American History | HeinOnline Blog

10 Historical Events You Didn’t Know Happened in March

American History, Foreign Affairs
March 31, 2021 Tara Kibler

Ah, March—for many, synonymous with “spring,” although not quite here for us at Hein headquarters in Buffalo, N.Y.

There’s actually quite a few notable events that have taken place during this month over the centuries. On this last day of March, let’s look at 10 of them.

1. Ratification of the Articles of Confederation

The Articles of Confederation were passed on November 15, 1777 after more than a year of debate. Still, they would not be ratified for almost four more years due to land disputes between various states—particularly Maryland and Virginia. By March 1, 1789, the document was finally proclaimed the law of the land after the one holdout…

Secrets of the Serial Set: Education in America

American History, Education, Secrets of the Serial Set, U.S. Congressional Serial Set
March 19, 2021 Tara Kibler

This month, HeinOnline continues its Secrets of the Serial Set series with a look at the evolution of education throughout American History.

Secrets of the Serial Set is an exciting and informative monthly blog series from HeinOnline dedicated to unveiling the wealth of American history found in the United States Congressional Serial Set. Documents from additional HeinOnline databases have been incorporated to supplement research materials for non-U.S. related events discussed.

These posts have been so informative; they enable both patrons and staff to understand what the Serial Set is and how invaluable it is to all kinds of research…

Dr. Mary Edwards Walker, Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient

American History, Exploring HeinOnline, Law Journal Library, U.S. Congressional Serial Set, Women's Studies
March 16, 2021 Stephanie Ruesch

The Medal of Honor is America’s highest military honor, awarded by the President in the name of Congress for extraordinary acts of valor. First presented in 1863 to the surviving Andrews Raiders, Union soldiers who volunteered to commandeer the Confederate train The General, the Medal of Honor has since been awarded more than 3,500 times. The criteria and design of the Medal has changed since 1863, and today three variants of the Medal exist: one for the Department of the Army (awarded to soldiers), one for the Department of the Navy (awarded to sailors, marines, and coast guardsmen)…

12 Female Firsts from American History for Women’s History Month

American History, Women and the Law, Women's Studies
March 11, 2021 Tara Kibler

Women’s History Month has been observed since the 1980s as a way to highlight the contributions of women to society over the years. Let’s do just that with HeinOnline’s Women and the Law database by taking a look at some of the most notable “female firsts” in U.S. history.

WOMEN AND THE LAW

HeinOnline is pleased to offer Women and the Law (Peggy), a database that brings together thousands of books, biographies, and periodicals that allow users to research the progression of women’s rights over the past 200 years. Discover primary legal and political sources as well as secondary scholarly analysis of issues such as abortion…

Beatings, Battles, and Brawls: Congressional Violence in the Antebellum Era

American History, Political Science, Slavery in America and the World, U.S. Congressional Documents, U.S. Congressional Serial Set
March 4, 2021 Tara Kibler

When any slightly incendiary word is uttered in Congress, the media is quick to report it. Today, live coverage of congressional proceedings and social media-driven insta-news has made us all well aware of any tiffs, squabbles, or fallings-out in Washington. As a result, we’re also well aware that strong disagreement in the Capitol is, as to be expected, very common.

There was a time in American history, though, when disagreements became so heated that they turned physical, ranging from a singular blow to a vicious beating, and even to murder. In the pre-Civil War era, Congress saw at least 70 violent incidents between its members. Let’s just say that if C-SPAN had existed in the early 1800s…

The 15 Most Inspiring Presidential Speeches in American History

American History, Political Science, U.S. Presidential Library
February 15, 2021 Tara Kibler

Over the centuries, millions upon millions of words have been used by U.S. presidents to motivate, caution, reassure, and guide the American people. Whether written in the news, spoken at a podium, or shared on Twitter, all of these words have carried weight, each with the potential to impact the trajectory of our nation. Only a handful of times, however, has the particular arrangement and context of these words been considered truly inspiring.

This Presidents’ Day, join HeinOnline in rediscovering some of the greatest presidential speeches in American history using our U.S. Presidential Library and other sources.

1. Washington’s Farewell Address

Date: September 17th…

Secrets of the Serial Set: The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico

American History, Foreign Affairs, Secrets of the Serial Set, U.S. Congressional Serial Set
January 15, 2021 Tara Kibler

This month, HeinOnline continues its Secrets of the Serial Set series by delving into the question of Puerto Rico—how did the island become a U.S. territory? As U.S. citizens, how do Puerto Ricans participate in American democracy? Should the territory ultimately become an American state?

The U.S. Congressional Serial Set is considered an essential publication for studying American history…

Secrets of the Serial Set: The Iran-Contra Affair

American History, Exploring HeinOnline, Foreign Affairs, Secrets of the Serial Set, U.S. Congressional Serial Set
November 30, 2020 Tara Kibler

This month, HeinOnline continues its Secrets of the Serial Set series by investigating the oft-overlooked Iran-Contra affair, a political scandal involving the Reagan Administration, Nicaraguan civil war, and the Islamic Republic of Iran.

The U.S. Congressional Serial Set is considered an essential publication for studying American history…

10 Things You Didn’t Know About the “First Lady of the World”

American History, Reports of U.S. Presidential Commissions, Statutes at Large, U.S. Congressional Serial Set, U.S. Presidential Library, United Nations, Women and the Law, Women's Studies
October 15, 2020 Tara Kibler

Anna Eleanor Roosevelt is well-known for her role as First Lady to the longest-sitting president in American history. In reality, she was much more than that, demonstrating throughout her life that she was also, among many things, an accomplished businesswoman, a passionate civil rights activist, and a skillful diplomat.

This past Sunday would have been Eleanor Roosevelt’s 136th birthday. Join HeinOnline in exploring ten lesser-known facts about the unforgettable “First Lady of the World” with the following databases:

Reports of U.S. Presidential Commissions and Other Advisory Bodies
Named to the 2018 List of Best Historical Materials
United Nations Law Collection
U.S…

Handling the Supreme Court Vacancy: Is Court Packing a Viable Option?

American History, Law, Law Journal Library, U.S. Supreme Court
October 2, 2020 Tara Kibler

In the wake of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s death, some Democrats have pushed the idea of expanding the number of justices on the Supreme Court. The concept—known as “court packing”—has caught fire in some circles, particularly following the announcement of President Trump’s official nominee pick, Amy Coney Barrett. A conservative-leaning circuit judge, Barrett’s confirmation would reshape the ideology of the Supreme Court and could hinder it from making more liberal decisions.

Why does the Supreme Court only have nine justices, anyway? What is court packing, really? Is it a feasible option for the Democrats? Why should we care? Allow HeinOnline to help answer all these questions and more using the databases below:

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