Articles Index
War of 1812 Attack on Baltimore Inspired Poem That Became the National Anthem
"The Star-Spangled Banner" appeared in an 1814 Baltimore Newspaper headlined "Defense of Fort McHenry"
American Defenders Saved Baltimore in September 1814
The Battle of Baltimore in September 1814 saved the city from falling into British hands during the War of 1812.
The British Attack on Fort McHenry Was Immortalized in The Star-Spangled Banner
The British attack on Fort McHenry was immortalized in "The Star-Spangled Banner."
Causes of the War of 1812
The causes for the War of 1812 included impressment of American sailors as well as other important issues.
New York's Great Fire of 1835
New York City's Great Fire of 1835 destroyed most of lower Manhattan and wiped out the financial center of America in one freezing night.
Biography of Charles Dickens
Concise illustrated biography of Charles Dickens, the great Victorian novelist.
The 1812 Surrender of Fort Detroit Was a Disaster and a Scandal
The surrender of Fort Detroit in the War of 1812 was a military disaster and a scandal.
The Battle of Shiloh
The first great costly battle of the Civil War, the Battle of Shiloh in 1862 shocked Americans in the North and South. The carnage at Shiloh indicated that the Civil War would probably be a long and very bloody conflict.
The Sepoy Mutiny of 1857 Shook British Rule in India
The Sepoy Mutiny, also known as the Indian Revolt of 1857, shook British rule in India.
The Five Worst Inaugural Addresses of the 19th Century
American presidents delivered brilliant inaugural addresses in the 1800s, but some presidents stand out for having delivered the worst. Herewith the five worst inaugural address of the 19th century.
The Battle of Antietam, September 17, 1862
The Battle of Antietam on September 17, 1862 was a major battle of the Civil War and was the bloodiest day in American history. The violence at Antietam not only shocked the nation, it played a major part in the progress of the war as it prompted President Abraham Lincoln to announce his Emancipation Proclamation.
Failed Presidential Assassinations of the 19th Century
Read about assassination attempts on American presidents which failed in the 19th century. Included are the incident in which a man tried to shoot Andrew Jackson at close range, an apparent poisoning of James Buchanan, and a plot to kill Abraham Lincoln before he even took the oath of office for the first time.
Britain's Great Exhibition of 1851 Was a Milestone in Technology
Britain's Great Exhibition of 1851 assembled technology from around the world in London. Learn about the great show organized by Prince Albert, Queen Victoria's scientifically minded husband.
Coxey's Army: 1894 March of Unemployed Workers
Coxey's Army was an early protest march consisting of hundreds of unemployed workers who marched from Ohio to the U.S. Capitol in 1894. Learn about their leader, Jacob S. Coxey, and their cause.
Famous Duels of the 19th Century
In the 1800s arguments and personal slights often led to the characters involved picking up pistols and shooting them at each other in the ritual of a duel. Having a duel was almost always illegal, but going to the field of honor and settling disputes was judged to be something that gentlemen did.
Alexander Gardner, Civil War Photographer
Civil War Photographer Alexander Gardner shocked the nation with his historic photographs of the the 1862 Battle of Antietam. Gardner also took more portraits of Abraham Lincoln than anyone else, and could be considered a pioneer of news photography.
Isambard Kingdom Brunel's Great Steamships
The steamships Great Western, Great Britain, and Great Eastern were three revolutionary steamships designed and built by the brilliant British engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel. Each ship advanced the technology of steam power and while the ships had troubled histories, their contributions to the history of the 19th century and of ships in general are considerable.
Col. Elmer Ellsworth Became a Legend and Martyr Early in the Civil War
Col. Elmer Ellsworth, the first Union officer killed in the Civil War, organized the Fire Zouaves, a regiment of New York City firemen, and was a personal friend of Abraham Lincoln. The national reaction to Ellsworth's death, which included a funeral in the East Room of the White House, tells us a lot about America at the beginning of the Civil War.
Supernatural and Spooky Events of the 1800s
The 19th century featured a strong presence of the supernatural, despite being a period obsessed with science and technology. These are some of the noteworthy supernatural and spooky events of the 1800s.
The Five Best Inaugural Addresses of the 19th Century
Some of the best inaugural addresses in American history were delivered in the 19th century, as new presidents endeavored to steer the nation in new directions. Read about the five best inaugural addresses of the 1800s, some of which were spoken by unlikely presidents.