About.com

Celebrating Presidents Day

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 00:15:48 +0000

Presidents Day is the third Monday in February. Today, Monday, February 20th, we celebrate Presidents Day. Or do we? The official name of the federal holiday is Washington's Birthday. However, many states across the nation celebrate Presidents Day instead, combining the birthdays of two amazing presidents. George Washington's birthday is February 22nd and Abraham Lincoln's...

Read Full Post

Sat, 18 Feb 2012 00:25:00 +0000

"When you see something that is technically sweet, you go ahead and do it and you argue about what to do about it only after you have had your technical success. that is the way it was with the atomic bomb."

...

Read Full Post

Alexander Graham Bell and the Telephone

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 00:06:38 +0000

Alexander Graham Bell could not have foreseen where his invention of the telephone would lead. In the United States today, cell phones are everywhere. It all stated with Bell and his invention for which he applied to get a patent...

Read Full Post

Celebrating Abraham Lincoln

Sun, 12 Feb 2012 16:03:52 +0000

"Whenever I hear anyone arguing for slavery, I feel a strong impulse to see it tried on him personally."

This quote by Abraham Lincoln shows the depth of his hatred of ...

Read Full Post

Celebrating African-American History

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 09:30:48 +0000

During the month of February, we focus on the importance of African-Americans in the history and culture of the United States. We'll begin by looking at three fascinating African-Americans: an abolitionist, a Civil Rights leader, and a President.

...

Read Full Post

Impact of Railroads

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 11:02:14 +0000

The development of railroads had a huge impact on the United States. It facilitated the movement of population, increased commerce, and played a large part in the US Civil War. This article takes a look at the major effects of railroads on the United States.

The Cotton Gin in American History

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 14:28:02 +0000

It's ironic that the creation of a labor saving device such as the cotton gin would lead to such an explosion in the use of slave labor in the south. However, before Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin in 1794, the separation of cotton by hand was labor intensive and unprofitable. The invention of this device led to cotton becoming the major cash crop in the south and perpetuating the plantation system. Learn more:

...

Read Full Post

Presidential Assassinations and Assassination Attempts

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 19:24:29 +0000

Over the years, four presidents have died from assassination while another six presidential assassinations have been attempted. The first assassination attempt occurred on January 30, 1835 when Richard Lawrence tried to shoot Andrew Jackson. Ironically, both of his guns misfired. He was found not guilty of the crime by reason of assassination. Read about this and the other presidential assassinations and assassination attempts.

Aaron Burr - The Center of Controversy

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 19:20:12 +0000

Aaron Burr is a truly fascinating character from America's past. He served during the Revolutionary War under Benedict Arnold, and his valor led him to be part of George Washington's staff. He was often the center of controversy including being a critic of Washington's leadership and possibly thwarting a romance between Alexander Hamilton and the future Mrs. Dolley Madison. He became the third Vice President under Thomas Jefferson. He was not asked back to run for a second term. Then in 1804, he killed Alexander Hamilton in a duel. While he was charged with murder, he was never tried and actually completed his Vice Presidential term in Washington, D.C. On January 22, 1807, President Thomas Jefferson uncovered a plot by Aaron Burr to form a new republic in the Southwest. However, one clause in the Constitution requires two witnesses to convict a person of treason so he was eventually acquitted.

Rutherford B. Hayes, Nineteenth President

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 00:33:34 +0000

Rutherford B. Hayes was the nineteenth president of the United States. He only served one term, March 4, 1877 to March 3, 1881. He had strong views on civil service reform that often made him unpopular, as shown by this quote, "I am not liked as a President by the politicians in office, in the press, or in Congress. But I am content to abide the judgment - the sober second thought - of the people."

...

Read Full Post