What follows are nine moments in the history of the United
States or Western Europe which relate to and lead up to the
formation of the world as we know it. All of these events
happened on February 3, of one year or another. THEY SAY THAT
AMERICANS, FOR THE MOST PART, ARE the most HISTORICALLY
ILLITERATE people in the world. WHILE TEACHING AT AUSTIN
COMMUNITY COLLEGE IN 2001-2003, ONE OF MY STUDENTS ASKED ME HOW
I EVER CAME TO KNOW SO MUCH HISTORY—HOW LONG HAD IT TAKEN ME—I
ANSWERED HIM I HAD BEEN STUDYING HISTORY MY WHOLE LIFE, AND THAT
DISCOURAGED HIM, AND HE SAID, “SO NONE OF THE REST OF US REALLY
HAVE A CHANCE”. I RESPONDED THAT, NO, HISTORY WAS SOMETHING ONE
COULD LEARN IN THE QUIET MOMENTS OF RELAXATION BETWEEN WORK,
SLEEP, EATING, AND PLAY. THAT HISTORY WAS LIKE CROSS-WORD
PUZZLES OR VIDEO-GAMES—EASY AND RELAXING TO TAKE NOTES AND STUDY
LINES OF HISTORY VERY CASUALLY—THIS I SINCERELY BELIEVE, AND TO
THAT END, I HAVE COLLECTED 9 HISTORICAL VIGNETTES FOR FEBRUARY
3, 2011. Today in History — Tuesday, Feb.