How the Freedom Vote Mobilized Black Mississippians
When civil rights activists needed new tactics, they came up with a strategy that would get national and international attention.
Life in Indigenous Boarding Schools
Survivors of schools in the US spoke with scholars about their experiences of cruelty, neglect, and cultural degradation.
When the Girl Scouts Were Accused of Being Commies
In response to right-wing attacks during the Cold War, the Girl Scouts changed their tone. Somewhat.
The Return of Hemp
Even though it's made from cannabis plants, you can't get high on hemp. But it was classified as an illicit drug for nearly 50 years.
How Poor Women Shaped the War on Poverty
Bridging the gap between policy and people was a central aim of the War on Poverty. Often, women were the ones who linked the government to the community.
Guns in America: Foundations and Key Concepts
This non-exhaustive list of readings on the role of guns in US history and society introduces the field as a subject of scholarly inquiry.
The Role of Naval Impressment in the American Revolution
Maritime workers who were basically kidnapped into the British Royal Navy were a key force in the War of Independence.
The Propaganda of World War II Comic Books
A government-funded group called the Writers' War Board got writers and illustrators to portray the United States positively—and its enemies as evil.
The Summer of Love Wasn’t All Peace and Hippies
Articles in the underground press capture what's missing from our romanticized memory of that fateful season.
James Baldwin and the FBI
The author was monitored for his political activities, but also for being gay. The surveillance took a toll on him.