The First Ugly Election: America, 1800
The 1800 election saw America's first contested presidential campaigns: Thomas Jefferson vs. John Adams.
Who Wrote the Declaration of Independence?
The Second Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. Thomas Jefferson was not then credited with its authorship.
Why Some Politicians Bounce Back from Scandal
Three years ago, then-CIA director General David Petraeus resigned amid scandal: He'd had an affair with his biographer Paula Broadwell.
Free Love and the First Female Presidential Nominee
Victoria Woodhull who was known to her enemies as "Mrs. Satan," was the first woman to run for president of the United States.
The Invention of Retirement
Retirement as a mass phenomenon didn’t start as a way for older people to enjoy themselves.
Race Has Always Affected the Vote
While racism in the United States is often attributed to poor whites, research suggests its political power resides in middle and wealthy suburban whites.
A Really Contested Convention: The 1924 Democratic “Klanbake”
The convention was also notable because hundreds of Knights of the Ku Klux Klan attended as delegates.
Maternity, #Meternity, and the Military
Maternity leave as we know it today may have its origins in turn-of-the-century French militarism.
The Right to Legal Counsel
Adequate legal counsel is not provided to many of the poor accused of crimes.
Who Are the Independent Voters?
The voting patterns of actual independents have long been a topic of study. Who are they, and how do they actually vote?