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History of US ImmigrationWhile Indigenous peoples predated Europeans in the region by thousands of years, colonial settlers mainly came from Britain and Western Europe, some of whom brought, or bought, enslaved Africans. Later waves brought Irish, German, and Chinese immigrants in the mid-19th century, followed by a large influx from southern and Eastern Europe between 1880 and 1920. Immigration slowed afterward due to restrictive laws that set quotas based on national origin. The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 ended the national-origins quota system that favored Europeans, allowing more immigrants from Asia, Africa, and Latin America—an outcome its own sponsors did not predict. Immigration is the main driver of US population growth, accounting for 84% of the nation's increase from July 2023 to July 2024. Immigrants generated about $1.7T in economic activity in 2023. As of June 2025, 51.9 million immigrants lived in the United States, representing 15.4% of the total population. Enforcement of immigration laws today mainly falls to the Department of Homeland Security and its subagencies—Customs and Border Protection, US Citizenship and Immigration Services, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement—which use physical barriers, deportations, and interior enforcement to regulate immigration. Today, individuals can legally immigrate to the United States through family sponsorship or employment-based visas, or by seeking asylum or refugee status. Immigration has become a key issue in US politics after record border encounters from 2021 to 2024, followed by aggressive enforcement policies during President Donald Trump's second term. Explore History of US Immigration

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View a collection of historical documents about molecular biology's historyThe collection features materials related to those involved in the discovery of DNA and provides historical context for the discoveries of RNA, various viruses, and important bioproteins. The items include photographs, business correspondence, manuscripts, and scientific instruments. Science History Institute The history behind New Orleans' drive-thru daiquirisNew Orleans attracts millions of annual visitors with its freewheeling drinking culture, reaching its apex during the weeks-long Mardi Gras celebration. But even the most intemperate tourists might be confused by the city's drive-through daiquiri stands. This resource offers a brief history of the quirky staple and explains how it has survived changes in the law. The Kitchn Former American President Abraham Lincoln is one of history’s most famous ghostsAbraham Lincoln, Anne Boleyn, Pausanias, and the Maharajah Duleep Singh are just a few of the notable phantoms found around the world. Several White House occupants and visitors have claimed to see Lincoln, including Theodore Roosevelt, Grace Coolidge, and Winston Churchill. HISTORY The history of Wall Street as a financial center dates back to the 1700s Wall Street’s history as a financial center started with the establishment of two institutions: the New York Stock Exchange and New York City’s first official slave market. TheStreet The history of the British Empire—all in a single takeThis video delivers a rapid, rhyming walk-through of the British Empire—filmed in one continuous shot aboard a sailing ship and featuring costumed actors portraying figures from Sir Francis Drake to Pocahontas. History Bombs History's weirdest weight loss fads, fact-checkedNothing catches popular attention more than a claim to have found a quick weight-loss technique. History shows us such claims are often unfounded. Dr. Michael Mosley explores extreme weight-loss tips from history, from tapeworms to vinegar diets. HistoryExtra The history of China: a timelineHow long has China existed, and how and when did it evolve into its form? Explore the journey of China from empire to republic (to a republic, again) in this timeline. Archaeological evidence suggests the earliest Chinese dynasty formed at about... HISTORY History of Hong Kong: an illustrated timelineThis visual timeline explores the history of Hong Kong, a Chinese community that was under British rule for 156 years until it was returned in 1997. Hong Kong was ceded to the British via the Treaty of Nanjing, an agreement that ended the First Opium War. This timeline details 25 crucial events that have happened to and in Hong Kong, a Democratic territory that stands apart from mainland China's Communist government. National Geographic History shows what’s wrong with the idea that war is ‘normal’ in the Middle EastAn old trope claims that war is ‘normal’, innate, and inevitable in the Middle East. However, the history of the region reveals complex and civilized systems of coexistence. Empires found economic and political strength in fostering diversity;... TIME The history of Mother's Day in the USMother’s Day is a holiday honoring motherhood that is observed in different forms throughout the world. Learn about the origins of the official holiday in the US with this in-depth breakdown of the holiday, from the 19th-century women's movement to the commercialization of Mother's Day sales. HISTORY The history of natural and synthetic plasticsFrom cheap toys to woolly jumpers, plastic can be found in more products than many people realize. From a chemist's perspective all these things are made of the same class of materials: Polymers. And the distinction between which ones we happen to call "plastics" and which ones we don't is fairly arbitrary. BBC History finds of 2021The year’s most exciting discoveries include a Viking “piggy bank,” a lost Native American settlement and a secret passageway hidden behind a bookshelf Smithsonian Magazine History was made in the NFLTom Brady became the first quarterback in NFL history to throw 600 touchdown passes with a 9-yard scoring strike to Mike Evans on Sunday