Russia’s 1917 Revolution strove to free the people from the imperial rule of the Czars. As with the Arab Spring, though, a successful revolution was no guarantee of freedom from oppression.
Tag Archives: History
American Indian Boarding Schools Haunt Many
As the United States government took over the West, a concerted effort to “kill the Indian” through education developed. Hear the stories of Native Americans forcibly separated from their culture.
Refugee shacks – survivors of 1906 quake and fire
After the 1906 earthquake and fire that destroyed a large portion of San Francisco, refugee camps of very small houses were built. They were later moved to different parts of the city and some still exist today. Click through the photos at the top of the article to see some of them.
George Washington’s letter to Jewish community becomes musical call to action
An historic letter written by George Washington is the inspiration for a cantata recently performed at a Jewish congregation in Philadelphia. Read why the creators of the musical piece found the document to still be relevant and important.
Prelude to War: Manifest Destiny
Read this introduction of the standings of the United States and Mexico before the Mexican-American War. Click the different sections in the drop-down menu for more in-depth explanations and insights.
Why Reconstruction Matters
Columbia University history professor Eric Foner argues that Reconstruction ended before it could become truly successful, and he draws parallels to current affairs.
Alabama Senate Passes Confederate Monuments Bill
Should Confederate monuments be preserved? Some people believe they are important memorials to American history, while others find them offensive or see them as symbols of slavery. Read to learn how the governments of Alabama and other southern states have handled this issue.
7-Year-Old Aleppo Girl Who Tweeted City’s Ravages Is Safely Evacuated
Using Twitter, Bana al-Abed has chronicled her experience of the war in Syria. For this reason, she has been called a modern-day Anne Frank. Read to learn more about this remarkable young girl and her evacuation from Aleppo.
Social Media Sparked, Accelerated Egypt’s Revolutionary Fire
Twenty-first century revolutionaries have a powerful tool not available to previous generations. Read about how technology aided the Arab Spring.
Historic Brandeis Opinion in ‘Whitney v. California’
Learn about how a Supreme Court case nearly a century ago has influenced our approach to the freedom of speech.
Survivor of Stalin’s prison camps runs first museum that looks at history of Russia’s Gulags
Although it resulted in more loss of life than the Nazi concentration camps, the Soviet Gulag system is less well known. One survivor has spent his life working to change that.
Johnstown Dam Tragedy
The worst man-made disaster in the United States before the September 11th, 2001, attacks occurred in Pennsylvania in 1889. Learn about the causes and effects of this calamity.
King Philip’s War
For 14 months from 1675 to 1676, Pokunoket chief Metacom, known as King Philip, led an unsuccessful effort to drive the English settlers from native land.
What America’s Gilded Age tells us about the Trump era
Annabelle Quince, a broadcaster with a background in law, psychology, and history, draws parallels between American robber barons of the past and today’s political and business leaders.
The Life and Legacy of Nelson Mandela: 1918-2013
Follow this timeline of Nelson Mandela, whose protest of South African apartheid spanned decades. View the photos and videos and listen to the audio for more context.
Religion and the Founding of the American Republic
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.
Inside the Secret World of Russian’s Cold War Mapmakers
During the Cold War, the Soviet Union created millions of detailed maps of locations across the globe. Read about the historians uncovering the previously-classified documents and why they were important.
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.
Fleeing To Dismal Swamp, Slaves And Outcasts Found Freedom
This article explains how archaelogists and historians have learned about the lives of runaways who escaped slavery by hiding in the Great Dismal Swamp in Virginia and North Carolina.
American Roots of the Indian Independence Movement
It’s well known that the American Civil Rights movement drew on the ideas that helped India break free from British rule. But those ideas in turn stem from American influence.