K Walton
@kipwah.bsky.social
Professor of Scottish and British History. Fellowships guru and director. Proud mom
In 1604, after the Buckinghamshire Election, James I tried to declare that Sir Francis Goodwin could not take his seat in Parliament and that Chancery should nullify the election. The Parliament sent him the Apology and he backed down - allowing the elected member to sit.
October 22, 2025 at 11:20 AM
In 1604, after the Buckinghamshire Election, James I tried to declare that Sir Francis Goodwin could not take his seat in Parliament and that Chancery should nullify the election. The Parliament sent him the Apology and he backed down - allowing the elected member to sit.
In 1648, Oliver Cromwell, who led the New Model Army, used his control of the army to send Colonel Thomas Pride to the English Parliament to purge those members who would not have supported the execution of the king as votes in a legislative branch are based on those present (with a quorum)
September 26, 2025 at 11:07 AM
In 1648, Oliver Cromwell, who led the New Model Army, used his control of the army to send Colonel Thomas Pride to the English Parliament to purge those members who would not have supported the execution of the king as votes in a legislative branch are based on those present (with a quorum)
one who “goes about with a numerous train of attendants, flaunts himself in magnificent finery, inflicts summary punishments, wins over the
mob and courts their applause by means of prizes, games, and processions, even by outrageous
buildings, and whatever else passes for magnificence?” G.B. 1579
mob and courts their applause by means of prizes, games, and processions, even by outrageous
buildings, and whatever else passes for magnificence?” G.B. 1579
August 1, 2025 at 10:44 AM
one who “goes about with a numerous train of attendants, flaunts himself in magnificent finery, inflicts summary punishments, wins over the
mob and courts their applause by means of prizes, games, and processions, even by outrageous
buildings, and whatever else passes for magnificence?” G.B. 1579
mob and courts their applause by means of prizes, games, and processions, even by outrageous
buildings, and whatever else passes for magnificence?” G.B. 1579
In 1845, Frederick Douglass went to Ireland, where he shared the stage with Daniel O’Connell, the man who pushed for Catholics to be able to sit in Parliament. During this trip, he coined the term “Agitate Agitate Agitate” a call to stand against tyranny and injustice.
July 18, 2025 at 3:49 AM
In 1845, Frederick Douglass went to Ireland, where he shared the stage with Daniel O’Connell, the man who pushed for Catholics to be able to sit in Parliament. During this trip, he coined the term “Agitate Agitate Agitate” a call to stand against tyranny and injustice.
Food for thought: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Discourse in the making: the shifting meaning of the national flag in the context of Israel’s 2023 judicial overhaul - Humanities and Social Sciences Communications
Humanities and Social Sciences Communications - Discourse in the making: the shifting meaning of the national flag in the context of Israel’s 2023 judicial overhaul
www.nature.com
July 12, 2025 at 2:21 PM
Food for thought: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Loved this pairing I passed in DC yesterday!
July 12, 2025 at 2:13 PM
Loved this pairing I passed in DC yesterday!
The entire Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board resigned today as the bipartisan, apolitical award was deemed and being politicized too much this year: substack.com/home/post/p-...
Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board Resignation Statement
Effective immediately, members of the Congressionally mandated Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board voted overwhelmingly to resign from the board, rather than endorse unprecedented actions that we beli...
substack.com
June 11, 2025 at 5:43 PM
The entire Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board resigned today as the bipartisan, apolitical award was deemed and being politicized too much this year: substack.com/home/post/p-...
A commenter on HCR today reminded me of the quote from 1984: “The party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears.” The scientific revolution, primarily of the 17th century, was largely about using your senses and observation based evidence to understand what was going on around you.
May 24, 2025 at 2:51 PM
A commenter on HCR today reminded me of the quote from 1984: “The party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears.” The scientific revolution, primarily of the 17th century, was largely about using your senses and observation based evidence to understand what was going on around you.
Reposted by K Walton
This is very cool - did you know that in the 16th c the Magna Carta was largely forgotten and it took reaction to the Stuarts to uncover it? www.nytimes.com/2025/05/15/w...
Harvard Law Paid $27 for a Copy of Magna Carta. Surprise! It’s an Original.
www.nytimes.com
May 15, 2025 at 4:06 PM
This is very cool - did you know that in the 16th c the Magna Carta was largely forgotten and it took reaction to the Stuarts to uncover it? www.nytimes.com/2025/05/15/w...
The Fulbright is one of the bipartisan supported scholarships that does the everyday work of global diplomacy - that and much of the rest of our diplomatic influence is at risk with this draft EO: www.nytimes.com/2025/04/20/u...
Trump Draft Order Would Drastically Overhaul U.S. State Department (Gift Article)
The draft executive order to be signed by President Trump would eliminate Africa operations and shut down bureaus working on democracy, human rights and refugee issues.
www.nytimes.com
April 20, 2025 at 12:11 PM
The Fulbright is one of the bipartisan supported scholarships that does the everyday work of global diplomacy - that and much of the rest of our diplomatic influence is at risk with this draft EO: www.nytimes.com/2025/04/20/u...
In the 1630s, the court of Charles I made a close ruling against Hamden in the case of Ship Money. Though deciding with the king, the case was close enough to encourage others to resist. Tonight the Supreme Court decided in a 7-2 ruling against the government
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
US Supreme Court halts deportation of Venezuelans under wartime law
The Trump administration has been deporting accused gang members to a notorious El Salvador jail.
www.bbc.com
April 19, 2025 at 7:42 AM
In the 1630s, the court of Charles I made a close ruling against Hamden in the case of Ship Money. Though deciding with the king, the case was close enough to encourage others to resist. Tonight the Supreme Court decided in a 7-2 ruling against the government
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
In my Hist 430 class this week, we discussed executive reliance on favorites, habeas corpus, cutting government for efficiency, declaring a state of emergency to raise funds for the government and the govt use of tariffs without legislative approval. Nope. Not 2025 but Charles I!
