Updated Articles and Resources

By Robert McNamara, About.com Guide

Congressman Preston Brooks Beat Senator Charles Sumner Over Slavery Speech Created: Monday, May 19, 2008 Updated: Saturday, May 26, 2012
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.
When Was the Bugle Call Taps Composed and First Played? Created: Saturday, May 19, 2012 Updated: Friday, May 25, 2012
The story of how a general and a private composed the bugle call Taps.
History of the Brooklyn Bridge | Masterpiece of John and Washington Roebling Created: Sunday, May 18, 2008 Updated: Thursday, May 24, 2012
New York's Brooklyn Bridge was the greatest engineering achievement of its era when it was finished in 1883. During its 14 years of construction skeptics thought it would collapse, but more than 12...
Fort Sumter Attack in 1861 | Attack on Fort Sumter Was First Battle of the Civil War Created: Monday, April 12, 2010 Updated: Wednesday, May 23, 2012
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...
Voyage of Charles Darwin Aboard H.M.S. Beagle Created: Monday, January 05, 2009 Updated: Wednesday, May 23, 2012
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 theo...
Timeline of the 1800s | Historic Events in the 19th Century Created: Monday, June 09, 2008 Updated: Wednesday, May 23, 2012
The 19th century was a time of tremendous change, and this comprehensive timeline will help you navigate through the decades of the 1800s.
Vintage Images of Brooklyn Bridge Construction Created: Wednesday, May 21, 2008 Updated: Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Images of New York's famed Brooklyn Bridge fascinated the public while it was still under construction. No structure so large or brilliantly designed had ever been constructed, and the largest brid...
Images of British India Created: Thursday, February 16, 2012 Updated: Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Gallery of vintage images of British India in the 19th century.
Fort McHenry Photographs | Images of Site of War of 1812 Battle Created: Saturday, May 12, 2012 Updated: Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Photographs of Fort McHenry show the site of the critical Battle of Baltimore in 1814.
History of the Statue of Liberty - Gift From France Rose Above New York Harbor - Historic Images of the Statue of Liberty Created: Monday, June 15, 2009 Updated: Tuesday, May 22, 2012
The Statue of Liberty, a gift from France to the United States, rose above New York harbor in 1886 and became a welcoming symbol to immigrants arriving from around the world.
The Election of 1860 - Abraham Lincoln Elected President in Fateful Election of 1860 Created: Monday, October 06, 2008 Updated: Tuesday, May 22, 2012
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.
Krakatoa Volcano Eruption - Volcanic Eruption at Krakatoa in 1883 Became a Worldwide Weather and Media Event Created: Monday, August 10, 2009 Updated: Tuesday, May 22, 2012
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.
Pierre de Coubertin, Founder of the Modern Olympics Created: Monday, August 11, 2008 Updated: Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Concise biography of Pierre de Coubertin, founder of the modern Olympics, who organized the Olympic games in Athens in 1896.
Abraham Lincoln Biography - Life of the 16th President Abraham Lincoln Created: Thursday, May 01, 2008 Updated: Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Major events in Abraham Lincoln's life, with links to articles about his political debates, campaigns, greatest speeches, presidential election, time in the White House, and assassination and funer...
Financial Panics of the 19th Century Created: Monday, September 29, 2008 Updated: Sunday, May 20, 2012
A summary of the financial panics which periodically devastated the American economy throughout the 19th century.
Cornelius Vanderbilt Biography Created: Friday, September 30, 2011 Updated: Sunday, May 20, 2012
Cornelius
William Lloyd Garrison | Biography of the Abolitionist Created: Wednesday, April 25, 2012 Updated: Friday, May 18, 2012
William Lloyd Garrison, the abolitionist publisher of The Liberator, was an ardent crusader against slavery.
Was Abraham Lincoln a Wrestler? Created: Monday, October 11, 2010 Updated: Thursday, May 17, 2012
President Abraham Lincoln was a very good wrestler as a youth and his wrestling exploits were used during his presidential campaign in 1860 and became part of the Lincoln legend.
History of Electric Christmas Lights - First Electric Christmas Tree Lights Appeared in the 1880s Created: Monday, December 24, 2007 Updated: Tuesday, May 15, 2012
The introduction of electric Christmas lights in the 1880s was due to Edward Johnson, a friend and business associate of Thomas Edison. Johnson's family Christmas tree was the first to feature elec...
Definition of Congreve Rocket Created: Friday, April 27, 2012 Updated: Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Definition of Congreve Rocket, British Weapon Referred to in the
Fort McHenry Photographs | Images of Site of War of 1812 Battle Created: Saturday, May 12, 2012 Updated: Monday, May 14, 2012
Photograph of the restored Fort McHenry flag on display at the Smithsonian.
Fort McHenry Photographs | Images of Site of War of 1812 Battle Created: Saturday, May 12, 2012 Updated: Monday, May 14, 2012
Lithograph of Baltimore's Battle Monument, which honored those who defended the city in 1814.
Fort McHenry Photographs | Images of Site of War of 1812 Battle Created: Saturday, May 12, 2012 Updated: Monday, May 14, 2012
A full-size replica of the Fort McHenry garrison flag unfolded by schoolchildren.
The Star-Spangled Banner As Published In an 1814 Baltimore Newspaper Created: Saturday, April 28, 2012 Updated: Monday, May 14, 2012
Fort McHenry Photographs | Images of Site of War of 1812 Battle Created: Saturday, May 12, 2012 Updated: Monday, May 14, 2012
The story of the bombardment of Fort McHenry is told by a reenactor playing the part of Dr. Beanes.
John Brown and His Raid on Harpers Ferry Created: Sunday, November 30, 2008 Updated: Monday, May 14, 2012
John Brown, a fanatical abolitionist, led a raid on the federal arsenal at Harpers Ferry and moved the U.S. closer to Civil War.
Fort McHenry Photographs | Images of Site of War of 1812 Battle Created: Saturday, May 12, 2012 Updated: Sunday, May 13, 2012
The 15-star American flag is raised above Fort McHenry every morning.
Fort McHenry Photographs | Images of Site of War of 1812 Battle Created: Saturday, May 12, 2012 Updated: Sunday, May 13, 2012
At Baltimore's Flag House Museum a reenactor tells the story of the Fort McHenry Flag.
Fort McHenry Photographs | Images of Site of War of 1812 Battle Created: Saturday, May 12, 2012 Updated: Sunday, May 13, 2012
Photograph of Baltimore's Flag House Museum, dedicated to the Battle of Baltimore in 1814.
Fort McHenry Photographs | Images of Site of War of 1812 Battle Created: Saturday, May 12, 2012 Updated: Sunday, May 13, 2012
A photograph demonstrates how Fort McHenry's position provided defense for the city of Baltimore.
Fort McHenry Photographs | Images of Site of War of 1812 Battle Created: Saturday, May 12, 2012 Updated: Sunday, May 13, 2012
Photographs of Fort McHenry, including this aerial view, show the site of the critical Battle of Baltimore in 1814.
Fort McHenry Photographs | Images of Site of War of 1812 Battle Created: Saturday, May 12, 2012 Updated: Sunday, May 13, 2012
The British bombardment of Fort McHenry in 1814, as depicted in a lithograph from the period.

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