“What’s past is prologue,” wrote William Shakespeare in “The Tempest,” a thought profound enough to be engraved on the National Archives building in Washington.

As America prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary, a blip on history’s ledger compared to many other nations, we would do well to re-visit even the recent past as a guide to what can provide us a better future. That’s because even though technology changes, other things do not.

At the end of each year, I enjoy exploring the events of a century ago, a period in which my parents and grandparents lived.

When it comes to political unrest, 2026 has nothing on 1926.

There were protests, coups, invasions and changes in governments all over Europe. In Britain a general strike paralyzed the nation and was front page news for months. Poland, Portugal and Lithuania had their governments overthrown. In Italy, future dictator Benito Mussolini increased his power and influence despite, or perhaps because of, numerous assassination attempts.

The future Queen Elizabeth II and........

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