Feature: African American Civil Rights and the Presidents

In 1865, African Americans were newly emancipated from slavery, with freedom at last to move and worship and supposedly a wealth of new opportunities, yet still deemed socially inferior to the rest of society and thus heavily discriminated against. By the end of the 20th century/beginning of the 21st century, they were (legally at least) equal and had made gains in almost all societal spheres. But what role did the US Presidents play in this change? As a democratically elected leader the President was expected to do what was best for the people he governed over and oversee the other branches of the Federal government.

Feature: "A little man lost in the immensity of his realm" - the downfall of Nicholas II and the Romanovs.

Today, July 17th 2013, marks 95 years since the assassination of the Tsar Nicholas II, his wife, children, and most of their household at the hands of the Bolsheviks in the Russian town of Yekaterinburg following a period of imprisonment. This marked the end of the Russian autocracy and the start of the road to Communism in Russia. Many were pleased to see the Tsar go, but how well had he performed as Tsar? Below the cut: the problems facing Nicholas II in his reign as ruler, how effectively he played his role, and the eventual lead-up to the demise of himself and his family.