An obscure and interesting historical topic from 1900-2000?

[adahdah]

It can have taken place anywhere in the world and it needs to be something that i can find a book on. I'm also not looking for something general like "the Holocaust," but something more specific like "Mengele's twins," and maybe even something I've never heard of before.

 

[JVHawai'i]

Well, this might be a bit boring but I find it fascinating. America prides itself on being a DEMOCRACY and has even gone to war to impose Democracy on other nations BUT the Citizens of Washington D.C. the Capital & Capitol of Democracy has no voice in the US Congress! Ever since 1806 the citizens of Washington have fought for the right to have a voice in the Nation and have been shot down time & time again. For a variety of reasons but since the 1930s the loudest reason has been that the majority of citizens of DC are 'black' the most recent reason why states with Republican Senators have shot down the measure.

In fact it took the 23rd Amendment to the Constitution in 1961 too allow DC Residents the right to vote in a Presidential Election. YES - - - for most of the 20th Century, since 1900, a resident of the Nation's Capital had the same Voting Rights as a Citizen of Pago Pago in Samoa.

This is an unexplored topic which I am certain can generate lots of debate. And I am NOT kidding about the 'black' angle, during the height of World War Two several Southern Senators make eloquent speeches about the excessive number of blacks in DC and why they should not be allowed to vote (Theo Bilbo, later Strom Thurmond) and this attitude continues with James DeMint and Jim Sessions both Republicans both of who scuttled an effort to give DC a voice in Congress in 2007 and when a lone Representative was allowed in in 2009, yes a very white Orin Hatch of Utah was the deciding vote but only because his state gained another Representative. Still, DC remains without a Senator and further restriction hamper the rights of DC Citizens to participate in Democracy.

http://www.wisegeek.com/does-washington-dc-have-a-governor-senators-and-representatives.htm
''''The District of Columbia is really considered a city, rather than a state. As such, it has a mayor rather than a governor. Originally, the city was run by federally-appointed overseers, with the first group appointed by President George Washington in 1790. In 1973, the United States passed the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, which created mayoral elections and gave some power over local issues to the mayor and city council. The United States Congress still retains ultimate authority over the district, and can still overturn any mayoral or council decisions.
While Washington DC does not have any senators, it does have a non-voting member of the House of Representatives. Like Puerto Rico and Guam representatives, this elected official can sit on committees, lobby for or introduce legislature, and join floor debates, but cannot vote. Despite their lack of representation in Congress, citizens of Washington DC are subject to all federal laws. This leads many to question the position of DC citizens, as other US territories are not subject to law without representation.
Voting rights for Washington DC citizens are different than those for states. Until the Twenty-Third Amendment to the US Constitution was passed in 1961, DC residents could not vote in any federal election, including for presidency. While the law made an exemption for presidential elections, people who live in the District still cannot vote in most federal elections. The justification for the voting laws is complicated, but experts suggest that it is essential that the seat of federal government remain neutral, lest partisan politics become an even larger problem.
Many people feel that Washington DC citizens should be afforded the same voting rights as any US citizen, including being able to send voting delegates to Congress. Some argue that the District should become a separate state, while others believe it should be integrated into Virginia or Maryland. Toward the efforts of DC statehood, the District has elected two “Shadow” senators and a representative since 1978. These officials are meant to lobby for statehood but are not recognized by Congress and should not be confused with the non-voting representative.
The election and voting process in Washington DC is a confusing and complicated situation that many feel is to the detriment of the city. Some argue that the little power granted to the mayor, council and non-voting representative are not enough to ensure the safety or well-being of the area. As Congress seems to be avoiding the issue of DC statehood, it is uncertain whether permanent residents of the District will ever be granted rights comparable to other US citizens.""

http://www.dcboee.org/voter_info/gen_info/voting_history.asp
""Citizens of the District of Columbia gained the right to vote in presidential elections with the passage of the 23rd Amendment to the Constitution in 1961 making the 1964 presidential election the first time that DC residents voted for President of the United States. Before that (since 1936), DC residents voted only for party officials and delegates to the Democratic and Republican national conventions. ""

Peace/\\\\\\\