Read about the 1857 Supreme Court case of Dred Scott v. Sandford and why people cite it today.
Tag Archives: Historic Figures
Patriotism on Broadway
The timelessness and universality of Alexander Hamilton’s story is explored in this review of the popular hip-hop musical Hamilton.
Report on Desegregation in the Schools of Alabama, September 9, 1963
In 1963, President John F. Kennedy announced the government’s intention to force Governor George Wallace to comply with the school desegregation order. Read this powerful speech about a decision that mattered to so many Americans.
My Attempt to Free Anne Frank’s Diary
2015 marked the 70th anniversary of Anne Frank’s death. Anne’s legacy—her diary—should be available in the public domain on January 1, 2016 under Dutch law. But Dutch genealogist Yvette Hoitink explains a twist in the tale.
In Defense of Thoreau
Duke professor Jedediah Purdy makes a counter-argument to Kathryn Schulz’s “Pond Scum” essay in The New Yorker, which criticized Henry David Thoreau both as a writer and as a person.
Top 10 Ben Franklin Inventions
A statesman, writer, and publisher, Benjamin Franklin also invented many practical products.
Aaron Douglas’s Magisterial Aspects of Negro Life
This text provides an overview of Harlem Renaissance painter Aaron Douglas. Click the images on the left to view some of his work in more detail and watch the video at the bottom for more background.
The World’s Oldest Papyrus and What It Can Tell Us About the Great Pyramids
A recently discovered treasure trove of papyri tells us more about ancient Egyptian life and culture. Read what a travel journal found with the other papyri reveals about the lives of everyday workers during the time period when the Pyramids were built at Giza.
Modern day Canterbury Tales refreshes Chaucer to tell the lost stories of refugees
In June 2015, a group of academics set out to re-create The Canterbury Tales by walking 80 miles across the North Downs in England and telling the stories of refugees along the way. Their goal was to give a voice to those who are often unheard.
Mark Twain’s Eternal Chatter
Author Ben Tarnoff analyzes the celebrity of Mark Twain and critiques the writer’s autobiography, which was published in several volumes starting in 2010.
7 Famous Slave Revolts
Slavery has existed from ancient times to the present day. Learn about some famed revolts against this “peculiar institution.”
Letter from Paul Revere to Jeremy Belknap, circa 1798
Historical letters sometimes bring to light decisions that mattered. Read this article about Paul Revere’s letter summarizing events on the night of his famous ride.
The Life of the Buddha
Read about the events of the Buddha’s early life that lead him to preaching about a different way of living.
The Star-Spangled Banner
Explore this interactive American flag which was originally made by hand in 1813 by Mary Pickersgill. Find out about its history by selecting the hotspots and learn about preservation plans for future generations.
Indian removal
From the 1810s to the 1830s, Andrew Jackson was instrumental in negotiating treaties that pushed the Native American tribes of the eastern United States out west.
Thomas Paine
Read about the life and influence of Thomas Paine, whose writing helped shape the United States.
Stephen Crane
This biography of author Stephen Crane includes an analysis of some of his work. Click the “Poems, Articles, & More” tab to read some of his poetry.
Decades Later, Photographer Searches for Gandhi’s Legacy
Recently, National Geographic gave a young photographer from Azerbaijan a daunting assignment: Create a photo essay about Indian independence leader Mohandas Gandhi, who died in 1948. Rena Effendi discusses how she tackled this task.
The Sapling Project
For Anne Frank, a chestnut tree growing outside her window symbolized the freedom she hoped she would one day experience again. Cuttings taken from the tree before it collapsed in 2010 have been planted throughout the world, including America.
Error of Century? Balboa Park With No Statue of Balboa
Historian Helen Otfield argues that a statue of Vasco Núñez de Balboa should be erected in San Diego’s Balboa Park, and she provides some history of the Spanish explorer.