Articles Index

The Attack on Fort Sumter in April 1861 Began the American Civil War

The attack on Fort Sumter in April 1861, which began the American Civil War. While technically the first battle of the war, the engagement lasted little more than a day, and no one was deliberately killed.

Charles Darwin and His Voyage Aboard H.M.S. Beagle

HMS Beagle carried Charles Darwin around the world for five years in the early 1800s, and observations he made at the Galapagos Islands and other exotic locations led to his writings about the theory of evolution.

Timelines of the 1800s

The 19th century was a time of tremendous change, and this comprehensive timeline will help you navigate through the decades of the 1800s.

The Election of 1860 Brings Abraham Lincoln to the White House

The election of 1860 is one of the most important in American history, as it came at a time of national crisis and brought Abraham Lincoln to the White House.

The Story of the Bugle Call Taps

The story of how a general and a private composed the bugle call Taps.

Krakatoa Volcano Eruption in 1883 Was a Worldwide Weather and Media Event

The colossal eruption of the volcano at Krakatoa became a worldwide weather and media event in 1883 and was followed by months of eerie red sunsets.

The Founder of the Modern Olympics, Pierre de Coubertin

Concise biography of Pierre de Coubertin, founder of the modern Olympics, who organized the Olympic games in Athens in 1896.

Violence Over Slavery on the Floor of the US Senate

A southern congressman beat an anti-slavery senator from Massachusetts with a cane in the U.S. Capitol as tensions over slavery boiled over in May 1856.

Cornelius Vanderbilt Amassed a Colossal Fortune in 19th Century America

Cornelius "The Commodore" Vanderbilt, amassed a huge fortune in 19th century America after starting out with one boat in New York Harbor.

Financial Panics of the 19th Century

A summary of the financial panics which periodically devastated the American economy throughout the 19th century.

William Lloyd Garrison, Leading American Abolitionist

William Lloyd Garrison, the abolitionist publisher of The Liberator, was an ardent crusader against slavery.

The National Road, America's First Major Highway

The National Road, an early forerunner of the federal highway system, was constructed from western Maryland to Ohio in the early decades of the 19th century.

Arthur Conan Doyle

Scottish-born author Arthur Conan Doyle created one of the world's most famous characters, Sherlock Holmes.

John Muir, Naturalist Whose Writings Inspired the Conservation Movement

Scottish-born John Muir was a strong advocate for the US National Parks in the 19th century.

The Sinking of the Steamship Arctic Cost Hundreds of Lives in 1854

The sinking of the steamship Arctic, one of the grandest ships afloat in the 1850s, was a disaster that stunned the world in September 1854.

Albert Gallatin's Report on Roads, Canals, Harbors, and Rivers

Albert Gallatin, Thomas Jefferson's treasury secretary, issued a report in 1808 that inspired the age of canal building in America.

Clara Barton, Founder of the American Red Cross

Clara Barton served as a Civil War nurse and founded the American Red Cross.

The Year Without a Summer Was a Bizarre Weather Disaster in 1816

The year 1816 became known as The Year Without a Summer when temperatures stayed cold and crops failed; the cause was a volcanic eruption a year earlier, on the opposite side of the world.

The Cholera Epidemic of 1832 Killed Thousands and Created Panic

The cholera epidemic of 1832 afflicted major cities of Europe as well as North America, killing thousands and creating widespread panic.

Aaron Burr - Vice President Shot Alexander Hamilton In a Duel

Aaron Burr was constantly drawn to controversy, and his shooting of Alexander Hamilton in a duel is only part of his peculiar life story.

Tammany Hall

Tammany Hall was political machine that ran New York City through a system of political patronage, and it was the epitome of corrupt politics in the 1800s.

John Tyler, First Vice President to Suddenly Replace a President

The office of the vice presidency was considered a minor job with few clearly defined duties. But in 1841 the job became important when William Henry Harrison died after a month in office and John Tyler became the first vice president to ascend to the presidency upon the death of a president.

Mount Tambora Was the Largest Volcanic Eruption of 19th Century

The eruption of the volcano at Mount Tambora in 1815 was the largest volcanic eruption of the 19th century and contributed to 1816 being known as "The Year Without a Summer."

The First American Political Conventions

The first national political conventions in America took place prior to the presidential election of 1832. And the distinction of holding the first political party convention actually belongs to a long-forgotten political movement in America, the Anti-Masonic Party, which convened in Baltimore in late 1831.

Henry Clay, the Most Powerful American Politician Who Was Never President

Henry Clay was perhaps the most powerful American who never served as President of the United States, though he ran for the office several times.