American History
Explore the development of the United States with this collection of articles about American history. Topics in this section include the American Revolution, the gold rush and the expansion of the West.
What's the Meaning of the 'Don't Tread on Me' Flag?
How the Great Compromise Saved a Fledgling United States
These 6 U.S. States Once Declared Themselves Independent Nations
Harpers Ferry Has a Complex and Dizzying History
The Racial History of the Term 'Grandfathered In'
Slavery Under Another Name: What Were the Black Codes?
A Roundup of Some of the Wildest Characters in the Wild West
Reign of Terror: The Forgotten Story of the Osage Tribe Murders
Which Native American Nations Were the 'Five Civilized Tribes'?
Stardust and Scandal: The Hollywood Sign Turns 100
5 Events in Black History You Never Learned in School
What Fueled the Famous Feud Between the Hatfields and McCoys?
Why in the World Do U.S. Presidents Pardon Turkeys?
How the Truman Doctrine Changed American Foreign Policy Forever
Ridiculous History: H-Bombs in Space Caused Light Shows, and People Partied
How the Harlem Renaissance Sparked a New African American Identity
5 Causes of the Great Depression: Could It Happen Again?
What's Inside Mount Rushmore's Not-So-Secret Chamber?
What State Is Washington, D.C., In?
How Many States Are in the U.S.A.?
A Short History of Skid Row
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The historic period of the Harlem Renaissance hit its height a century ago, but its influence has continuously impacted American culture through the decades.
When you think of the California Gold Rush, you probably think a lot of people made millions off that gold, right? Some did, but it wasn't from panning for it.
By Oisin Curran
The U.S. Capitol is one of the most architecturally impressive buildings in the world. And how its design was chosen is quite a story.
By John Donovan
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Why not the Big Kumquat or the Big Banana? New York's fruity moniker actually had its beginnings in the sports pages and jazz clubs of the 1920s.
Most Americans can at least recite the phrase about "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." But what else is inside this document? And what was left out?
By Dave Roos
It's been 101 years since the 19th Amendment to the Constitution was ratified. Why did it take so long for women to get the right to vote in the United States?
The Boston Massacre didn't start the American Revolution. But the events that unfolded on March 5, 1770, helped cement the idea that the relationship between England and its colonies was permanently broken.
By John Donovan
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Lots of U.S. states have nicknames, but Missouri's flinty moniker arguably is one of the best.
What makes the American Revolution stand out in world history? Was it the introduction of guerrilla warfare or its stage outside the borders of its parent nation? All those were noteworthy, but the real revolution was what the Revolution created.
By Josh Clark & Dave Roos
After the Civil War, the United States was still a country divided. And the history of a monumental piece of artwork that resides in Atlanta shows how even art was used to rewrite the narrative of the war.
By Ray Glier
The early American philosophy known as Manifest Destiny was a doctrine that espoused that God wanted Americans to take over the continent.
By John Donovan
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Back in the early 1970s, two college coeds had the idea to create bracelets for sale to the public as a means of keeping imprisoned U.S. soldiers alive in the hearts and minds of the public. This is the story.
Hundreds were killed in the infamous 1942 Cocoanut Grove fire in Boston. But from the tragedy came advancements in everything from building codes and medical treatments that are still in place today worldwide.
By John Donovan
The first framework for the government of the United States was the Articles of Confederation, written in 1777 and ratified in 1781, which set up a relatively weak central government without federal courts or even the power to levy taxes.
Jim Crow was about much more than laws enacted to suppress blacks. It was about a system involving politics, economics, social and cultural practices. And while the laws may be dead, Jim Crow is not.
By John Donovan
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It's hard to sum up something as big as a state in just a few words, but that doesn't stop them from trying! What does it mean to be from the 'Show-Me' state or to be a Sooner? Find out how vast your state nickname knowledge is with our quiz!
By Alia Hoyt
This infamous gun battle in Tombstone, Arizona lasted just 30 seconds. But its legend, and America's obsession, has endured for more than a decade.
By John Donovan
The African American servicemen known as "Buffalo Soldiers" are the subjects of both history and legend, but what is truth and what is lore?
By John Donovan
Hundreds of thousands of emigrants traveled the 2,170-mile Oregon Trail in search of a better life. And thousands of them were injured — and even died — on the journey along the way.
By Mark Mancini
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Devil's Den was the site of the bloodiest battle of the American Civil War. Not surprisingly, it's rumored to be haunted with the ghosts of many dead soldiers.
By Dave Roos
There are 50 states in the U.S., but there have been many proposals over the years to add more.
The Great Depression may seem like ancient history, but many of the factors that contributed to it still pose economic risks today.
The saying is really true. Texas is big. And so is everything in it.
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Frederick Douglass' pivotal 19th century abolitionist newspaper has been relaunched for a 21st century audience.
By Carrie Tatro
Before the 1964 Civil Rights Act and even after it, the tradition of the "great American road trip" was very different for families of color.
By Dave Roos