Articles Index
Boss Tweed
Biography of Boss Tweed, legendary corrupt political boss of New York City in the era following the Civil War.
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.
Significance of the Battle of Gettysburg
Five reasons why the Battle of Gettysburg mattered.
John C. Calhoun: Significant Facts and Brief Biography
John C. Calhoun, father of nullification and member of the Great Triumvirate of senators, was a political force and advocate for the South.
James Madison: Significant Facts and Brief Biography
The facts one should know about James Madison, America's fourth president and the man considered The Father of the Constitution.
Thomas Jefferson: Significant Facts and Brief Biography
The basic facts one should know about Thomas Jefferson, third president of the United States and author of the Declaration of Independence.
John Adams: Significant Facts and Brief Biography
Facts you should know about John Adams, America's second president and one of the greatest of the founding fathers.
George Washington: Significant Facts and Brief Biography
The basic facts one should know about George Washington, military hero and first president of the United States.
The Black Friday Gold Corner
Unscrupulous financier Jay Gould tried to corner the market on gold, and caused the Black Friday panic of September 24, 1869.
Chester Alan Arthur: Significant Facts and Brief Biography
Chester Alan Arthur was believed to be unqualified and unsuited for the presidency when he took office upon the death of President James Garfield.
The Cardiff Giant, Famous 19th Century Hoax
The Cardiff Giant was one of the famous and popular hoaxes of the 19th Century. Thousands flocked to see the peculiar "petrified giant" discovered on a New York farm.
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 spectacular exhibition organized by Prince Albert, Queen Victoria's scientifically minded husband.
Daniel Webster: Significant Facts and Brief Biography
Facts one should know about Daniel Webster, one of the most powerful and eloquent American political figures.
The History of Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery was founded during the Civil War, on the site of Robert E. Lee's former home.
Andrew Jackson: Significant Facts and Brief Biography
The facts one should know about Andrew Jackson, one of the most significant 19th century presidents.
James Garfield: Significant Facts and Brief Biography
The significant facts to know about James Garfield, 20th president of the United States, who died of an assassin's bullet during his first year in office.
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 Great Blizzard of 1888
The Great Blizzard of 1888 hammered the Northeast, killing hundreds, isolating entire cities, and disabling telegraph lines and railroads.
The Hartford Convention Proposed Changes to the Constitution in 1815
Opposition to the War of 1812 became so intense that New England delegates gathered to propose changes to the Constitution.
Jefferson Davis: Significant Facts and Brief Biography
The facts one needs to know about Jefferson Davis, president of the Confederate States of America.
Rutherford B. Hayes: Significant Facts and Brief Biography
The facts one should know about Rutherford B. Hayes, who became president in one of the most disputed elections in American history.
John Quincy Adams: Significant Facts and Brief Biography
The significant facts one needs to know about John Quincy Adams, American diplomat, president, and congressman.
Martin Van Buren: Significant Facts and Brief Biography
The significant facts one needs to know about Martin Van Buren, America's eighth president and in many ways the founder of the nation's system of political parties.
James Buchanan: Significant Facts and Brief Biography
Facts one needs to know about James Buchanan, the president who failed to hold the nation together just before the Civil War.
Franklin Pierce: Significant Facts and Brief Biography
The significant facts one needs to know about Franklin Pierce, 14th president of the United States, who served one troubled term in the 1850s.