America on the Eve of World War I
Professor of history Gary Gerstle explains that the United States was very divided over whether to enter World War I. "There was a strong socialist movement and anarchist movement in American society," Professor Gerstle ..
American Revolution,The : A Global Event
Historian Peter Onuf says it's not as important to focus on the individual battles of American Revolution, The , as it is to understand the continent-wide enthusiasm they inspired for the war. Even more important, Profes..
American Revolution,The : Radical or Conservative?
Historian Peter Onuf explains that historians "argue endlessly about whether (American Revolution, The ) is a real revolution because, as with other modern movements, American Revolution, The is, in many ways, conservati..
An End to Exclusion: The Hart-Celler Act of 1965
Professor of American studies and history Matthew Frye Jacobson talks about the factors that led to the Hart-Celler Act of 1965. Professor Jacobson explains that this legislation is the basis of current immigration law i..
Articles of Confederation, The
Historian Peter Onuf explains that the Articles of Confederation represented the only way of creating an effective alliance among the American provinces. However, Professor Onuf adds that the Articles of Confederation we..
Battle Cry: Challenges Facing Lincoln in the Fall of 1862
The Republicans retain their majority in the mid-term elections of 1862 despite Democratic gains. Lincoln continues to have difficulties with inept generals. After Antietam, Lincoln fires McClellan who seems more intere..
Battle Cry: Civil War Spills into Western Territories
States and territories in the American West, embedded in controversy leading up to the Civil War, are removed from the major fighting. Both North and South seek access to California gold, but when Confederate soldiers ma..
Battle Cry: Need for Manpower, The
As the conflict continues, the North and the South sustain severe losses of military personnel. The Confederates had already instituted a draft in the spring of 1862, but now it becomes necessary for the Union to take si..
Battle Cry: North and South Seek Support from Foreign Governments
The military initiative in the Civil War lies mainly with the North. Its task is to defeat the Confederacy; the South needs only to avoid defeat. Diplomatically the situation is reversed. The South must enlist the recogn..
Battle Cry: People at War
Military history is about the experience of people at war, not just armies or generals. There are few aspects of society that are not affected. Women, for example, become heads of households, a difficult position particu..