The temperance movement in the United States gained steam in the late 19th century, and by the early 20th century, many political candidates would be asked "Are you 'dry' or 'wet?'" This single issue led to the creation of the 18th Amendment in 1919, which effectively prohibited the manufacturing, sale or transportation of intoxicating liquors. After fourteen years, the 21st Amendment was passed,...

Located in Worcester, Massachusetts, the American Antiquarian Society (AAS) is an independent research library that was founded in 1812. Its rather impressive collections document the life and spirit of America from the colonial period until the end of Reconstruction in 1876. The Society's holdings include books, newspapers, periodicals, broadsides, music, and local histories. For visitors who may...

Culled from the archives of Harper's Weekly, this online trove of visual material and articles deals with the controversy over the alleged health benefits and potential hazards of smoking. The site begins with an orienting essay by John Adler, the publisher of HarpWeek. The compilation itself is quite revealing, pointing out that, as early as 1862, tobacco addiction was a recognized problem, and...

For educators, students, and persons looking for information about any period in American history will find the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History Web site an excellent resource containing thousands of helpful materials ranging from the colonial period to the present day. The site is divided into three main sections: Resources by Period, Resources by Topic, and the Reference Room. Users...

The Making of America (MOA) project at the University of Michigan is one of the oldest collaborative efforts designed to make a wide range of historical journals available online. Started in the fall of 1995, the project has successfully offered access to thousands of pages of journals and books that document American social history from the antebellum period through Reconstruction. With generous...

Hundreds of organizations have found creative and unique ways to celebrate the bicentennial of the War of 1812. The National Park Service has crafted this dynamic site to bring together a range of historical, educational, and programming resources related to this military conflict. After reading the helpful introductory essay here, visitors will want to delve into sections such as People, Stories,...

It is difficult at times for young people (and people in general) to understand the past, even the more recent past of the past century or so. It seems almost banal to observe that many aspects of life have changed dramatically, and perhaps not so banal to note that many things have in fact not changed as much as we think. This fine site contains a number of interactive exercises (drawing on the...

This collection from the Library of Congress American Memory project "integrates two collections from the holdings of the Nebraska State Historical Society: the Solomon D. Butcher photographs and the letters of the Uriah W. Oblinger family that together illustrate the story of settlement on the Great Plains." There are approximately 3,000 photographs of Central Nebraska taken during the period of...

While the mention of Mark Twain may make one think of drifting along the Mississippi, the noted American author and curmudgeon wrote most of his famous works while living in this home in Hartford, Connecticut. Visitors to the site can take a virtual tour of the house, which is also notable for having one of the few remaining Tiffany-designed interiors. The site also has several activities for...

Authored and maintained by Professors Mike Trinklein and Steve Boettcher, Authored and maintained by Professors Mike Trinklein and Steve Boettcher, creators of the award-winning PBS documentary of the same title, this recently updated Website provides access to a wealth of information and documentation that the creators say they couldn't fit into the film. Included here is a "complete primer" on...