Papers, Please: The Invention of the Passport
Immigration and national security remain at the top of President Trump’s agenda. He issued a revised executive order ...
Why There Are Two Koreas
The two Korean states, which both claim to be the legitimate government of the divided Korean Peninsula, are in the news again.
Was Andrew Jackson Really a States’ Rights Champion?
On the 250 anniversary of Andrew Jackson's birth, a look at his squashing of the first great nullification crisis in American history.
NATO Survives its Identity Crisis
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) began on April 4, 1949, creating an alliance promising mutual defense against potential Soviet aggression.
The History of Outlawing Abortion in America
Abortion was first criminalized in the U.S. in the mid-19th century. A key argument was that too many white women were ending their pregnancies.
How World’s Fairs Helped Train Southern Suffragists
There’s no cultural touchstone quite like an exhibition or fair—think the Great Exhibition of 1851, which introduced the ...
How to Bathe Like a 18th-Century Queen
18th-century bathing was controversial. Some argued bathing was healthy, while others argued it could damage one's health.
Immigration and National Security on George Washington’s Day
Presuming that immigration was a boon to national security, U.S. borders remained mostly open for the first century of the nation’s existence.
What Do Ex-Presidents Do? Ask John Quincy Adams.
Many are speculating about what former president Barack Obama will do in his retirement. Perhaps he will stay as politically involved as John Quincy Adams.
America’s State Secrets and the Freedom of Information Act
The Freedom of Information Act of 1966 (or FOIA) was the result of a struggle by Congress and private business for information from the executive branch.