CATEGORY: HISTORY
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Buffalo History: The Caroline Affair and International Law
In 1837, a rebellion in Canada and the destruction of an American steamship brought the United States and Great Britain to the brink of war.
Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell: The History of Queer Representation in the Armed Forces
Today, all eligible members of the LGBTQ+ community are allowed to serve in America’s military. However, it hasn’t always been that way. The treatment of queer people in the armed forces has a fraught history.
Off With Her Head: The Unfortunate Fate of Anne Boleyn
On May 19, 1536, the citizens of London gathered around a scaffold at the Tower of London, where the swift chop of a sword brought an end to the life of Anne Boleyn, the second of King Henry VIII’s six wives. Her crime? Failure to bear a son.
What Happens If There Is a Tie in the Electoral College?
What happens when no presidential candidate wins a majority in the Electoral College? The election goes to the House of Representatives, and things get a little messy.
Frances Perkins’ Life of Service
Frances Perkins was the first woman to serve in a presidential cabinet when she became the longest-serving Secretary of Labor in 1933. Her career changed the lives of every working American.
Hawk’s Nest: The Deadliest Industrial Disaster You’ve Never Heard Of
In 1930, near the town of Gauley Bridge, West Virginia, 3,000 men worked in ten-hour shifts drilling through sandstone to construct the Hawk’s Nest Tunnel. Within five years, more than 750 of those men would die of a deadly and preventable disease.
Eugene Debs, the Espionage Act, and the Election of 1920
Near the end of World War I, Eugene Debs delivered an anti-war speech in Ohio. Two weeks later, he was arrested and imprisoned for his words. In 1920, he ran for president from his prison cell, ultimately waging the most successful campaign by a socialist candidate in American history.
The Ratification of the Bill of Rights
December 15 marks Bill of Rights Day, commemorating the 1791 ratification of the first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution, collectively known as the Bill of Rights. However, crafting a Bill of Rights was highly controversial at the time.
The Most Contentious Presidential Election You’ve Never Heard Of
The disputed Hayes-Tilden 1877 presidential election almost tore the country apart. Instead, it reshaped its postbellum philosophy.
