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Home > Joe's Daily U.S. History Lesson > Joe's Daily U.S. History Lesson -- June 19
Podcast: Joe's Daily U.S. History Lesson
Episode:

Joe's Daily U.S. History Lesson -- June 19
Category: Education
Duration: 00:05:52
Publish Date: 2018-06-15 18:38:42
Description:

JUNE 19 -- 1778 Washington leaves Valley Forge; 1953 Rosenburgs executed for espionage; 2005 Grand Prix gets controversial; 1962 Happy Bithday Paula Abdul

JUNE 19 1778 – Washing ton leaves Valley Forge. Even though the battles occurred this is where the Continental army camped, and the army was in bad shape. Bloody, starving, diseased, battle-worn, and beaten, the Continental army was ready to surrender to the British. The winter weather was brutal, troops were starving, and cries of beef echoed throughout the camp. There was no help in sight. There were dozens of desertions. Disease debilitated. Death descended in droves. Even General Washington said, “If the army does not get help soon, in all likelihood it will disband”.

What? Quit!?

According to ushistory.org, by February 1778 the weather eased somewhat – moving from brutal to merely miserable. In March, General Nathanael Greene was appointed head of the dismal Commissary Department and magically food and supplies started to trickle in.

By April, Baron Von Steuben, a quirky mercenary who was not really a baron, began to magically transform threadbare troops into a fighting force.

Also in April, the Conway Caval, a plot to remove George Washington from power, was quashed for good. May brought news of French alliance and with it the military and financial support of France. On June 19, 1778, exactly six months after the Americans arrived, a new army anxious to fight the British streamed out of Valley Forge toward New Jersey.

They had been transformed from Rebel into a Mature Army. Like a boss!

1953 – The Rosenbergs fry in the electric chair. Ethel and Julius Rosenberg were executed for conspiracy to commit espionage, relating to passing information about the atomic bomb to the Soviet Union. Both refused to admit any wrongdoing and proclaimed their innocence right up to the time of their deaths.

What appears to be an example of the anti-communistic hysteria in America during the 1950s, the Rosenbergs were the first US citizens to be convicted and executed for espionage during peacetime and their case remains controversial to this day. According to confessions by others involved, turns out Ethel was innocent the whole time. Oops.

2005 – A very controversial ending to the US Grand Prix. … After 14 Formula One race car drivers withdraw due to safety concerns over the Michelin-made tires on their vehicles, German driver Michael Schumacher wins a less-than-satisfying victory at the United States Grand Prix on June 19, 2005. The race, held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, will go down one of the most controversial Formula One racing events in history.

1962 – Happy birthday Paula Abdul. …From San Fernando she started her career as a cheerleader for the LA Lakers. During the 1980s and 1990s per pop singing and dancing career took off and she scored six number one hits, tying her with Diana Ross. During the 2000s she was a judge on American Idol for eight seasons.

In 2004 straight up! She had a hit and run see what I did there driving her Mercedes in LA but was caught and had to pay a small fine and do some probation.
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