against the Bears. ESPN Around 87 million users were impacted by Facebook's Cambridge Analytica scandalCambridge Analytica, a consulting firm with Russian and conservative ties, harvested data from Facebook users through a research tool that tracked interests across social connections on Facebook. Those profiles were used for targeted ad campaigns supporting Donald Trump in 2016 and pro-Brexit ads. A whistleblower originally said the private data of more than 50 million Facebook users was compromised, but a Facebook officer later estimated the number was around 87 million. Facebook settled the class-action lawsuit over the privacy breach for $725M in 2022. Scholars trace existential anxiety back to early Hebrew scripturesPaul Megna, a scholar of literature and philosophy, notes that the existentialist ideas of Kierkegaard (and, to a lesser extent, Sarte and Camus) had their roots in much earlier texts, which posited that "fear of the Lord" was "the beginning of wisdom." JSTOR Daily ‘Moshing,’ an aggressive style of dancing, was initially called 'mashing'The style, which involves audience members thrashing their bodies into one another, evolved from “pogoing,” a style popular in England where listeners jumped up and down in place. The term “moshing,” sometimes called “slam dancing” in California, is believed to come from HR, the lead singer of Bad Brains. Consequence Japan’s imperial expansion in Asia set the stage for war with the USBetween 1931 and 1941, Japan seized Manchuria, launched a full-scale war in China and occupied French Indochina, moves that intensified its demand for strategic resources and triggered escalating US-led embargoes—particularly the 1941 oil cutoff—which sharply raised the risk of war between the two countries. Reading Through History Advent originally had almost nothing to do with the Christmas storyEarly Advent wasn’t about celebrating Jesus’s birth. In the 5th and 6th centuries, the season focused almost entirely on preparing for Christ’s Second Coming and “final judgment.” Advent’s connection to the Nativity only emerged centuries later. History Hit MuggleNet became the internet’s largest ‘Harry Potter’ fan communityLaunched in 1999, MuggleNet attracted millions of readers with news, theories, and fan-fiction. It helped define early online fandom, later expanding into podcasts, books and events. MuggleNet FIDE has governed international chess since 1924The Fédération Internationale des Échecs was founded in Paris in 1924 to unify global chess rules and competitions. Today, it oversees world championships, regulates ratings, and serves as the official governing body for millions of players worldwide. FIDE The flu vaccine has evolved alongside discoveries of new virus strainsAfter influenza B was identified in 1940, researchers created a two-strain vaccine by 1942. The WHO later built a global surveillance system to track mutations, enabling vaccines to be updated annually to target the strains most likely to circulate. World Health Organization Europe’s first recorded influenza pandemic swept the continent in 1580The 1580 influenza pandemic, traced from Asia to Africa and into Europe, became the first flu outbreak clearly documented across the continent—killing tens of thousands and highlighting influenza’s potential for rapid global spread. Origins England's Stoke-on-Trent was a hub for ceramicsThe area of Staffordshire was a major production center for over 300 years, exporting pottery from brands like Wedgwood across the globe. The Historic England Blog Pneumonia was once a leading killer before penicillin treatments In the early 20th century, pneumonia was a top cause of death worldwide, often fatal without effective treatment. Penicillin turned a once deadly infection into one of the most treatable bacterial diseases. News-Medical Oil prices have been volatile for decadesThis explainer shows oil’s rollercoaster: OPEC-led embargoes in the 1970s, shale surges in the 2000s, and the US flip to becoming a net oil exporter in 2020. Investopedia The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act improved the lives of many children with disabilitiesBefore the IDEA, many individuals lived in state institutions and received little education—only one in five attended public schools. Today, US public schools now educate over two-thirds of children with disabilities in general education classrooms. Individuals with Disabilities Education Act After public schools were integrated, segregation found a home in private schools The 1954 Brown v. Board of Education ruling banned segregation in public schools, but it didn’t eliminate the problem: Many white families moved to “segregation academies,” which were private schools founded to skirt the new law Southern Education Foundation Massachusetts passed the first compulsory education law as early as 1642The legislation required families to instruct children in religious and colonial law. By 1852, Massachusetts mandated that all children ages 8 to 14 attend school. By 1918, every state had a similar law. EBSCO The debt ceiling is a legal cap on how much money the US government can borrowSet by Congress, the debt ceiling limits total federal borrowing. This guide explains why the cap was created, how it has evolved, and why raising or suspending it has become a recurring political flash point. TIME See how the federal estate tax has changed in the 21st centuryIn 2001, the government passed an act to completely repeal the tax. It was overturned in 2010. In 2017, the government increased the exemption threshold so fewer people would have to pay into the tax. In 2025, the exemption threshold was permanently set to $15M. Congressional Research Service Diamond engagement rings didn’t become popular until the 1900sHowever, the history of engagement rings stretches all the way back to the year 850, when the pope said that a ring symbolized a man’s intent to marry. At the time, gold was the most popular choice for engagement rings. See a full timeline of the engagement ring’s history. Gemological Institute of America Tariffs once fueled the US economyUS tariffs peaked in 1930 with the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act, which slashed global trade by 65%. Once a key revenue source, tariffs gave way to income taxes in 1913, leading to decades of lower trade barriers. Today, US tariffs remain among the lowest worldwide. 