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."

In this image we see General Douglas MacArthur returning to the Philippines.

This clip recreates the trial of Major Henry Wirz who was the superintendent of a prisoner-of-war camp - located in Andersonville, Georgia - at which ...

During its heyday, and at the height of its production, the Manhattan Project - America's code-named effort to build a nuclear bomb - employed around ...

The story of the purchase of Manhattan.

Solomon Northup, a free black, is listed as a slave called "Plat Hamilton" on this manifest for the brig Orleans.

Man o' War was not only a great thoroughbred himself, his bloodline includes other great racers, such as War Admiral and Seabiscuit.

Today, in America, everyone takes for granted that the Supreme Court has the power to strike-down laws which a majority of the nine justices determine...

Margaret Utinsky, an American nurse whose efforts greatly aided the Cabanatuan prisoners, lost her husband to the prison camp's horrifying conditions....

On the 22nd of November, 1963, Marina Oswald (who did not speak English well) signed an affidavit.

For 3 years, Marion Post (later known as Marion Post Wolcott) was a principal photographer in the Farm Security Administration's Historical Section.

It was in this cabin - owned by James and William Gillis and located in Tuolumne County, California - where Samuel Clemens, writing as Mark Twain, cre...

Young women were involved with circus life, including working with large animals like elephants.

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