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For twenty-first-century Americans, big government is nothing new. No matter how we feel about it, the government is everywhere and involved in virtually every aspect of our lives. With the federal government responsible for so many facets of our lives, it can be challenging to remember that it was once much smaller. The Constitution—now revered by most Americans—was a source of controversy when it was written. The newly formed United States’ first written constitution was the Articles of Confederation, which created a federal government with limited powers while leaving considerable powers to the states. In the eighteenth century, most people...

In March of 1911, the nation was shocked by what would prove to be one of the worst workplace disasters in United States history. The disaster was even more tragic because many of those who died were young women just on the cusp of adulthood—some were as young as 14.Employees at the Triangle Shirtwaist Company (a shirtwaist was a woman’s blouse) were like many factory workers in the early twentieth century. They worked long hours—usually, 7 AM to 8 PM, seven days a week, and their wages were absurdly low. A week’s work earned them roughly $6. In some instances,...

As the subject of a recent movie and with talk of placing her image on the twenty-dollar bill, Harriet Tubman is perhaps more in the news today than at any point since her death. With so much attention focused on Tubman, let’s look at the life of this remarkable woman. Most people know her as the “conductor” of the Underground Railroad, but there is much more to Tubman’s life than her experiences helping escaped slaves. Born in about 1820 as Araminta “Minty” Ross, she would later take the name Harriet in honor of her mother. As an enslaved person, Harriet...

Wars are complicated, and understanding their causes can be tricky, even for those who live through them. Conflicts can seldom be attributed to one reason and are often the result of years of tensions. The American Revolution is no exception. In this article, we briefly explore some of the top reasons the American Colonies decided to sever ties with Great Britain and form their own free and independent nation.    The Enlightenment An intellectual and philosophical movement that began in Europe in the 1600s. It encouraged the use of reason, and its adherents believed that questioning authority, whether it be...