In the late 19th century, a group of women were instrumental to the success of the Harvard College Observatory and the discoveries made there.
Tag Archives: History
Remains of Pilgrims’ Plymouth settlement unearthed
Archeologists from the University of Massachusetts Boston recently unearthed artifacts that help pinpoint the location of the historic Plymouth settlement.
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.
Federalist Papers
Three founding fathers wrote this series of articles to persuade at least nine of the thirteen states to ratify the Constitution.
Should U.S. pay reparations for slavery? U.N.-appointed experts think so
Read why the United Nations recommends formal apologies and reparations be made to black Americans and why the subject is controversial.
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.
9/11 hero’s actions become a lesson in character
The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, shocked the nation but may seem like ancient history because they happened before you were born. The family of one of that day’s countless heroes is working to help today’s students understand the decisions that mattered on that day.
Japanese-American Relocation
While the United States was helping to end the horrors of Nazism during World War II, it was also imprisoning thousands of ordinary Americans, caught up in a wave of fear and discrimination.
‘The Holocaust did not begin with killing; it began with words.’
In the shadow of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, alarming echoes of the past are being heard.
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.
Opinion: Why Nazi Hunting is Still a Worthy Pursuit
Dr. Efraim Zuroff asserts that we should continue to pursue and bring to justice Nazis who participated in the atrocities of the Holocaust, more than 60 years after the war ended.
The Peopling Of America
People have been immigrating to America for tens of thousands of years. Use this interactive timeline to see how immigration patterns have changed over time.
Challenger Disaster
On January 28, 1986, the space shuttle Challenger exploded shortly after liftoff, killing all seven of its crew members. At this site, you can read and watch videos about this national tragedy.
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.
The AI Revolution Is On
Artificial intelligence is all around us—and it’s not a bunch of robots that behave like humans. Find out what AI looks like in today’s world, and discover how we got here.
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.