1440 During the Civil War, the US government printed paper money for the first timeThose original paper bills were called “greenbacks” or “demand notes.” Since then, paper money has evolved with different designs, names, and values. Today, it is solely issued by the Bureau of Engraving & Printing. Bureau of Engraving and Printing In 1792, Congress established the first national mint to produce all the coins in the USAt the same time, the US also started producing the dollar, its first official currency. The US Mint has since issued coins throughout the country. Official Site of the United States Mint 'Dystopia,' explainedJohn Stuart Mill introduced the term "dystopia" in 1868 to critique harmful policies, calling it the opposite of utopia, or an ideal world. The concept grew as industrialization and totalitarian regimes exposed societal flaws, inspiring works like George Orwell's "1984" to warn against oppression and moral decay. 1440 Modern consulting traces its roots to 1886Arthur D. Little Inc. was the first management consulting firm. Starting as a chemical analysis lab, the firm evolved to play pivotal roles in projects like developing the NASDAQ system and supporting Apollo 11. 1440 The 1978 prediction of the Kessler syndrome popularized the risks of space trashA paper published by NASA scientists Don Kessler and Burton Cour-Palais described a scenario where the density of objects in orbit becomes so high that collisions between them create a cascading effect of runaway debris, preventing future space travel. The risks were confirmed from returned telescope parts showing debris impacts. The Aerospace Corporation Roth IRAs were first introduced in the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997The Roth IRA is one of the most popular retirement accounts in the US. Nearly a quarter of Americans contributed to a Roth IRA in 2023. But this type of financial account hasn’t been around for that long. Investopedia The first Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade took place in 1924It was originally intended to promote Macy’s upcoming holiday sales. Although it took place on Thanksgiving Day, the parade was initially called the Macy’s Christmas Parade—the name didn’t change until 1927. WWD Just because a big name company is going public doesn’t guarantee a successful stockA reporter dove into how highly anticipated IPOs can still be risky, and why retail investors should be wary of investing right away. CNBC Television The first US stock exchange dates back to the 1790s in PhiladelphiaOnly two years after that stock exchange in Philadelphia started, the largest stock exchange in the US to date was created: the New York Stock Exchange. Library of Congress King Philip’s War devastated Native resistance in colonial New EnglandDecades of rising tension over land and sovereignty erupted in 1675, when Wampanoag leader Metacom led a Native alliance against English colonies. The 14-month war ended in catastrophic defeat, killing thousands and shattering organized Native power in the Northeast. History Halloween originated with the Celtic festival of SamhainHalloween, a holiday primarily popular in the US and Canada, originated 2,000 years ago with the Celtic people. The Celts interpreted this transition as when ghosts returned to the land of the living, leading to rituals like feasts, bonfires, and wearing costumes made of animal body parts on Oct. 31. History Since its inception in 1938, Congress has raised the federal minimum wage 22 timesIf you want all the details about when and why these rate increases happened check out this resource from the US Department of Labor. US Department of Labor Minimum wage laws are a relatively new phenomenon in the US Today, the federal minimum wage in the US is $7.25 per hour. But the country wasn’t founded with minimum wage laws in its DNA. The first federal minimum wage wasn’t set until 1938, when it was 25 cents per hour. PBS Origins The New York Stock Exchange was first created in 1792When it first opened, traders would meet both outside on the street and in coffee shops to do business. Today, the NYSE is known as one of the most important financial institutions in the world. NYSE The first recorded worker strike in the United States happened in 1768That year, journeymen tailors went on strike to protest a wage reduction. By 1794, cobblers in Philadelphia formed the nation’s first trade union, the Federal Society of Journeymen Cordwainers. But that’s just the beginning of labor union history in the US. Investopedia Elon Musk joined Tesla in 2004, investing $30M and becoming chairThe company went public in 2010, raising $226 million in its IPO just two years after beginning production on its first car. Tesla’s first Supercharger stations were launched in 2012 with six locations in California. TheStreet The bond market dates back to the 1100s in VeniceIn the early 1800s, bonds were used to fund US railroads and canals in Great Britain. “Liberty Bonds” were sold during both World Wars in the 20th century. Learning about the early and modern history of bonds can offer a glimpse into how the modern bond market came to be. Markets.com Watch Mediterranean power shift over millennia with this animated mapThe ancient Mediterranean holds a vast amount of history; from Egypt to Rome, the coasts of this sea are home to some of the most advanced ancient civilizations. This video displays on a map the many different civilizations that rose and fell around the fertile region, from the year 2500 BCE to 0 BCE. Frisco Dojenia

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