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Civil War

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Discover the real reason why Memorial Day always happens on a Monday, plus how the holiday actually does differ from Veterans Day, and more.

Civil War surgeons learned fast. Here are a few of the MacGyver-like medical solutions that have had a lasting impact.
the mag|
With the Combahee River Raid of 1863, Harriet Tubman earned her nickname "Moses" all over again—and became the first woman in U.S. history to lead a major military expedition.
Brigit Katz|
The ship’s pilot helped his family reach freedom, then served in the Civil War and in the U.S. Congress. Robert Smalls’s statue will be the first to honor an individual Black citizen on South Carolina State House grounds.
Tim Brinkhof|
Is Juneteenth a federal holiday? Yes—and we have Opal Lee to thank for that.
Ellen Gutoskey|
In his famous 1858 speech, Abraham Lincoln warned that only civil war would resolve the issue of slavery in the U.S. He wasn’t wrong. 
Tim Brinkhof|
An anonymous letter supposedly from a member of a secret society claimed that Franklin Pierce was involved in treasonous activities against the American government—an accusation that infuriated the former president.
Austin Thompson|
The history of political dueling in the U.S. doesn’t end with Hamilton and Burr.
Tim Brinkhof|
One scam was convincing enough to fool George Washington.
Michele Debczak|
Juneteenth has been celebrated since enslaved people in Texas were told about their freedom on June 19, 1865. Here's what you need to know about the holiday.
Stacy Conradt|
The three-day Civil War battle was a badly needed win for the North—but like all victories, it came with a price.
Mark Mancini|
Ulysses S. Grant was a complicated man in one of the most complicated times in United States history.
Sean Hutchinson|
From Pontiac's Rebellion to the Battle for Castle Itter, here are eight of the most legendary clashes that were waged after the war was technically over.
Laura Steadham Smith|
Who was Ida B. Wells? A journalist, suffragist, civil rights leader, and now the latest doll in Barbie’s ‘Inspiring Women’ series.
Ellen Gutoskey|
The time capsule dates back to 1887 and was thought to contain an image of Abraham Lincoln in his coffin. Conservators found something else instead.
Jake Rossen|
At the height of the Civil War, a soldier advocacy group displayed a sculpture made from the presidential follicles of Abraham Lincoln and his wife Mary to raise money for troops. Now it's a historical curio.
Jake Rossen|
Stained-glass windows depicting Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson were removed in 2017. Now, Kerry James Marshall is working on their replacements.
Ellen Gutoskey|
The Freedmen’s Bureau Project records are now digitized and available on Ancestry.com, providing millions of African Americans free access to discover their roots.
Tasia Bass|
During the 1800s, roughly 100,000 enslaved people sought freedom on the Underground Railroad, which stretched from the American South to Canada.
Nayanika Guha|
Bureaucratic red tape is a tale as old as time. Or, to be a little more precise, roughly 400 years old.
Ellen Gutoskey|
Who was Clara Barton, really? Transcribing her personal documents can help shed light on a complex question.
Ellen Gutoskey|

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Where there’s competition, there’s sure to be controversy. Here are six scandals throughout Winter Olympics history.
Colin Scanlon|
1976 was a big year for music, but how many albums do you realize came out then? Here are seven groundbreaking albums you won’t believe are turning 50 in 2026.
Alexandria Ingham|
The repetition of the number 4 is often looked at as a message from the universe.
Alexandria Ingham|
These historical practices were once considered good for one’s health, shockingly.
Paul Anthony Jones|
Can you pass this quiz on historical world events?
Chelsea Thatcher|
Ever wonder why the new year officially starts on January 1? Turns out, you can thank Pope Gregory XIII—and Julius Caesar.
Matt Soniak|
New Year’s babies used to get showered with gifts and prizes, but today their fame is fleeting.
Nicole Garner|
Each month’s full moon marks the changing seasons.
Jane Alexander|
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