Thomas Paine’s pamphlet can offer a perspective on the overlooked Revolutionary community known as the Loyalists, who demonstrated that the Revolution was fought not by or for a particular culture or community, but for a set of foundational ideals.
American Studies Professor Ben Railton reminds us of historical events that offer context for ten of the most significant political, social, and cultural developments of the last two and a half decades.
Tracing the history of Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society highlights how much this organization embodies both the spirit of Hanukkah and Judaism and the best of America.
The movie industry’s complicity in McCarthy’s anti-Communist witch hunts can be seen in the era’s Christmas films, as they turned away from stories like “It’s a Wonderful Life.”
On this Veterans Day, no figure more clearly offers an inclusive vision of American history and identity than does Ira Hayes.
Art has been integral to the foundational American story of protest.
The 1985 MOVE bombing in Philadelphia lays bare the horrific and inevitable tragedies whenever we wage war from within.
Two of the Boss’s earlier albums foreshadowed the worst of where America has gone over the last few decades, but also modeled crucial ways we can resist those trends and move closer to our collective ideals.
Much of what happened during and after Hurricane Katrina foretold patterns of events that would unfold over the next 20 years – from police brutality to National Guard occupations to the unexpected generosity of fellow Americans.
The interconnection between two of our great but endangered historic cities also exemplifies a multilayered American story, one with a lot to tell us in 2025.
Just before the end of World War II, an American cruiser on a secret mission experienced one of the ghastliest naval disasters in U.S. history. But it was only 30 years later, when the movie Jaws was released, that the true horrors of the U.S.S. Indianapolis were revealed in one of the greatest monologues ever.
In the news for the week ending July 25, 2025, are the end of summer, Midwest humidity, and all the SPAM recipes you could ever want.
Ben Franklin and his role as the postmaster general of the U.S. Postal Service embodied a combination of individual and communal ideals that was at the heart of America’s founding.
This week marks the 100th anniversary of one of the most sensational trials in American history.
A climate of exclusion doesn’t happen in a vacuum; decades of racist views and policies shaped America’s attitudes toward immigrants throughout the 20th century.
Countless LGBTQ+ Americans have served in the armed forces throughout our history, including during every one of our wars, despite facing discrimination.