History Lessons

The articles below provide access to valuable resources, including articles, videos, and courses that deepen knowledge and civic engagement.

John Hull and the First American Mint: A Bold Step Toward Colonial Self-Reliance

In June of 1652, the Massachusetts Bay Colony took an extraordinary step that would shape the course of ...
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D-Day: The Turning Point of World War II

A storm of steel and determination arose over the coast of Normandy on June 6, 1944. What unfolded ...
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The Homestead Act: How Ordinary People Helped Build a Nation

In the middle of a brutal civil war, President Abraham Lincoln signed into law a quiet revolution. It ...
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Elaine L. Chao: A Transformative Force in American Governance and Global Policy

Elaine Lan Chao has been one of the most influential public servants in modern American history, with a ...
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Larry Itliong: The Unseen Architect of the American Farm Labor Movement

Larry Itliong didn’t seek the spotlight, but without him, the farmworker movement in America would not be what ...
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Fred Korematsu: A Citizen Who Refused to Be Silenced

Fred Korematsu didn’t plan to become a civil rights icon. He was a quiet, unassuming welder from Oakland, ...
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Patsy Mink: The Woman Who Changed the Rules So Everyone Could Play

Patsy Mink didn’t set out to make history—she just wanted a fair shot. Born on a sugar plantation ...
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The Library of Congress: A National Treasure

The Library of Congress (LOC) is one of the most important institutions in the United States. It’s more ...
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Ella Fitzgerald: The First Lady of Song

Ella Fitzgerald, affectionately known as the “First Lady of Song,” was one of the most extraordinary vocalists in ...
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The Assassination of Abraham Lincoln: A Nation in Mourning and a Legacy Shaped by Tragedy

On the evening of April 14, 1865, President Abraham Lincoln was shot by John Wilkes Booth, a Confederate ...
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Why President Lyndon B. Johnson Chose Not to Run for Re-Election

On March 31, 1968, President Lyndon B. Johnson surprised the nation when he announced that he wouldn’t run ...
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Celebrating Women Firsts

In honor of our founder, the first female Supreme Court Justice, Sandra Day O’Connor, we are featuring other ...
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