Lincoln’s Reconstruction Plan
One hundred fifty years ago this fall, advance planning for the reconstruction of the rebelling Southern states began. In the fall of 1863, after the victories at Gettysburg and Vicksburg, […]
The First National Anti-Slavery Organization
The American Anti-Slavery society was founded in Philadelphia 180 years ago, in December of 1833. The group agreed to a simple “constitution,” prefaced by a brief but eloquent “manifesto” that […]
Andrew Jackson Vetoes Re-Chartering the Bank of the United States
For those working through a survey of American history and reaching the Jacksonian era, we reprint here a document introduction by Professor Dan Monroe (Millikin University), one of the Honored […]
Lincoln’s Meditation on the Divine Will
On this day in 1862, Abraham Lincoln wrote a brief but deeply revealing note to himself. At a dispiriting moment in the Civil War, Lincoln struggled to make sense of […]
How Did an Expanding Frontier Shape American Culture?
During the summer of 1893, a young historian presented a paper to the American Historical Society on the site of the World’s Columbian Exposition, also known as the Chicago World’s […]
The Sedition Act: An Early Challenge to Free Speech
By 1798, those who a decade before had collaborated in the Founding were staking rival claims for the national future. Federalists saw America’s prosperity and security best ensured with an […]
Federalist 51: Madison’s Unique Contribution to the History of Political Thought
In Federalist 51, Publius (James Madison) argues that the separation of powers described in the Constitution will not survive “in practice” unless the structure of government is so contrived that […]
Truman Acts to End Segregation in the Armed Forces
Professor John Moser of Ashland University helps us understand the context and significance of an action President Truman took 65 years ago to begin desegregation of our military. The 65th […]
On the 50th Anniversary of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” Speech
On this day, we are pleased to post this essay by Lucas Morel, Class of 1960 Professor of Ethics and Politics at Washington and Lee University, who considers the lasting […]
Dan Monroe: History & Hemingway
Teachers will have two opportunities to explore the work of writer Ernest Hemingway in the upcoming weeks. Professor Dan Monroe, who is the John C. Griswold Distinguished Professor of History […]