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Mid-decade redistricting is historically rare in modern US historyStates have generally redrawn districts only once per decade following the census, with mid-decade redistricting occurring infrequently and usually prompted by court orders or unusual political circumstances. Congress.govLong after his death, Washington was made the highest-ranking military figure in US historyOnly three Americans have held the rank of General of the Armies: John J. Pershing, Ulysses S. Grant, and Washington. However, Washington still outranks the others because Congress passed a 1976 law stating that he outranks all officers "past or present." Mental FlossBidets have been considered taboo throughout US historyWhile bidets are a typical household essential in Europe, Asia, and South America, they remain uncommon in the US. Associations with infertility, the aristocracy, and brothels helped fuel their unpopularity in the states. Weird HistoryThe highest inflation in US history was estimated at 30% in 1778This was just after the Revolutionary War. Both World Wars also brought double-digit inflation. It's worth noting that exact inflation rates in early America are difficult to calculate precisely. In 2013 DollarsThe largest jewelry heist in US history resulted in $100M of jewelry stolenRobbers stole the gems from a Brinks truck in Lebec, California, in July 2022. The truck was transporting the jewels to different jewelry shows in the state, and thieves stole diamonds, emeralds, gold, rubies, and designer watches while one driver was asleep and the other was getting food. Some of the stolen jewelry has been recovered.
USA TODAYExplore the most impactful Supreme Court cases in US historyBrowse by constitutional topic to explore key rulings, their historical impact, and the legal principles they established. Each case includes a summary of the decision, along with notable excerpts from majority and dissenting opinions. National Constitution CenterInterracial and same-sex marriages have both been illegal at certain times during US historyJune 12 marks Loving Day, the date when interracial marriage was legalized in 1967. A brave Virginia couple fought back against anti-miscegenation laws, which were finally struck down by the Supreme Court. The Court also ruled for the protection of same-sex marriages in 2015. NPR The 25 biggest IPOs in US historyThese 25 companies—which include UPS, Uber Technologies, AT&T, and The Kraft Heinz Co.—had some of the biggest IPO drops in US history. However, not all these drops led to long-term (or even immediate) success. KiplingerPhotos from the worst hurricanes in US historyHurricanes have plagued Caribbean nations and the southeastern US states, with some causing deaths in the thousands and hundreds of billions of dollars in damage. This gallery highlights the 24 worst hurricanes on record with images and description for each. The erratic, unpredictable path of hurricanes means different cities and regions are hit each year by tropical cyclones. Some of the deadliest storms occurred earlier in the 20th century, including the Galveston, Texas storm of 1900 that claimed 10,000 lives. Despite warnings and progress in structural preparation for storms, strong hurricanes have persistently disrupted life in America's communities. InsiderThe wildest cases of election fraud in US historyThe USA has seen some crazy elections. Election fraud is vanishingly rare now, but here are the craziest cases of election fraud in U.S. history. GrungeA primary source timeline of US history (1600-1968)Compiled by the Library of Congress, this archive walks through important events in US history through civil rights era, while providing primary sources to explore. Library of CongressThe worst election polling fails in US historyPresidential pollsters in the US have had some embarrassing failures. Here’s a catalog of those miscalls, from the scholar who literally wrote the book on them. The ConversationView the ten deadliest tornadoes in US historyThe Tri-State Tornado touched down in Shannon County, Missouri, on March 18, 1925, and killed 695 people as it traveled through Illinois and Indiana, making it the deadliest tornado in US history. The deadliest 21st-century tornado was in Joplin, Missouri, on May 22, 2011, killing 158 people and injuring over 1,000. NOAAUS History - Tomb of Unknown SoldierThursday marks 100 years since remains were entombed at Arlington, creating the iconic Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. In the past 100 years, it has become a symbol of American service and sacrifice, as well as a place for mourning and reflection. Stars and StripesHear the story of the largest single escape attempt by enslaved people in American historyOn April 15, 1848, 77 enslaved individuals in Washington, DC, boarded a ship named the Pearl in the largest single escape attempt in US history. Their capture led to riots and intensified the conflict over fugitive slave laws. American History TellersAn interactive map of 250 American places worth visiting before you dieThe Smithsonian created ten categories of landmarks—from history and food to oddball Americana and architecture—to enrich your celebration of America's semiquincentennial. You can sort by region or category, see a map of each location, and learn each spot's significance in a clean, aesthetic user interface. Smithsonian MagazineTwo men dressed as cops stole artwork from a Boston museum valued at over $500M at the timeOn March 18, 1990, the thieves entered Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum pretending to be police officers responding to a disturbance. After overpowering and handcuffing the guards on duty, they stole 13 precious items, including works by Rembrandt and Manet. The theft is the largest art heist in US history. The pieces are still missing, and the museum is offering a $10M reward to anyone who provides valuable information about their location. Tornadoes can cause significant air pollution and diminish air qualityAsbestos, a hazardous