, on college campuses, and even within the highest echelons of government. Despite being widely condemned as taboo for several decades, it appears that blackface has never really gone away.   In 2019, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that he could not even remember how many times he has worn blackface, while Virginia Governor Ralph Northam faced scandal after his yearbook photo surfaced depicting a photograph of him and a friend in backface and Ku Klux Klan robes respectively.   The enduring presence of this two-century-long tradition of dehumanizing Black Americans within today’s popular culture serves as a poignant reminder that blackface is not a relic of the past. Instead, it stands as a persistent visible representation of deeply embedded racism and ongoing injustice.

Remember What's Most Important For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures... – 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 A pastor was called to a new church. His first Sunday there, he preached a message from John 3:16 entitled, "How to Be Born Again." The message was well received, but no decisions were made to follow Christ. So the second Sunday, the pastor's message was again taken from John 3:16 and was entitled "How to Be Born Again." Again, no decisions were made. The third Sunday, the sermon was the same. By this time, the other leaders in the church were worried about what was happening – the pastor just kept preaching the same sermon over and over again. So they called a special meeting with him to discuss his sermons. One deacon said, "Don't you have any more sermons you can preach?" The new pastor responded, "Yes, I have plenty of sermons. However, I'm going to keep preaching this one until we get it right!" Understanding a truth often takes repetition. That's why Scripture memorization is so powerful – because by learning the words, we reach new levels of understanding of the truth behind the words. So never feel like you've outgrown your need to know the foundational truths of God. Preach the Gospel to yourself every day! Prayer Challenge: Pray and ask God to remind you daily of the foundational truths of His Word. Questions for Thought: Why do you think many people struggle in their faith when they get away from what's most important in the Bible? What's one thing you can you do to remind yourself of the Bible's foundational truths every day? Visit the Senior Living Ministries website The post Remember What’s Most Important – Senior Living – October 7 appeared first on GodUpdates.

This video is beyond shocking. AND HERE IS THE ?? HAS OFFICIALLY FALLEN VIDEO OFFICER: “You do not recognize Palestine as a state. You are not a supporter of Palestine. You are not permitted [here].” So to be on Parliament Hill you must declare your support for a state — that doesn’t exist.? ?@DaceyMedia pic.twitter.com/DkdGzlgbMR […]

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Trading $400,000 in taxpayer money for sex is the new decency. The post “This Is Not the 1950s” Explains Woman Who Got Her Start in Politics by Sleeping With Married Man appeared first on Frontpage Mag.