American History

The theme song of the radical right

How "Battle Hymn of the Republic" -- Reagan's favorite song -- became the background music of the modern GOP

John Stauffer and Benjamin Soskis Sunday, Jun 16, 2013 5:30 PM UTC 35
Media Music, American History

Libertarians: Still a cult

Simply note libertarianism's fatal flaw and you'll get an enraged, hysterical response. They still don't get it

Michael Lind Tuesday, Jun 11, 2013 7:57 PM UTC 596
Politics Libertarianism, libertarians

Remains of Amelia Earhart’s plane may have been located

A historical aircraft recovery group might solve the 76-year-old mystery of the pilot's disappearance

Ej Dickson Thursday, May 30, 2013 9:23 PM UTC 32
Technology amelia earhart, Mysteries

He predicted today’s GOP… in 1895

Folksy evangelical Sam P. Jones warned of “scandalmongers” who “feed on human character and soiled reputation”

Andrew Burstein and Nancy Isenberg Wednesday, May 29, 2013 2:00 PM UTC
Politics Scandal, IRS, Benghazi, History

“Duel With the Devil”: Murder in Old New York

Before their fatal duel, Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr teamed up in court to save a man from the gallows

Laura Miller Sunday, May 26, 2013 11:00 PM UTC
Entertainment What to Read, Must-Do, Books

“The Unwinding”: What’s gone wrong with America

A deeply-reported exploration of the past 35 years of American life gauges the human cost of "freedom"

Laura Miller Sunday, May 19, 2013 10:00 PM UTC 39
Entertainment What to Read, Books, Nonfiction

The 21 fiercest things Richard Nixon ever did

Powerful, moving images of Richard Nixon that will restore every true late-'60s/early-'70s kid's faith in humanity VIDEO

Alex Pareene Wednesday, May 15, 2013 6:09 PM UTC 28
Politics Video, Opening Shot

What interpreting Abraham Lincoln’s dreams can teach us

By analyzing the dreams of early Americans, we can finally answer the elusive question: Were they like us?

Andrew Burstein Saturday, May 4, 2013 7:00 PM UTC
Politics Abraham Lincoln, Mark Twain

How to debunk George W. Bush’s attempts at revisionism

Your definitive guide to the Bush cronies' talking points, and why all of them are insane

Alex Seitz-Wald Saturday, Apr 27, 2013 1:00 PM UTC 248
Media George W. Bush

Colonial Williamsburg: Where the Tea Party gets schooled

There's lots of NRA and Tea Party garb in colonial Williamsburg. But the history has a confrontational new approach

Andrew O'Hehir Sunday, Apr 7, 2013 4:00 PM UTC 52
Life American History, History

“The New Mind of the South”: Not your daddy’s Dixie

A daughter of the South says the region is changing more than even those who live there realize

Laura Miller Sunday, Mar 17, 2013 10:30 PM UTC 60
Entertainment What to Read, Books, Nonfiction

When prostitution wasn’t a crime

Some of the first women in American colonies were sex workers, and their profession became a crime only recently

Melissa Gira Grant, AlterNet Wednesday, Feb 20, 2013 6:34 AM UTC
Social AlterNet, Prostitution

Are liberals being hypocrites about Obama’s wars?

Maybe liberals don't criticize Obama's foreign policy because American liberalism has always been pro-intervention

Alex Pareene Wednesday, Feb 13, 2013 9:59 PM UTC 107
Politics Politics, American History

Would Lincoln use drones?

Lincoln probably would have loved drones, but may have held off using them to kill for strategic reasons

Alex Seitz-Wald Monday, Feb 11, 2013 10:06 PM UTC 12
Politics Drones, Abraham Lincoln, History

Religion prof: Opposing gun control is a sin

Reform movements have been most successful when they combined facts with powerful symbolic images

Ira Chernus, Religion Dispatches Thursday, Jan 24, 2013 9:37 PM UTC 71
Social Religion Dispatches

Victory for strangers, heathens, wastrels!

Republicans counted on tried-and-true class warfare like never before. This time, "outsiders" were the majority

Sunday, Nov 18, 2012 5:00 PM UTC 54
Politics GOP, Income inequality

Oliver Stone: America is an “outlaw nation”

The cinematic renegade talks about Obama, FDR, his new Showtime series and the myth of American exceptionalism

Andrew O'Hehir Saturday, Nov 17, 2012 8:00 PM UTC 96
Entertainment

How Paula Broadwell wronged her readers

Biographers agree that Broadwell wronged her readers -- and not just by sleeping with her subject

Laura Miller Tuesday, Nov 13, 2012 2:36 PM UTC 16
Entertainment Paula Broadwell, David Petraeus

From the Civil War to James Bond in one quick step

A historian discovers the truth of Faulkner’s comment: The past isn't dead -- it's not even past

Glenn W. LaFantasie Monday, Nov 12, 2012 10:08 PM UTC
Politics American History, Civil War

Pick of the week: Spielberg’s magnificent “Lincoln”

Daniel Day-Lewis, Sally Field and an amazing cast bring history alive in Spielberg's moral masterpiece

Andrew O'Hehir Friday, Nov 9, 2012 12:30 AM UTC 44
Entertainment Lincoln, Abraham Lincoln

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