On March 21, 1965, 3,000 civil rights protesters joined Martin Luther King Jr. to begin the 54-mile-march from Selma, Alabama to the state capitol building in Montgomery. The first attempt at the march—which was organized to protest against racial injustice and, particularly, the death of Jimmie Lee Jackson, an African American protester who was killed by an Alabama state trooper the previous month—occurred on Sunday, March 7. … Read more »
Today, March 8, is International Women’s Day. The first such day was held on March 18, 1911, two years after the Socialist Party of America observed a women’s day in the United States. Though the day has its origins in the socialist and communist parties—it was first made an official holiday, for example, in the Soviet Union—by 1977, when the United Nations General Assembly invited nations to observe the … Read more »
On March 4, 1865—just a month before Robert E. Lee surrendered at Appomattox—Abraham Lincoln delivered his Second Inaugural Address. Invoking theological speculation and quoting Scripture, he offered an interpretation of the meaning of the war, which enabled him to summon Americans to a new and more difficult public purpose. In this essay, Caitrin Nicol, managing editor of The New Atlantis, reveals the depths of Lincoln’s address.
Even though we as a nation celebrated his birthday holiday on Monday, today—February 22—is George Washington’s actual birthday. (To learn more about Washington’s life and career, read our short biography here.) To celebrate, and to consider what George Washington’s legacy means for us today, read Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr.’s “Ode for Washington’s Birthday.” Holmes (1809–94) wrote this poem for the Boston Mercantile Library Association’s celebration of Washington’s birthday … Read more »
With the federal holiday celebrating George Washington’s birthday just around the corner—on Monday, February 18—it’s a good time to raise the question: Do we celebrate Washington’s Birthday or Presidents’ Day? This introduction to Washington’s Birthday comes from our new ebook on the holiday; check back here later today for complete readings.
Remembering the birthday of George Washington—February 22, 1732—should be a particularly cherished national obligation. Americans celebrated Washington’s Birthday … Read more »
Today officially begins the annual celebration of Black History Month, when we as a nation set aside the month of February to celebrate contributions made by African Americans and to examine the legacy left by these civil rights leaders—for today and tomorrow. In the coming weeks, we’ll be using the opportunity to highlight some great teaching resources and primary sources you can use in your classroom to teach … Read more »
On January 31, 1919, the American baseball player Jackie Robinson was born in Cairo, Georgia, to a family of sharecroppers. The following year, his family moved to Pasadena, California, and it was here that Robinson grew up. In high school, he was a star on his school’s baseball, football, basketball, and track teams; after two years at Pasadena Junior College, he became the first athlete to earn varsity letters in … Read more »
On January 29, 1737, Thomas Paine was born in Norfolk, England. In 1774, he moved to London, where he met Benjamin Franklin, who suggested that he consider emigrating to America. Taking Franklin’s advice (and his letter of introduction), Paine arrived in Philadelphia on November 30, 1774. Soon thereafter he became a citizen of Pennsylvania and, in January of 1775, took up the editorship of Pennsylvania Magazine.
On January 10, 1776, … Read more »
Yesterday marked the 175th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln’s Lyceum Address, which he delivered on January 27, 1838, to the Young Men’s Lyceum of Springfield, Illinois. The Lyceum was an educational civic organization that hosted public speeches and debates, and Lincoln’s remarks were informed by the recent lynchings of suspected gamblers and murderers (which he references in the speech) and the shooting of the abolitionist Elijah P. Lovejoy at Alton, … Read more »
Eighty-four years ago today, on January 15, 1929, the civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. was born in Atlanta, Georgia, the second of three children to Reverend Martin Luther King Sr. and his wife Alberta. As we prepare to celebrate King’s birthday on Monday—the official Martin Luther King Jr. Day—we will be using this week to feature stories and texts from our latest ebook, “The Meaning of Martin … Read more »
Distinguished scholar-teachers Amy and Leon Kass demonstrate how short stories, speeches, and songs can be used to enhance civic education and how a pedagogical approach that stresses learning through inquiry can make primary sources come alive for students of all ages.
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“What a wonderful collection of American songs, speeches, and stories. It should be valuable for teachers, students, parents, and readers of all kinds.”
— Diane Ravitch