See the top five dictators who have ruled different parts of Asia over the past two decades.
Tag Archives: History
Apollo 11 tribute features stunning projections onto Washington Monument
Watch a video of a tribute celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing. The Washington Monument transforms into a movie screen depicting various stages of the mission.
At Gilded Age “Poverty Parties,” the Rich Felt Free
At “Poverty Parties” during the Gilded Age, the rich would transform from riches to rags to “free” themselves from the constraints of society. Read more about the insensitive parties that took place at a time of significant income disparity.
The First Pride Marches, In Photos
The struggle for Gay rights took many forms in the late 1900s, though their goals were the same: equality and acceptance. Look at photos of some of the first Pride parades and learn the history of how modern Pride celebrations came to be.
Saving a Lost Language
Western Carolina University is preserving the Cherokee language, which will help preserve the culture. Learn why this decision matters so much to the Cherokee people.
10 Facts about the Emancipation Proclamation
Read ten facts about the 1863 Proclamation, one of the most important documents in the history of the United States.
See Jewish Life Before the Holocaust Through a Newly Released Digital Archive
Russian-born Jew Roman Vishniac’s prints and negatives depicting Jewish life before the Holocaust are published for the first time in an online photo database. The hope is to gather information from the public, such as dates, locations, and identification of people from that time.
Global Impact of the American Revolution
The American Revolution has served as a model of how colonized citizens can gain their independence. Watch this short video to learn more about the influence the American Revolution has had on the rest of the world.
Descendants of Chinese Laborers Reclaim Railroad’s History
The first transcontinental railroad transformed America and came to symbolize a new spirit of unity and cooperation. Yet for decades after its completion, the Chinese workers who made the railroad’s construction possible were overlooked. Recently, steps have been taken to remedy this historical injustice.
Children of the Fifty-Sixers: Growing up in Hungarian Chicago
Author Rebecca Makkai reflects on how her father’s escape from Communist-controlled Hungary in 1956 still echoes in her life in the United States.
The ‘Canali’ and the First Martians
In 1894, Percival Lowell looked through his telescope and believed he saw canals on Mars. He thought they were proof of intelligent life on that planet. But were they really canals? Read about what Lowell actually saw and the effect of his theory on people’s imaginations.
Destination America
What is it about the United States that convinces citizens of other nations to leave their homes and lives behind? Visit this site to explore the answers, along with the personal stories of immigrants from Guatemala, Iran, Tibet, the Soviet Union, Taiwan, and Mexico. While you’re there, be sure to browse the photo archives and genealogical resources.
Black Walden
In Walden, Henry Thoreau mentions that the woods he lived in were also home to people who had escaped from slavery. Read this article to learn more about the lives of African Americans living around Walden Pond.
“12 Years a Slave” based on true story
The film 12 Years a Slave is hailed as one of the most accurate portrayals of slavery to come to the movie screen. In this short clip, you will see some scenes from the film and meet the screenwriter.
Brother Outsider
Bayard Rustin was the mastermind behind the March on Washington. Watch the trailer for this PBS documentary and learn about the honors belatedly conferred on this little-known hero of the civil rights movement.
X-Ray Vision Archaeology Reveals Holocaust Escape Tunnel
The Holocaust nearly obliterated the once-vibrant Jewish population of Lithuania. Learn about how a small band of prisoners made a daring escape so that they could bear witness and how modern researchers have found proof of this event.
American Experience: Freedom Riders
In 1961, a diverse group of activists rode interstate buses to several southern cities, violating laws that did not allow African Americans to sit at the front of the bus or alongside white riders. This simple act sparked violent responses that drew attention to the civil rights cause. Explore the route and hear the voices of the Freedom Riders through this interactive site.
How a Technology That Helped Settle the West Became Known as the “Devil’s Rope”
As American settlers moved westward into the Great Plains, conflicts arose between cattle ranchers and farmers. Learn what role barbed wire played and how this change to the landscape affected this new nation’s bison population.
Proudly Bearing Elders’ Scars, Their Skin Says ‘Never Forget’
Descendants of Holocaust survivors remember and honor their loved ones in many different ways. Read how some are trying to keep these events fresh in the minds of those who did not live through the times.
Jon Savage on his documentary “Teenage”
Jon Savage’s book “Teenage: The Creation of Youth 1875-1945” was turned into a documentary film and released in the U.S. in 2014. Because the idea of teenagers didn’t always exist, “Teenage” explores the emergence of this new stage between childhood and adulthood in the early 20th century.