She’s known as a savior of the enslaved – but few know that during the American Civil War, Harriet Tubman was an exceptionally capable Union Army spy.
Things You Didn’t Know
Did you know that cats were CIA operatives during the Cold War, (yes I did say cats)? Or that blood was literally spilled over the equal rights amendment? Through this series we take a look at the unexpected stories, facts and people that shine a light on bigger concepts and ideas in American History.
How Teddy Roosevelt Saved Football
It’s America’s national sport – but when football almost came to a crashing halt following the deaths of 19 players in 1905, US President Theodore Roosevelt made a decisive play.
Operation Pedro Pan: Exodus of Cuba’s Children
Operation Pedro Pan saw more than 14,000 children escape Communist Cuba for a new life in the United States. But for many, their troubles were only just starting.
Epidemics in America: Learning from the Past
They’re diseases that affect people living in a single country or region – but what impact have historic epidemics had on US society?
Mount Rushmore: Carving History and Controversy
It’s one of the most recognisable landmarks in the United States – but what’s the untold story behind Mount Rushmore National Monument?
Bizarre Treatments: When Medicine Did More Harm than Good
Learn about the bizarre and often dangerous medical treatments used in America up until the 20th century.
The Great Depression
The Great Depression was one of the worst economic disasters America has ever experienced. But it’s also a period that produced some of the great innovations in US history.
Cult of Domesticity: Defining Womanhood
The Cult of Domesticity was a school of thought that middle and upper class women should be confined to the home and aspire to be model wives and mothers.
Industrial Espionage: The War on Information
Industrial espionage, or the theft of trade secrets, costs the US economy between $188 and $540 billion dollars every year.
Vietnam Veterans: Injustice Back Home
The untold story of the Vietnam veterans left to endure the mental and physical scars they’d suffered alone.