material that can cause lung cancer, is commonly found in buildings constructed before 1980. Tornadoes that damage such buildings can release asbestos into the air, along with other toxic pollutants and dust as materials are lifted. Individuals, particularly those with asthma or other chronic lung diseases, are encouraged to wear masks after a tornado. American Lung AssociationHistorians debate whether 'Hamilton' is good for historical educationIn this article, historians debate whether "Hamilton" deepens public engagement with US history or distorts it—examining accuracy and racial casting, and whether the musical's cultural impact outweighs its historical compromises. Smithsonian MagazineUS westward expansion—and the status of slavery in the new territories—was a major cause of the American Civil WarThe addition of new western lands forced the nation to confront whether slavery would spread beyond the South. Each debate over the admission of a new state sharpened the divide between free and slaveholding regions. US History SceneThe Senate must approve top presidential appointmentsUnder Article II of the Constitution, the United States Senate provides "advice and consent" on presidential nominees. This resource displays the outcome of every Cabinet nomination since Jimmy Carter's presidency and every Supreme Court nomination in US history. Senate.govJohn Dingell Jr. was the longest-serving member of the HouseJohn Dingell Jr. served 59 years in the United States House of Representatives, representing his Michigan constituents. This list highlights the 33 House members in US history who have served 40 years or longer. US House of Representatives ArchivesThe 2017 Women's March was one of the largest protests in the Mall's historyHeld the day after Donald Trump's inauguration, the 2017 Women's March drew an estimated 470,000 to 500,000 people to Washington, DC, and 3 million to 5 million nationwide. It is widely regarded as the largest single-day protest in US history. HISTORYJefferson omitted a plan to go beyond the Louisiana Territory in his funding requestIn January of 1803, the president sought $2,500 to fund the expedition (though it likely cost closer to $50,000). The ostensible rationale for the journey was to explore the newly purchased territory, but Jefferson did not mention he wanted Lewis and Clark to go beyond the newly acquired territory for several reasons. HISTORYHear firsthand accounts from the 1963 March on WashingtonThis video features stories from people who attended the 1963 March on Washington—the largest demonstration in US history at the time—capturing what it felt like to witness a pivotal moment in the Civil Rights movement as it unfolded. TimeHear the story of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s 'I Have a Dream' speechThis podcast traces Dr. King’s path into the Civil Rights movement and the buildup to the 1963 March on Washington, unpacking how his speech became a defining moment in US history. The Rest is HistoryThe Seneca Falls Declaration was modeled on the Declaration of IndependenceAt the 1848 Seneca Falls Convention—the first women’s rights convention in US history—Elizabeth Cady Stanton drafted the Declaration of Sentiments, consciously modeled on the Declaration of Independence, to argue that women were denied fundamental rights and justified in demanding legal and political equality. National Constitution CenterUS intelligence failures contributed to the success of the Japanese attackDespite breaking Japan’s diplomatic codes, US agencies failed to integrate warnings, successfully track Japan’s carriers, or even believe a Hawaii strike was possible (they also had not cracked Japan’s naval codes). Missed signals, ignored reports and poor coordination led to one of the worst intelligence failures in US history. The National WWII Museum | New Orleans'Men and nature must work hand in hand. The throwing out of balance of the resources of nature throws out of balance also the lives of men.'- President Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882–1945) UC Santa BarbaraMajor White House Renovations Through History: PhotosThe White House has long been a work in progress. HISTORYView the 10 biggest volcanic eruptions in recorded historyThe Mount Tambora eruption in 1815 was the deadliest and released so much sun-blocking ash and gas that 1816 became known as “the year without summer.” The resulting global food shortages are estimated to have killed over 71,000 people. BBC Science Focus MagazineThe friction between moving volcanic ash and smoke can produce lightningAs this volcanic material rises, it cools and descends, and competing flows strip electrons from atoms, building up static electricity. The bursts of electrical discharge are sometimes referred to as dirty lightning and can reach temperatures exceeding 16,500 degrees Celsius (29,700 degrees Fahrenheit). AccuWeatherSupport for slavery helped drive Texas to revolt against MexicoMexico abolished slavery in 1829, but many Anglo-American settlers in Texas brought enslaved people and refused to comply. Their desire to preserve slavery was a major factor in Texas’s 1836 rebellion and independence from Mexico. HISTORYWatermelons were once neither red nor sweetThe gargantuan summer picnic staple has a fascinating story: 100 million tons are produced worldwide and they take up the most space of any vegetable crop in the world. But not long ago, the flesh of the melon was white and it had a bitter taste. GastropodThe US has been through 34 recessions since 1854From 1855 to 2020, the average US recession lasted for an average of 17 months. But in the 20th and 21st centuries, the average recession length has shortened, decreasing to 14 months. USAFactsNixon's landslide in the 1972 Presidential electionDespite the Watergate break-in becoming public in June 1972, voters largely shrugged it off. On November 7, 1972, Richard Nixon still achieved a historic landslide—winning 520 out of 538 electoral votes, carrying 49 states—making it one of the largest Electoral College victories in US history.
