Tag Archive: Political History

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Secrets, Lies, and Scandal: The Cleveland Street Case

One of Victorian England’s most shocking scandals was the Cleveland Street affair, impacting perceptions surrounding the LGBT community. This article by James Lamont, written for the LGBT+ History Writing Competition, details the story of the scandal to reveal what made it such an infamous case. By foregrounding the key political individuals involved within the case, this piece highlights just why attitudes towards homosexuality were severely impacted as a result of the affair’s notoriety.
AUTHOR JAMES LAMONT

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Whatever Happened to Leon Trotsky? An Overview of Trotsky’s Last Exile, 1929-1940

At the end of the 1920s, Leon Trotsky found himself in a precarious but familiar position. Although he was seen by some as Lenin’s natural successor, Trotsky was washed away by the power struggle caused by Stalin’s political manoeuvres. In this article, Iris Pinder explores Trotsky’s exile, tracing the final decade of his life. Although this period was overcast by doom and death, Trotsky’s ultimate ability to adapt as a pariah is reflected, finding his way albeit isolated from the communist dictatorship he helped create and defend.
AUTHOR IRIS PINDER

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‘Blueshirts’: The Neglected Story of Irish Rightism in the Fledgling Free State

Irish political history in the early twentieth century is often portrayed as popular democratic, radically republican, and perhaps even left-wing Marxist in character. However, this obscures a key political story of the 1920s and 1930s, when Ireland too experienced a somewhat right-wing, nationalist, and potentially fascist movement. Henry Anderson delves into this underrepresented moment in modern Irish history by giving background to the rise and fall of the Blueshirts before assessing whether this movement was indeed fascist.
AUTHOR HENRY ANDERSON

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Race on the Rails: How Resistance to Racial Discrimination at London Euston Strengthened the UK’s Anti-Discrimination Laws

When one considers the history of racial discrimination, the stories of ordinary people who fought for equality are often overlooked. This compelling article spotlights Asquith Xavier, a Black West Indian railwayman, who challenged his rejection from a position at London Euston Station. By connecting Xavier to broader developments within the British civil rights movement, Oscar Hilder argues for Xavier’s influence on both racial legislation and his personal communities.
AUTHOR OSCAR HILDER

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The Three Wise Men: Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, and the Legacies of Assassination

Delving into the interlinking presidencies of Kennedy, Johnson and Nixon, Sam Chapman presents a fascinating element of 1960s and 1970s American political history. Focusing on how Johnson and Nixon differently revelled in becoming Kennedy’s successor, this article uniquely looks at how this ultimately contributed to both of their downfalls.
AUTHOR SAM CHAPMAN

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The Vietnam War: A Moment of Change in American Foreign Policy?

This article deals with the changing state of American foreign policy and Cold War politics during the Vietnam War.
AUTHOR: KATE MESHER

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Reagan: a Critical Analysis

This article offers a critical exploration of the Ronald Reagan years by focusing on his economic, foreign and social policies.
AUTHOR: JAMES BASTIN

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‘This is the beginning, not the end.’ Just why was the Good Friday Agreement signed?

A look back at the Good Friday Agreement of 1998. This article looks at which political players were involved and what their agendas were.
AUTHOR: VICTORIA BETTNEY