The Declaration of Independence: Annotated
Related links to free scholarly context on JSTOR for the foundational document in American government.
Mary Beard and the Beginning of Women’s History
She was one half of a powerhouse academic couple and an influential historian in her own right. But she's still often overlooked.
The Long Fight for D.C. Statehood
Will the District of Columbia ever get its own star on the American flag? It's been an uphill journey so far.
How Racist Cartoons Helped Ignite a Massacre
In 1898, a North Carolina newspaper cartoonist weaponized white fears and tropes of Black predation to stoke a coup d'etat.
“Hard Times Tokens” Were Not One Cent
The counterfeit currencies issued in response to 1837’s coin shortage were worthless—or were they?
Politics and Power in the United States: A Syllabus
Historical and scholarly context for the January 6, 2021 insurrection.
Socialism: Foundations and Key Concepts
What is the political, philosophic, and economic system known as socialism? Some starting points for further study.
What Happened to U.S. Public Health?
After the Civil War, support for public health measures was high. Now, some people blast them as part of the "nanny state."
Where Did Zip Codes Come From?
How a plan for getting the mail delivered faster allowed targeted marketing to grow.
Franklin, the American State that Wasn’t
Franklin was the 14th state of America. If you haven't heard of it, that's because it only lasted for four years.