Morrill Acts created land-grant colleges
The land grant colleges teach agriculture, mechanics and military science. Learn how the Morrill Acts of 1862 and 1890.
Rocky Mountain men made trails to the west
The mountain men were the pioneers of the Rocky Mountains, who came first as fur trappers, lured to the West by beavers and later by the buffalo.
Navigation Acts focused on Colonial trade
Hugh Earnhart offers an inside look at British trade policy during the 17th century and explores how the Colonies fit into things.
Kansas faced a lot of pushback before it entered the Union as a free...
On Jan. 29, 1861, Kansas, the Sunflower State, entered the Union as a free state numbered 34. But it didn't happen overnight. It was a long arduous road.
Harpers Ferry raid was the opening act for the American Civil War
John Brown's raid on the federal arsenal at Harpers Ferry in October 1859 stands out as a critical event in the spiral that led to the American Civil War.
Foolhardy Custer longed for a feat of valor
Learn more about the Battle of the Little Bighorn and Col. George A. Custer.
McClure harnessed the power of journalism
McClure was the most entertaining and influential magazine, exposing graft and corruption, and capturing the attention of readers until it folded in 1931.
Surrender of the Shenandoah ended Civil War
In the waters of Alaska on Little Diomede Island, the CSS Shenandoah fired the last shots of the American Civil War.
Puritans paved the way for American way of life
The Plymouth colony was never large, but it played a significant role in pointing other dissenters the way to the New World.
Election of 1860 led to two major parties
Learn more about how two major parties — Democrat and Republican — came to dominate the national elections in the United States.