270toWinA quick overview of Santa BarbaraThe central California city with the year-round Mediterranean climate weaves a fascinating history of indigenous, Spanish, Mexican, and then US history. This three-minute overview touches on the city's layered story, distinct architecture, and many celebrities. CBS Sunday MorningThe US government has shut down 22 times since 1976This resource breaks down every federal shutdown since 1976, showing how long each lasted and the budget disputes that caused them—revealing how routine funding failures have become in modern US politics. ThoughtCoWhat "National Treasure" got right—and wrong—about the DeclarationThe 2004 film "National Treasure" imagines a secret map hidden on the Declaration of Independence. This article breaks down which plot points reflect real history—and where Hollywood took liberties with the document, its preservation, and the people it portrays. Harvard University Declaration Resources ProjectAn archive of some of America's most significant shipwrecksFrom The Portland—known as New England's "Titanic"—to the Civil War's USS Monitor, this archive from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration provides overviews of some of the most well-known shipwrecks in US history. National Marine SanctuariesWalt Whitman's lost novelIn 2016, a long-forgotten piece of Walt Whitman's earliest work was uncovered. First published anonymously in 1852, "Life and Adventures of Jack Engle" is a serialized story that predates "Leaves of Grass." It offers a rare look at Whitman's early writing, before he became one of the most influential poets in US history. 1440See the lists of the worst hurricanes in the US through 2024Several metrics, including wind speed, pressure, damage costs, and casualties, may be used to define the most devastating hurricanes. This page provides the top 10 hurricanes across each of these sorting methods. ABC NewsPaul Revere rode to Concord to warn rebel leaders of British attackRevere was a well-known Boston messenger and an excellent horseman, known as a reliable relayer of messages. As Boston’s patriot leaders spread out into the areas around the city in fear of British arrest, Revere turned his skills to aid the revolutionary moment. US HistoryAround 32% of American adults have at least one tattooTattoos have waxed and waned in popularity over the centuries, depending upon the social standing of their wearers. Throughout US history, they were often considered taboo. However, growing acceptance of tattoos means they’re more visible in the public eye. Pew Research CenterHow the Rockefellers' wealth evolved over timeThe Rockefellers built one of the most powerful business empires in US history. By the early 1900s, their company, Standard Oil, controlled over 90% of the US oil market. 1440Death taxes have helped fund wars since the 1860sDeath taxes date back to 700 BCE and were used in Ancient Rome and Ancient Egypt. In the US, they've been used to finance wars since the Civil War, and have been levied on both the estate and beneficiary. The estate tax created during WWI to help finance war efforts is still in effect today. HowStuffWorksShakespeare’s American productions have often reflected the state of the countryShakespeare’s works have been used to interpret moments in US history, from the Astor Place Riot in 1849 and Lincoln’s frequent quotations of “Macbeth,” to the use of Shakespeare in nationwide classrooms today. Shakespeare UnlimitedA 1960s effort came close to abolishing the Electoral CollegeThis podcast episode examines the closest attempts in US history to eliminate the Electoral College, focusing on a major 1960s reform push—and why, despite broad support, it ultimately failed. RadiolabResearchers, experts, and retirees are finding that the 401(k) has left much to be desiredBaby Boomers, once the biggest generation, are now creating the largest wave of retirees in US history. Much of this generation is also the first to retire predominantly on the expectation that their 401(k) plans or similar tax-advantaged accounts performed well in the markets—which isn’t always the case. The DailyCentral banking in the US has had a fraught political historyThat history includes its doomed early efforts in the First and Second National Banks, as well as its failure to address the worst financial period in US history, the Great Depression. Investopedia