Journalist Charlayne Hunter-Gault reflects on the character and achievements of South Africa’s first black president.
Tag Archives: History
Hemingway on War and Its Aftermath
Although best know for his fiction, Ernest Hemingway was also a war correspondent and a Red Cross ambulance driver. Read this article from the National Archives to find out how Hemingway’s wartime experiences influenced his writing.
After Chernobyl, They Refused to Leave
The 1986 Chernobyl disaster was the world’s worst nuclear accident. Thousands of people were relocated to other cities. But 1,200 people, mostly older women, came back to live in the toxic Exclusion Zone, unwilling to be displaced from their homes. Read the article and view the video to find out what bonds these women to their homeland.
The Life and Times of Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela (1918-2013) was a Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and the first black president of South Africa. He helped bring an end to apartheid and was a global advocate for human rights. Read his biography; then, explore the site to learn more about this remarkable man.
Slavery’s Last Stronghold
The African country of Mauritania officially ended slavery in 1981; however, an estimated 10%–20% of the population is still enslaved. Read this article to find out more about the struggle to free the last slaves on earth.
Trojan War
The tale of the Trojan War has fascinated people for centuries. Why? Check out this site to learn the story of the war, the epics that mention it, and what archaeologists have discovered over the years. While you’re there, be sure to click links to related topics, such as “Greek Mythology” and “Ancient Greece.” There’s a lot to learn.
A New House in the Old Country
Sometimes events fit together as neatly as a five-foot-wide house in an alleyway. In this essay, author Etgar Keret relates how he came to inhabit the world’s narrowest house—one perfectly meshing with his minimalist writing style—located in a place deeply significant to his family.
The War Over King’s Legacy
Martin Luther King Jr.’s life ended before his work was complete, leaving others to interpret his intentions and delineate his legacy. Vern E. Smith and Jon Meacham discuss the history and the ongoing disagreements over who King was and what his work means today.
From Divided States, A ‘United’ Nation—Thanks To These Men
In this interview, we hear from Simon Winchester, author of The Men Who United The States: America’s Explorers, Inventors, Eccentrics, and Mavericks, and the Creation of One Nation, Indivisible, about the people who made the United States such a great nation.
Anne Frank’s Amsterdam
A new digital scrapbook combines images from World War II Amsterdam with images of modern-day Amsterdam to give viewers a unique perspective into the world of Anne Frank.
Pulling Down the Statue of King George III, New York City
In 1852–1853, artist Johannes Adam Simon Ortel painted Pulling Down the Statue of King George III, New York City, a work depicting an event that took place shortly after the signing of the Declaration of Independence. How did the era in which Ortel lived and painted affect Ortel’s depiction? Visit this site to view Ortel’s painting and learn the answer.
Eagles: Lions of the Sky
Our national symbol is the bald eagle, as you know, but few of us know much about eagles at all. Visit this site to read summaries of legends about eagles, and, when you’re done, click the links to learn facts about these incredible birds. If the season is right, you can even watch live videos of eagles in the wild!
Horse (Exhibition)
How do domestic animals differ from their wild cousins? How were wild animals domesticated in the first place? Visit the American Museum of Natural History’s exhibit on horses to find out. Click on each of the site’s many links to discover where today’s wild horses came from and much more. You may be surprised by what you find!
Hurricane Hunters Association
Why would anyone fly a plane into one of the world’s most powerful storms? Visit this site to learn about “hurricane hunting” with the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron. Learn about its mission, its history, its people, its planes, and its role in saving lives. While you’re there, be sure to click on the “Cyberflight” link to experience a flight into Hurricane Dennis!
Can Architecture Help Solve the Israeli-Palestinian Dispute?
The city of Jerusalem has long been a sticking point in Middle East peace negotiations. Read this article to find out how architects Yehuda Greenfield-Gilat and Karen Lee Bar-Sinai are working to find a creative way to divide Jerusalem between Israel and Palestine.
Feasting and Fighting: The Long-Lost Secrets of Beowulf
Archaeologists in Denmark have excavated the sixth-century great dining hall at the center of the epic poem.
Teaching About Anne Frank from a Kid’s-Eye View
Some students in South Carolina trained to be tour guides for a traveling exhibit put together by the Anne Frank House Museum. This article and short video show how the experience inspired them.
Goodbye to Berlin: Postcards from Nazi Germany Tell Story of the Kindertransport
In 1938, just before the start of World War II, nearly 10,000 predominantly Jewish children were sent, without their parents, from Nazi Germany and Europe to safety in Great Britain. The rescue mission was known as Kindertransport. Read this article to find out about one family’s heartbreaking story.
What Is Democracy?
Almost everyone knows that the United States is a democracy. So what? Why does that matter? Read this article to learn one teen’s answer. Discover how our system of government helps make it possible for our many, many voices to be heard.
Little Rock Central High School: National Historic Site
In 1957, nine students in Arkansas decided that they would attend Little Rock Central High School. Their decision led to big changes all over the United States. Visit this National Park Service site to find out how and why.