Why There’s A West Virginia
West Virginia declared its independence from the secessionist state of Virginia in the middle of the Civil War and became the 35th state.
What Is the Jefferson Davis Highway?
The Jefferson Davis Highway was project of the United Daughters of the Confederacy intended to portray Davis as an American hero.
Before the Civil War, Women Were Welcomed into the Sciences
Women in the STEM fields are reclaiming the memory of a richer scientific past than some might think.
The Women’s Magazine That Tried to Stop the Civil War
Godey’s Lady’s Book, one of the most influential American publications of the nineteenth century, tried to halt the Civil War.
How Conflict Boosts the Economy
Historically speaking, we are living in unusually peaceful times. But does peacetime mean bad things for the economy, which is often boosted by war?
Race and Labor in the 1863 New York City Draft Riots
In July 1863, over a thousand Irish dockworkers rioted against the Civil War draft in New York City in a four-day upheaval, targeting black workers and citizens.
The Battle Over Confederate Heritage Month
A Southern governor has proclaimed April to be Confederate Heritage Month. But how can you celebrate the confederacy without mentioning slavery?
The Most Contentious Presidential Transition in American History
Was Abraham Lincoln's the most tumultuous presidential transition in American history?
John Brown: Feared Fanatic or Freedom Fighter?
Murderous terrorist fanatic or freedom fighter? No figure in American history raises that question more than John Brown.
Early Photographs of African American Soldiers at The National Museum of African American History and Culture
The Prickitt album in the NMAAC is a rare coincidence of names and photographs of Colored Troops fighting for the Union in the Civil War.