American History Story Briefs

America - still a young country by world standards - began as an experiment in self-government. This collection includes stories of America's people as they follow a path of "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."

The Duryea Brothers produced America's first gasoline-powered automobile which could be built more than one at a time.

Fort Wagner was the garrison protecting the port of Charleston, South Carolina, at the beginning of America's Civil War.

Aaron Burr became America's third Vice President in 1800. He has an interesting history, but not all of it is pleasant!

In 1863, President Lincoln declared the last Thursday in November would be Thanksgiving Day. He issued a turkey reprieve - which we would call a pardo...

Abigail Adams, in many ways, was a woman ahead of her time. When her husband, John, served as America's 2nd president, critics referred to Abigail as ...

Abolitionists who wanted children to understand America's system of chattel slavery wrote books to communicate their message. One example is "A Pictur...

When Abraham Lincoln did not like the way a photographer had smoothed his hair, the future President ran his fingers through it - just before the pict...

Born on the 12th of February, in 1809, Abraham Lincoln was America's 16th president. For many people, this man with humble beginnings was the greatest...

Being U.S. President, during America's Civil War, required Mr. Lincoln to make difficult strategic decisions.

An event which came to be known as The Boston Massacre occurred on the 5th of March, 1770. It all started over a dispute involving a wig.

On October 25, 1962, Adlai Stevenson confronts Soviet Ambassador Zorin in the United Nations. The US, says Stevenson, is prepared to "wait until hell ...

Edgar Allan Poe published a poem entitled "Imitation," in 1827.

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