Plain-language guides to american culture
-
US History: Key Events That Built the Nation
A source-backed tour of us history, from independence and the Constitution through the Civil War, the Great Depression and the civil rights era.
Featured Stories
US History: Key Events That Built the Nation
Everyday and Historic Heroes Who Shaped American Pride
The Branches of the US Armed Forces Explained
Patriotic Stories: Tales of American Pride and Character
The Louisiana Purchase: Facts and Why It Mattered
Memorial Day vs Veterans Day: The Difference
Military Ranks Explained: Enlisted and Officer
Medal of Honor History and Criteria
What the Colors and Stars of the American Flag Mean
Civil Rights Movement Timeline: Landmark Moments
The Great Depression: What Happened and Why
The Declaration of Independence in Plain Language
Fourth of July Traditions and Where They Began
How Veterans Day Began and Why It Is Observed
The Story Behind the Star-Spangled Banner
American Revolution Timeline: From Protest to Independence
The Bill of Rights, Amendment by Amendment
Classic American Folklore and Legends Worth Retelling
Arlington National Cemetery: A Brief History
What Caused the American Civil War
Flag Etiquette: How to Display and Respect the American Flag
-
Everyday and Historic Heroes Who Shaped American Pride
From Washington’s 1776 gold medal to late-recognized Medal of Honor recipients and everyday citizens honored for service, a sourced look at American…
Wander by topic
- Military and Veterans (6)
- Patriotic Stories (7)
- US History (8)
-
The Louisiana Purchase: Facts and Why It Mattered
How France came to sell Louisiana, what the United States paid, why Jefferson doubted the deal, and what it changed for the country.
Around the Table
-
Veterans Day began as Armistice Day after World War I. See how it became a federal holiday, was renamed in 1954, briefly moved to…
-
Follow the American Revolution timeline from the French and Indian War and the Stamp Act to Lexington, Yorktown and the Treaty of Paris.
-
A plain-English bill of rights summary covering each of the first 10 amendments, why they were proposed in 1789, and what happened to the…
Fresh from the Journal
-
Arlington National Cemetery: A Brief History
How Robert E. Lee’s Virginia estate became Arlington National Cemetery in 1864, and how the grounds…
-
What Caused the American Civil War
A source-based look at the causes of the Civil War, from the 1787 compromises to popular…