View these illustrations, photos, and objects collected by the Library of Congress to learn how the religious growth of the Great Awakening took shape in the 18th century.
Tag Archives: Historic Figures
Darwin’s Theory of Evolution Roiled U.S. on Eve of Civil War
In his new book, author and professor Randall Fuller investigates how abolitionists and slaveholders reacted to Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution. In this Q&A, he shares what he discovered.
Why You Should Be Reading Wislawa Szymborska
Vogue magazine book critic Megan O’Grady explains why Wislawa Szymborska’s poetry has been meaningful in her life.
How the Louisiana Purchase Changed the World
This article explains the ins and outs of the purchase of the Louisiana Territory and why it was significant to the future of the United States.
Four Pulitzer-winning takes on the rise of Adolf Hitler
Read four articles written during the 1930s for a glimpse of how a dictator’s growing power was perceived at the time.
A former Haitian prisoner says ‘Baby Doc’ Duvalier’s criminal legacy should never be forgotten
Boby Duval, a former soccer player who was imprisoned for speaking out against the corrupt Haitian government of ‘Baby Doc’ Duvalier, urges the world to remember Duvalier’s crimes and to make sure history does not repeat itself.
HerStory: The Women Behind the 19th Amendment
Though the 19th Amendment, which gave women the right to vote, wasn’t ratified until 1920, much of the groundwork for women’s suffrage was laid during the abolitionist movement preceding the Civil War.
These Rarely Seen Photographs are a Who’s Who of the Harlem Renaissance
Read about this collection of photos by Carl Van Vechten, who employed more of an archival rather than artistic method to his work. He sought to photograph as many notable people of the early 20th century as possible.
Federalist Papers
Three founding fathers wrote this series of articles to persuade at least nine of the thirteen states to ratify the Constitution.
Anne Frank Today Is a Syrian Girl
New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof draws a parallel between the treatment of Jewish refugees during World War II and that of modern-day Syrian refugees. He laments what he sees as global indifference to the humanitarian crisis in Syria and urges world leaders to act.
Macbeth Defeated at Dunsinane
Dig into the history of the real-life Macbeth.
Amelia Earhart didn’t die in a plane crash, investigators say
One of the most daring Americans of the 1930s, pilot Amelia Earhart disappeared somewhere in the south Pacific during an attempted around-the-world flight. Here is one theory of what may have happened to her.
5 things you didn’t know about Frederick Douglass
Frederick Douglass is well known for his autobiography and speeches and for his work as an abolitionist. This article sheds light on some of the other accomplishments and complexities of this remarkable figure in American history.
The Words That Remade America
Historian Gary Wills discusses the significance of the Gettysburg Address.
Walt Whitman, Emily Dickinson and the War That Changed Poetry, Forever
In this blog entry, David Ward looks at the influence of the Civil War on poetry, specifically the works of Walt Whitman and Emily Dickinson.
Compromise 1: Philadelphia Story
Joseph Ellis, a Pulitzer Prize–winning historian, explores the issues of regional power and slavery that overshadowed the Constitutional Convention in 1789. Through hard bargaining, delegates such as Benjamin Franklin and James Madison drafted a Constitution that has endured for centuries. However, their compromises planted the seeds of the Civil War.
The Curious, and Continuing, Appeal of Mark Twain in China
In most Chinese classrooms, students learned about Mark Twain, a famously American author. Twain’s satirical short story, “Running for Governor,” was used to reinforce anti-Western, anti-capitalist views. As you read this article, be sure to take a look at the short story referenced.
Address at the Conclusion of the Selma to Montgomery March
Read or listen to one of the most important speeches by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
I’ve Been Haunted by Anne Frank’s Memory for So Long
After Anne Frank’s death, her father married the mother of Eva Schloss, who had gone into hiding with her family and survived a concentration camp. In this interview, Schloss talks about her experiences growing up as Anne Frank’s stepsister.
James I on the Divine Right of Kings
King James I of England was a proponent of the divine right of kings: the idea that a king’s power came directly from God. This idea is key to several of Shakespeare’s plays, including Macbeth, and was delineated in a speech the king gave to Parliament in 1609. This site provides the original text, a transcript, and an audio recording.