April 11, 2025 at 7:12 PM
In my Hist 430 class this week, we discussed executive reliance on favorites, habeas corpus, cutting government for efficiency, declaring a state of emergency to raise funds for the government and the govt use of tariffs without legislative approval. Nope. Not 2025 but Charles I!
Innocent until proven guilty, habeas corpus, the cornerstones of our system - poof up in smoke. Invoking a not often used law to justify your actions. These are the exact things (Habeas Corpus and the 5 Knights case,ship money and Hamden) that directly led to the English Civil War.
March 20, 2025 at 11:04 AM
Innocent until proven guilty, habeas corpus, the cornerstones of our system - poof up in smoke. Invoking a not often used law to justify your actions. These are the exact things (Habeas Corpus and the 5 Knights case,ship money and Hamden) that directly led to the English Civil War.
In 1640 the Scots invaded an England where the people were so upset with the King (re: Ship Money et al) that the English Parliament paid the Scots army to remain in N England so the King could not dissolve it
March 18, 2025 at 12:46 AM
In 1640 the Scots invaded an England where the people were so upset with the King (re: Ship Money et al) that the English Parliament paid the Scots army to remain in N England so the King could not dissolve it
When he came to office in 1625, Charles I enacted the Act of Revocation allowing him to take back lands granted since 1540. In 1634, the Balmerino trial turned the Scots people against him for his control of the law. In 1637, he imposed a new Prayer Book on the country leading to rebellion.
March 18, 2025 at 12:44 AM
When he came to office in 1625, Charles I enacted the Act of Revocation allowing him to take back lands granted since 1540. In 1634, the Balmerino trial turned the Scots people against him for his control of the law. In 1637, he imposed a new Prayer Book on the country leading to rebellion.
A day is not a day. The idea entered by the House Republicans to keep an “Emergency” declaration in place so the executive can act and not be stopped by Congress. Reminds me of Charles I and the Ship Money Emergency.
March 13, 2025 at 11:06 AM
A day is not a day. The idea entered by the House Republicans to keep an “Emergency” declaration in place so the executive can act and not be stopped by Congress. Reminds me of Charles I and the Ship Money Emergency.
When we emerge from this nightmare, which eventually we will do, the US will have to take a long look at history and figure out how best to rebuild ourselves with true checks and balances in place and with unshakeable systems that take longer than 2 months to dismantle completely.
March 13, 2025 at 11:00 AM
When we emerge from this nightmare, which eventually we will do, the US will have to take a long look at history and figure out how best to rebuild ourselves with true checks and balances in place and with unshakeable systems that take longer than 2 months to dismantle completely.
I find it so strange that “Woke” is now an insult - engaged, informed, educated about what is going on around you? Those who are not woke are just zombies.
February 25, 2025 at 11:51 AM
I find it so strange that “Woke” is now an insult - engaged, informed, educated about what is going on around you? Those who are not woke are just zombies.
My students looked aghast yesterday as we discussed the Oath of Supremacy under Henry VIII and how anyone in the government who did not adhere to it was let go OR worse, such as Sir Thomas More who lost his head. Authoritarian government in the 1530s.
February 18, 2025 at 2:26 PM
My students looked aghast yesterday as we discussed the Oath of Supremacy under Henry VIII and how anyone in the government who did not adhere to it was let go OR worse, such as Sir Thomas More who lost his head. Authoritarian government in the 1530s.
In 1376, the “Good Parliament” voted on the first impeachments in Britain - one of those impeached was the King’s mistress, Alice Perrers, a woman who was exerting undeserved power and taking the wealth of the state/King - supposedly even the rings from his dead hand. Unchecked power can be stopped
February 3, 2025 at 12:34 AM
In 1376, the “Good Parliament” voted on the first impeachments in Britain - one of those impeached was the King’s mistress, Alice Perrers, a woman who was exerting undeserved power and taking the wealth of the state/King - supposedly even the rings from his dead hand. Unchecked power can be stopped
In the early 13th century, King John of England acted with impunity, imprisoning subjects, increasing taxes, governing without advice, and even signing away England as a fief of the Pope. The result was rebellion and the signing of 1215 Magna Carta…
February 2, 2025 at 2:56 PM
In the early 13th century, King John of England acted with impunity, imprisoning subjects, increasing taxes, governing without advice, and even signing away England as a fief of the Pope. The result was rebellion and the signing of 1215 Magna Carta…
I work at an institution where students love to give back to their communities- and I have encouraged many of them to look at USAID as the arm of the government that does some of the most important work to help those globally who need it most. The dismantling of this org is devastating.
February 2, 2025 at 12:30 PM
I work at an institution where students love to give back to their communities- and I have encouraged many of them to look at USAID as the arm of the government that does some of the most important work to help those globally who need it most. The dismantling of this org is devastating.
In the middle of the 15th century in England, many of the nobles had gained enough wealth to be equal to or greater than the King. One of them, the Earl of Warwick, became known as the Kingmaker, as he had enough power and resources to influence the change of the monarchy.
January 18, 2025 at 2:36 PM
In the middle of the 15th century in England, many of the nobles had gained enough wealth to be equal to or greater than the King. One of them, the Earl of Warwick, became known as the Kingmaker, as he had enough power and resources to influence the change of the monarchy.
Any chance Biden might step down on Saturday so Harris could become our first female president for a few days?
January 14, 2025 at 1:57 PM
Any chance Biden might step down on Saturday so Harris could become our first female president for a few days?