How did life change for enslaved people as the American Civil War raged around them?
America Explained
Exploring America’s history and how it impacts today’s society – from the Founding Mothers to what marijuana tells us about States’ rights
Remembering the Civil War
No two Americans had the same experience of the Civil War – and everyone remembers it differently. Through the stories they told – and the artifacts that survived – various narratives emerged!
Dred Scott: Suing for Freedom
Dred Scott went to the US Supreme Court to sue for his freedom. The Court ruled that Black people were “inferior beings” with no Constitutional rights. This decision helped spark the American Civil War.
The Civil War Amendments
Did you know that the US Constitution’s most important amendments took place over just 5 years? So what happened between 1865 and 1870 – and how did it change America?
What Did the Emancipation Proclamation Proclaim?
The Emancipation Proclamation is one of the most important and misunderstood documents in US history. So, what did it actually proclaim?
Paying for the Civil War
It cost the equivalent of billions of dollars in today’s money, and left the US government crippled with debt. But how, exactly, did America pay for the Civil War?
Reconstruction: Old Nation or New?
Reconstruction was one of the most tumultuous periods in US history. After four years of Civil War, not everyone agreed on the best way forward. The result was 12 years of violence and political strife.
Civil War Tactics: Clever or Foolish?
The Romans fought in phalanx formation. In medieval times, they preferred the wedge. So what made Civil War armies fight in long, straight lines that left them wide open to attack?
Breaking Down the Bill of Rights
The Bill of Rights is the first ten amendments to the US Constitution. It guarantees all Americans basic freedoms – but those freedoms have always been under attack.
What Is the US Constitution?
How has the U.S. Constitution endured when it was created over 200 years ago? Why is it still the supreme law of the land today?