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Election of 1876: Testing the Constitution

The Presidential Election of 1876 was considered a foregone conclusion, with Democrat Samuel J. Tilden sure to defeat Republican Rutherford B. Hayes, but disputed Southern electoral votes led to an outcome that nobody...

What is the Department of Justice?

America Explained, Government Explained

Established in 1870, the Department of Justice not only provides legal advice to the US government, it also ensures the fair and impartial administration of justice for all...

The Civil War Amendments

America Explained

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...

How Art Saved Yellowstone National Park

Art That Changed America

The first dedicated National Park anywhere in the world, Yellowstone attracts 318 million visitors every year. It was saved for posterity by the work of two pioneering...

The Gilded Age: When America Became a Super Power