A Moment in History

Let’s travel back to the Medieval world and age of Crusading. The Crusades were some of the most epic battles in world history, pitting Christians and Muslims against one another for ultimate supremacy over the Holy Lands in Israel. Out of these bloody battles, a legendary military order would arise. The order was powerful yet also pious. It became one of the wealthiest institutions in medieval Europe yet collapsed suddenly and swiftly. Let’s discover the epic story of the Knights of the Temple of Solomon, also known as the Knights Templar. To watch the video of this episode click here https://fism.tv/a-moment-in-history-the-knights-templar/

Let’s take a journey back into American history and explore one of the more baffling and quite unpopular presidents in the United States. This man was tasked with the difficult responsibility of rebuilding, or more appropriately, “reconstructing,” the United States in the years following the devastating American Civil War. He was Andrew Johnson, the 17th President of the United States. You can watch this episode here https://fism.tv/a-moment-in-history-andrew-johnson/

Let’s go back over a century and explore one of the most complex figures in Western History.  He was at the same time a gifted writer, an English gentleman, and a stern military man; he was born into a noble lineage, but it was his life’s work that earned him a knighthood; he was hated by some as a brash and pompous elitist, but lauded by most as a hero of democracy and a champion of the free world.  This complex man is Sir Winston Churchill, Prime Minister of Great Britain during the Second World War. To watch the video of this episode click here https://fism.tv/a-moment-in-history-winston-churchill/

In today’s segment, we explore one of the most shocking national crimes in the history of the 20th century. If you ask any American born before the year 1960, they will likely be able to remember the exact moment when they found out that President John F. Kennedy was assassinated while riding in a motorcade parade in Dallas on November 22, 1963. History tells us that the prime suspect in this murder investigation was Lee Harvey Oswald, an embittered ex-Marine and an expert marksman. But we may never know for sure if he was the president’s murderer, because of the actions of a Dallas nightclub owner named Jack Ruby, on November 24, 1963. You can watch this episode here https://fism.tv/a-moment-in-history-jack-ruby-and-the-jfk-assassination/

On April 20, 1999, hundreds of high school students arrived at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado, for what they expected to be a normal day. It would become a tragic and horrific day for these students and teachers, as 13 members of Columbine High School were murdered in cold blood by two shooters in one of the worst mass school shootings in American history: the Columbine Massacre.

In our last segment, we looked at the horrific terrorist attacks of 9/11, orchestrated by Islamic terrorists and causing the deaths of nearly 3,000 people. The Twin Towers had collapsed, and hundreds of thousands of New York citizens, many in need of medical attention, were stranded on Manhattan Island as int became engulfed in smoke and ash. All bridges and tunnels were closed, and the only way off the island was by boat. Here, in the face of great tragedy, hundreds of ordinary American heroes stepped in to help rescue these stranded souls in the 9/11 Boat Rescue. Watch this episode here https://fism.tv/a-moment-in-history-the-9-11-boat-rescue-pt-2/

Every American born before the late 1990s likely remembers the moment they found out that Islamic terrorists had orchestrated a horrific attack against innocent civilians on September 11, 2001. This attack, though horrible, also brought out the very best in American citizens. One of the most under appreciated rescues in American history happened because of ordinary people caring for one another in this extraordinary way. In this special two-part September 11 memorial of A Moment in History, let’s explore the inspiring story of the 9/11 Boat Rescue. Watch this episode here https://fism.tv/a-moment-in-history-the-9-11-boat-rescue-pt-1/

One of the most important forces that brought a Union victory was the usage of Black Soldiers, who not only were allowed to serve in the war but also had every reason to want to. Let’s look today at the vital role Black American soldiers played in the Union victory during the Civil War. https://fism.tv/a-moment-in-history-the-black-soldiers-of-the-civil-war/

Over the years in American History, there have been many events that have led to the creation of the American holiday called Labor Day.  Follow Seth Udinski as he speaks about the steps that America took to create a day of rest for the worker called Labor Day.

This man rose from slavery to freedom and eventually national prominence and was one of the first nationally-known African American statesmen in the country. Let’s explore the life and legacy of Frederick Douglass. Watch this episode here https://fism.tv/a-moment-in-history-frederick-douglass/

A bold political maneuver from one of the most notorious dictators and mass murderers in world history. On February 2, 1933, German Chancellor Adolf Hitler formally dissolved the German Parliament. Watch this episode here https://fism.tv/a-moment-in-history-hitler-dissolves-german-parliament-2/

The United States Supreme Court was created at the foundation of the nation with the intention of being the last and most powerful defense of justice in the land. In this moment in history, let’s explore the history of the Supreme Court of the United States. Watch this episode here https://fism.tv/a-moment-in-history-the-supreme-court/

Many would agree that this food comes in at the top of their favorite cuisines. It originated in Europe and has become synonymous with the American experience. Let’s explore the history of one of the most beloved food groups in the United States. Watch this episode about pizza here https://fism.tv/a-moment-in-history-the-creation-of-pizza/

On January 28, 1986, the spacecraft Challenger lifted off the ground at approximately 11:30 AM Eastern time above the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Just over a minute into the flight, one of the ship’s internal fuel tanks imploded, causing the entire spaceship to break apart in a fiery explosion. Watch this episode here https://fism.tv/a-moment-in-history-the-challenger-disaster/

By the early 17th century, the traditional concept of medieval warfare was all but a thing of the past, though it should be noted that many of the tactics of medieval warfare, such as the cavalry charge, claiming high ground, siege warfare, and hand to hand combat, would remain for centuries after, with some tactics even surviving to this day. Watch this episode here https://fism.tv/a-moment-in-history-what-happened-to-medieval-warfare/