Department of History

It was 101 years ago that the American public was riveted by the health of the United States president. Woodrow Wilson was described on the Oct. 2, 1919, front page of The Spokane Chronicle as experiencing “restlessness.” It would take months before the public learned the 63-year-old had experienced a paralyzing stroke. Margaret O’Mara, professor of history at the UW, is quoted.

An acrimonious American presidential election isn’t anything new, scholars are quick to point out. Margaret O'Mara, professor of history at the UW, is quoted.

This week at the UW, listen to a discussion on global challenges, join the Herny Art Museum for a roundtable discussion, and more.

Incumbent Democrat Kim Schrier is being challenged by Republican Jesse Jensen to represent the 8th Congressional District, east of Seattle. Unlike a lot of American politics in 2020, one big theme in the race is bipartisanship. But what does bipartisanship mean in a hyper-partisan age? Margaret O’Mara, professor of history at the UW, is interviewed.

When people ask Lin Hongxuan why he studies the history of a community he’s not part of, his answer can be very simple: the history hasn’t been told. But there’s a more complicated answer, too. It’s dangerous for people within this particular community to tell their history.

With Election Day less than a week away, the CEOs of Facebook, Google and Twitter on Tuesday appeared virtually before a Senate panel where lawmakers grilled them over their influence in the election and a once-obscure law that has drawn criticism from Republicans and Democrats. Margaret O'Mara, professor of history at the UW, is quoted.

Everyone seems divided on issues like race, identity, economics, law and order, and public health, and it feels like we’re fractured beyond repair. But take heed, worried nation, we’ve been here before. Sort of. Margaret O’Mara, professor of history at the UW, is quoted.

See all that's going on during UW Global Month, take part in conversations surrounding the aftermath of the 2020 election, and more.

“2020: The Course” gives students an opportunity to hear from UW professors and special guests who will discuss the COVID-19 pandemic, race in the United States, the state of the environment, the economic recession, civic participation, citizenship and this election season and outcomes.

The 2020 election is fast approaching, and with the protests against police brutality still continuing throughout the country, race is one of the hot issues for voters. It’s been talked about in all of the presidential and vice presidential debates; there have been Tweets and speeches made about the division of race and the current need for unity. In response to the importance of the issue of race, the history department organized a webinar with UW professors to discuss it.

During this time of uncertainty and isolation, find solace in digital opportunities to connect, share, and engage. Each week, we will share upcoming events that bring the UW, and the greater community, together online. 

As tech companies have faced growing oversight from Congress in recent years, they have ramped up their contributions to political campaigns, including to Northwest lawmakers. Tech workers have become another important source of campaign funds, though their interests are not always aligned with those of their employers. Margaret O’Mara, professor of history at the UW, is quoted.

This week could mark the official end of the long love affair between Washington, D.C., and Silicon Valley. The U.S. Justice Department and 11 state attorneys general have filed a blockbuster lawsuit against Google, accusing it of being an illegal monopoly because of its stranglehold on Internet search. Margaret O’Mara, professor of history at the UW, is quoted.

A sitting Boston mayor was last unseated in 1949. How unusual is a seven-decade stretch of incumbency dominance? A Boston Globe review of 18 of the nation’s most populous municipalities found a mixed bag when it comes to the reelection success of sitting mayors. Margaret O’Mara, professor of history at the UW, is quoted.

The national Alcohol and Drugs History Society has established an annual book prize in the name of longtime University of Washington history professor William Rorabaugh, who died this spring, calling him “a pioneer in the social history of alcohol.”