North American History

From the southern tip of Florida to the Alaskan wilderness, explore North American history in-depth in the North American history section.

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During America's War for Independence, the British promised enslaved Africans their freedom if they'd join their side. Thousands signed up. What happened next?

By Dave Roos

Has a nuclear bomb ever been dropped on the United States? Well, it happened back in the 1950s. But... it was an accident.

By Laurie L. Dove

Treasure hunter Tommy Thompson claims he can't remember where he put 3 tons of gold from the shipwreck of the S.S. Central America. The courts don't believe him.

By Jesslyn Shields

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A Wild West governor once wore a pair of shoes made of the skin of an executed felon named Big Nose George. The gruesome but true story is predictably involved.

By Jesslyn Shields

Ethnic brand identities and mascots affect people with different political leanings in surprising ways, at times increasing associations with Native American stereotypes.

By Christopher Hassiotis

In 1985, the Hanshin Tigers won the Japanese World Series. In the ensuing celebration, though, a statue of Colonel Sanders was drowned, and the team hasn't won since.

By Bryan Young

Rainbow parties in the 1960s may sound like good fun, but the frivolity actually centered around an H-bomb radiating the Earth's atmosphere.

By Laurie L. Dove

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We think the Wild West was a big shoot-'em-up, but statistically speaking, people of the wild frontier were more likely to encounter a handshake than a bullet.

By Laurie L. Dove

Folk hero Johnny Appleseed planted apple trees across the United States during the mid-1800s. Can you actually take a bite out of history and pick an apple from one of those trees today?

By Laurie L. Dove

Forget George Washington's cherry tree and Ben Franklin's inveterate womanizing. You're about to meet patriots you've never heard of, plus a few you thought you knew.

By Kate Kershner

In the early 1800s, the United States witnessed the birth of the railroad industry and along with it, dramatic changes in American society and business. What was life like before and after the railroads?

By the Editors of Publications International, Ltd.

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The railroad expansion of the 1800s changed America forever. By 1900, the people North America had settled a continent that previous generations had thought would take a thousand years to occupy.

By the Editors of Publications International, Ltd.

The turn of the century brought a new wave of optimism and amazing new technologies. It was also a time of unprecedented expansion in the railroad industry -- until World War I arrived.

By the Editors of Publications International, Ltd.

Railroads of the 1920s reflected a time of uncertainty in the industry at the time. Technology greatly improved train transportation, but the Great Depression brought about a bust in the industry. Learn more about the railroads of the 1920s.

By the Editors of Publications International, Ltd.

By the 1960s the lonesome whistle of the steam railroads was a thing of the past. The decline of railroads came about during the 1960s and 1970s as the automobile dominated transportation.

By the Editors of Publications International, Ltd.

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Railroads of the 1990s explains the history of American railroads through the 1990s. Technological advancements have shaped the railroads of this decade. Learn about the history of railroads of the 1990s.

By the Editors of Publications International, Ltd.

Famous locomotives, such as the John Bull locomotive, have helped shape the history of American railroads. These trains are well-known to many railroad historians. Learn more about some famous locomotives.

By the Editors of Publications International, Ltd.

The Moffat Tunnel is a six-mile tunnel that was built in the mountains of Colorado. It was constructed by the Denver & Salt Lake Railroad in 1927. Learn more about the Moffat Tunnel.

By the Editors of Publications International, Ltd.

The Railroad Retirement Board was created in order to give railroad workers a separate pension. The pension was meant to be a separate, federally administered pension. Learn about the Railroad Retirement Board.

By the Editors of Publications International, Ltd.

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The steam versus diesel debate was one that lasted for 20 heated years as technology advanced. The debate centered on the concept of tradition versus technology. Learn more about the steam versus diesel debate.

By the Editors of Publications International, Ltd.

The Chicago railroad fair celebrated the centennial of railroading's arrival in Chicago. The fair was a testimony to the place railroads held in the American lifestyle. Learn more about the Chicago railroad fair of 1934.

By the Editors of Publications International, Ltd.

The economy had crashed. The nation was still recovering from World War I, and World War II was on the way. How did the railroad industry manage to make it through the Great Depression?

By the Editors of Publications International, Ltd.

The railroad industry struggled through the Great Depression only to be taken over during World War II. Learn why, despite the government restrictions on their technology and use, railroads reached top form during World War II.

By the Editors of Publications International, Ltd.

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Post-war railroads chronicles the height of American railroad transportation. Railroads at this time featured lavish passenger cars that offered passengers unparalleled levels of comfort and style. Learn about railroads and post-war railroads.

By the Editors of Publications International, Ltd.

On the day Ronald Reagan was inaugurated as President, January 20, 1981. the Iranian government released the American hostages, the culmination of months of negotiations.