Town of monson in central maine has a big problem. The town has bounced back from a fire that swept through its downtown, destroying many of the buildings in 1860, and it is recovering from the trauma of the american civil war. The civil war ended just seven years earlier, in 1865. More than 10 of townspeople served in the civil war, and at least six of them died. The problem, even as the town of monson celebrates the 50th anniversary of its founding, is that so many of its young people are moving away. In the census of 1870, monson was listed as having 604 residents. 604. Out of curiosity, how many of you are from places with more than 604 residents, show of hands . Virtually everyone. How many of you went to high school with more than 604 people . Again, virtually everyone. Monson was a tiny place, and that meant that every departure, every person who moved away from home, hurt. Their absence was noted. In 1872, when townspeople gathered to celebrate turning 50, the speaker at the ev
Historian mary beth norton. She is the author of five books and coeditor of several others in your textbooks in a survey of u. S. History and been published in ten additions and sold more than 500,000 copies. Norton is a price finalist and. She is married professor of American History at cornell university. Her new book, 1774, year of revolution, available for purchase following the program. So now, please join me in welcoming mary beth norton. [applause]. Mary is really nice to be here. I want to make sure that the microphone is on. It does not seem to be. Hope there is pretty great. I want to show you the cover of the book because that little bottle on it, is famous here in colonial historian. I dont know if anybody recognizes this but it is in the collection of the massachusetts historical tidy. It claims on the label which is impossible read, that it contains t picked up from bostons harbor. The day after the tea party. So there is a quite wellknown object in the colonial america.
Now the warring sides in libyas long running civil war are coming together in berlin for a u. N. Backed peace conference leaders and diplomats from 12 countries have been invited to the meeting in the german capital earlier attempts to negotiate a cease fire had failed intuiting a summit in moscow last week were all here if i have to launched an offensive to try to take the capital tripoli in april turkey which backs the internationally recognized government base there called the in the conference an important step. Didnt. The International Community has not shown the necessary reaction to have targets attacks until now the actions of half taught and his supporters are an open violation of the Un Security Councils reason lucians. Head is standing by for us in the libyan capital tripoli but 1st lets go to how some of his in as im there on various heads of state in town for this meeting talk us through whats expected to happen today. Well some of the bilateral meetings on the sidelines o
[applause] peter good morning and welcome. Im peter canellos, Political Editor at large. Id like to thank you all for joining todays event, americas biggest voting bloc, nonvoters. Thanks to those watching via live stream. As a 202020 Campaign Ramps up both democrats and republicans are working very hard to rally the base. Theyre also trying to win over swing voters, but i think we all know especially we will see today that by far the largest bloc of voters out there come when hundred million voters voting ages of those who dont go to the polls. I cant say enough that the balance of power in the united balance of power in the United States rests in those voters. These nonvoters span every demographic, every racial demographic, age demographic, education demographic. Today were going to have i hope very enlightening Panel Discussion discussing with Party Leaders themselves how the plan to appeal to this group and get some of these people to come to the polls. Were also going to discuss
Is recovering from the trauma of the american civil war. The civil war ended just seven years earlier, in 1865. More than 10 of townspeople served in the civil war, and at least six of them died. , even as the town of monson celebrate the 50th anniversary of its founding, is that so many of its young people are moving away celebrates the 50th anniversary of its founding, is that so many of its young people are moving away. In the census of 1870, monson was listed as having 604 residents. Out of curiosity, how many of you are from places with more than 604 residents, show of hands . Virtually everyone. How many of you went to high school with more than 604 people . Virtually everyone. Monson was a tiny place, and that meant that every departure, every person who moved away from home, hurt. Their absence was noted. In 1872, when townspeople gathered to celebrate turning 50, the speaker at the event tried to put a good spin on quote, but he admitted, this constant immigration of our citiz