modern era library

 

The 1960s was a period in American history that was marked with conflict and social revolution. Here you can find information about major events that took place in the 1960s and events in the modern era.

Featured Article:  How Hillary Clinton Works

Sen. Hillary Clinton came closer than any other woman to securing the nomination for president. How did she arrive at that point, and what did she want to accomplish if she had been elected? See more »

10 Historically Inaccurate Movies

10 Historically Inaccurate Movies

These films look like blooper reels when you compare them to history books. From anachronisms to flat-out lies, creative license reigns in this list.

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10 History-making Moments of 2008

10 History-making Moments of 2008

If you haven't been keeping news clippings for your 2008 scrapbook, you might've forgotten what happened earlier this year. That's where HowStuffWorks comes in. Here are 10 headlines from 2008 that'll go down in history.

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10 of the Biggest Lies in History

10 of the Biggest Lies in History

You don't look fat in those pants. I didn't copy off his paper. She's a natural blonde. I am not a crook. Lots of us lie, but what are the biggest fibs ever?

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5 Notable Copycat Killers

5 Notable Copycat Killers

No one really knows why people commit murder, but it's pretty easy to figure out the raison d'etre of most copycat killers. Here are five killers and the imitators who tried to follow in their footsteps.

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Aug. 15: Woodstock

Aug. 15: Woodstock

On August 15, 16 and 17, 1969, just a month after the famous moon landing of Apollo 11, nearly 500,000 people attended the Woodstock music festival.

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Has torture always been controversial?

Has torture always been controversial?

Torture -- in its assortment of variations-- has been around for centuries, but has the practice always been as controversial as it is today?

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How Barack Obama Works

How Barack Obama Works

If there's one message President Barack Obama wanted to get across during his campaign, it was that he represents change. Does his background match his message?

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How does banning a book work?

How does banning a book work?

Judy Blume, John Steinbeck and Maya Angelou are among the top 10 most challenged American authors. But to be challenged is not to be banned. What does it take to ban a book?

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How Hillary Clinton Works

How Hillary Clinton Works

Sen. Hillary Clinton came closer than any other woman to securing the nomination for president. How did she arrive at that point, and what did she want to accomplish if she had been elected?

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How Joe Biden Works

How Joe Biden Works

Joe Biden's combination of tough talk and 35 years of Senate experience made him Barack Obama's VP pick for the 2008 presidential campaign. What are his goals for the vice presidency?

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How John McCain Works

How John McCain Works

Sen. John McCain is a retired Navy veteran, a supporter of the war in Iraq and the Republican Party's nominee for president. What is his past voting record, and what will he do if he's elected?

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How lame is a lame-duck president?

How lame is a lame-duck president?

Once a president reaches the end of a second term, everyone begins looking for his or her successor. How much influence do so-called lame ducks wield?

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How Presidential Debates Work

How Presidential Debates Work

This American institution began with Abraham Lincoln following Stephen Douglas on the campaign trail and heckling him from the crowd. Today, the presidential debate is one of the most informative and anticipated markers of candidates' campaigns.

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How Sarah Palin Works

How Sarah Palin Works

Sarah Palin's combination of femininity and toughness has captured the admiration of supporters among what had been a divided and stale Republican base in the 2008 presidential campaign. What are her goals for the vice presidency?

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How the Civil Rights Movement Worked

How the Civil Rights Movement Worked

How does change happen? For the civil rights movement, it began with a group of people who decided that separate but equal wasn't good enough.

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How the Electoral College Works

How the Electoral College Works

Every four years, millions of U.S. citizens go to local voting booths to elect the next president and vice president. But those votes may not matter. How can the electoral college change the vote?

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How the First Lady Works

How the First Lady Works

Whether you think of the first lady as the nation's hostess or an adviser to the U.S. president, the position has been evolving constantly for the last 200 years. Who defines her role if it lies outside the parameters of the Constitution?

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How the Swing States Work

How the Swing States Work

States in which the majority of voters vote for the same party in every election are all but ignored by presidential candidates. Instead, they spend their time and effort in the swing states. What are they?

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Is D.B. Cooper still alive?

Is D.B. Cooper still alive?

It's one of the biggest unsolved crimes in U.S. history: How did a mild-mannered man single-handedly hijack a plane and make off with $200,000 in cash? Could he still be alive?

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Quiz: Getting to Know Barack Obama

Quiz: Getting to Know Barack Obama

If there's one clear message Sen. Barack Obama wants to get across to the voters, it's that he represents change. He also wants America to know that he's the candidate who can unite the U.S. government. So how will he do it if he's elected president?

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