Reconstruction remains one of the most contentious topics in American history. For a number of years, historians argued that Reconstruction had been counterproductive and had negatively impacted black-white relations in the South. And... Read More

Labeled an eco-terrorist, racist, and sexist, Edward Abbey managed with his writings to offend as many as he inspired. Known for his radical environmentalism, Abbey also belonged to the NRA, believed the Mexican border should be sealed,... Read More

Although New York, Chicago, and New Orleans have long been recognized as hotbeds of jazz development, other cities have made important contributions. Before Motown concentrates on Detroit, a city with a heritage rich in culture and... Read More

The musical theater in England and America has changed radically since the days of Rodgers and Hart. Spectacles like Evita and A Little Night Music barely resemble earlier works like Anything Goes or Girl Crazy. “Few will disagree,”... Read More

To the outsider, war means decisive troop movements, big battles, and death from field injuries. While Surgeon William M. Smith observed all of these, his diary also bears witness to confused troop movement, death by preventable... Read More

From 1927 to the mid-1960s American popular songs poured from Broadway and Hollywood. Written by the likes of Porter, Hart, and Berlin, these songs were played on the pianos of thousands of households, and the words and tunes were... Read More

“The word medicine among Northern Plains tribes applied to objects supposed to have magical influence or mysterious power,” writes LaDow. The medicine line is a 100-mile stretch of land in the Northwest, running along the... Read More

The son of famous newspaper writer, this author began to serve a nine-month sentence in 1950 for refusing to answer congressional questions about his political beliefs. This was the McCarthy era before McCarthy had arrived on the scene.... Read More