Slavery has existed from ancient times to the present day. Learn about some famed revolts against this “peculiar institution.”
Tag Archives: History
Beyond: What drives the urge to explore?
Why do some people feel driven to explore, while others are content to remain at home? Learn how these variations benefit humans.
Hurricane Katrina: Then and Now
Ten years after the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina, the recovery of New Orleans continues. See the progress from 2005 to 2015 in this photo essay.
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 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Explore this interactive American flag which was originally made by hand in 1813 by Mary Pickersgill.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.
The Stamp Act Riots, 250 Years Ago
Read this overview of the Stamp Act, which was passed by England’s Parliament in 1765 and led American colonists to rebel.
Thomas Paine
Read about the life and influence of Thomas Paine, whose writing helped shape the United States.
Where the Buffalo No Longer Roamed
While the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad connected the East coast and the West coast, it also led to the further decrease of the Native American population, as well as that of buffalo herds.
Indian Country Diaries: The Urban Relocation Program
In the 1950s, Native Americans were encouraged to move from reservations into urban areas. Learn more about how and why this relocation program happened and what the results were.
The Underground Railroad: Escape from Slavery
The Underground Railroad was a secret network of safe houses and people who helped slaves to freedom. Using this online interactivity, step back to 1860 and experience life as a young slave as he flees a Kentucky plantation for a long and dangerous journey to Canada.
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.
Book Nook: The Wright Brothers, by David McCullough
Historian and best-selling author David McCullough discusses his new book, The Wright Brothers, with Book Nook podcast host Vick Mickunas.
Conversing With the World: The Poet in Society
Read about the role of protest and political poetry throughout American history.
Tinker v. Des Moines (393 U.S. 503, 1969)
Read this brief history of the Tinker v. Des Moines ICSD case, in which the Supreme Court ruled that students have the right to protected free speech under the First Amendment.
Remembering the fight for women’s rights: Suffragists at Seneca Falls laid groundwork for others in the struggle for equality
The first convention for women’s rights in the United States took place in Seneca Falls, New York, in 1848. Writer Michael Sainato remembers the people who met there and highlights the influence they had on those that followed.
Phillis Wheatley
American Colonial poet Phillis Wheatley was brought from Africa to the United States as a child. Though a slave, she was taught to read and write and became a renowned poet for a time.
The Gettysburg Address
Abraham Lincoln’s brief, powerful speech still resonates today. Find out more about the circumstances in which he delivered it.
RACE: Are We So Different?
Despite apparent differences among people whose ancestors came from different part of the world, all humans can be traced back to a shared beginning. This interactive site explores our assumptions about the idea of race.