CANCELLED Bullets That Changed America

One gunshot fired by a single person could be powerful enough to move a whole nation. Most of us are familiar with the assassinations of Abraham Lincoln, John F. Kennedy, William McKinley, and Martin Luther King Jr., and their long-lasting consequences. However, history is littered with lesser-known gunshots that have had equally echoing outcomes. Some were small mistakes or misjudgments, while others were acts of intent that sparked events that are now documented in our history textbooks. 

Join author Peter Zablocki in this talk based on his book, Bullets That Changed America: Thirteen Historic Assassinations, Duels, Misfires, and Murders, in which a single bullet serves as the catalyst for each of the stories.

We may or may not know who fired each bullet. Nonetheless, we know each bullet's endpoint and, more crucially, the effects they had on America's trajectory: the wars, social movements, and political and economic paradigm shifts. Because they are probably not discussed in history classrooms, the names of those involved may not be recognizable enough to elicit any feelings of outrage. However, the events that their acts precipitated have become etched in American history, as Peter’s talk will reveal. 

Peter is the author of numerous books - the latest being, Presidential Visits to New Jersey: A History, from The History Press - and articles pertaining to local and national history. His work has been published in Weird NJ Magazine, Military History Quarterly, Military History Magazine, and Honest History Magazine, among others. When not writing, Peter co-hosts a successful podcast with his best friend, titled History Teachers Talking, where they discuss various historical topics in an easy to understand and lighthearted manner. Peter is the Vice-President of the Denville Historical Society, Museum, and Research Center in New Jersey, as well as one of the town historians.

This event is open to all and no registration is required.  Copies of Peter’s books will be available for purchase.