History
Was Southern Secession a Political Revolution?
At first, many white Southerners spoke of secession as the Revolution of 1861, comparing what they were doing to what the American colonists had done in 1776. But how true was this? […]
Uncategorized
History
How the American Confederacy Was Born
By February 1, 1861, the Deep South states had left the Union. What happened next was the need for a new government. Go inside the dramatic political convention held in Montgomery, Alabama, which gave birth to the Confederate States of America. […]
History
The South’s Slide to Secession
The election of 1860 concluded with Abraham Lincoln and the Republicans triumphant. The great question facing the United States: How would the South react? Take a closer look at the Lower South’s immediate move toward secession. […]
History
Philosophical Views of the Middle Ages
For the Humanists, the Middle Ages were so dismal asto not be worth studying. But what about subsequent centuries of philosophers? How did Enlightenment and Romantic thinkers see this period of history? How do their competing views influence our understanding of whether the Middle Ages was a period to be cherished—or feared? […]
Uncategorized
New Course: 101 Failed Inventions of History!
From flying tanks and the Segway to LaserDisks and New Coke, learn all about the inventions that might have changed the world… then didn’t. […]
American History
The Pentagon Building’s 9/11 Memorials
The Pentagon is one of the most iconic buildings in the Washington, D.C. area. On September 11, 2001, this grand military complex—the headquarters of the Department of Defense—was the site of a devastating terrorist attack. How did the Pentagon memorialize this traumatic national event? […]
American History
Who Designed and Built the U.S. Capitol Building?
The L’Enfant Plan put Congress on the tallest hill in the federal core of the city. The came the hard part: designing the Capitol Building itself. […]
Interactive Course Guides
The White House and the Presidency
Track the history and the dramatic fortunes of the White House, from its building, expansion, burning, reconstruction, and further expansions down to the present. Then visit the White House, beginning with the Oval Office and Cabinet Room and following the route of a White House tour. Also visit the parks adjoining the White House, and the Jefferson and Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorials on the National Mall. […]
American History
Who Built the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, D.C.?
Today, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial is a landmark feature of the nation’s capital and a must-see spot for visitors from around the world wishing to honor the fallen soldiers from a contentious 20th-century war. But the story of how this iconic Washington, D.C. memorial came to be is a tale of trauma, solidarity—and controversy. […]
American History
What Happens Inside the U.S. Supreme Court?
For those of us outside the legal profession, the judicial branch may be the most opaque branch of the U.S. government—and the least understood. But it is by no means the least important. Here’s why it’s worth your time to come see the Supreme Court in action. […]