A 1996 CNN news item reviews some of the famous mistakes made in presidential debates and considers the measures candidates take to make good impressions and avoid spectacular gaffes.

Article on the Kennedy-Nixon debates and the impact television had on the election of 1960. Provides multiple links to primary source documents, related material, and video clips.

Summarizes the events that took place to develop the Compromise of 1850.

Discusses what led up to the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854, and the role Illinois Senator Stephen Douglas played in developing it.

Discusses the tension in Kansas over the issue of slavery after Nebraska voted to be a free state.

Outlines what happened with the Dred Scott case as it was passed on from the local state court all the way up to the federal Supreme Court, with a final decision being reached in 1857.

Provides a look at the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952, otherwise known as The McCarran-Walter Act, and the political debate surrounding it.

Describes how the Dred Scott became increasingly significant politically as it progressed through the court system, finally reaching the US Supreme Court.

Stars Bill Russell, Muhammad Ali and Billie Jean King have used their platforms to seek change. Before a preseason game on September 1, 2016, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick knelt during the national anthem to call...

Washington Post article dealing with ethics and guidelines of journalists reporting hard news. Provides material for debate and discussion. Interesting article.

Article reports on the chaos in the Republican party, and the long term effects this presidential election season could have on the GOP.

Essay defines the Christian Right and explores its cultural significance in American society, including why and how it emerged, religious and political goals, and who is included. Section for guiding students in discussion, scholar...

Learn about African American protest poetry and what was motivating it. This article takes a look at protest poetry during slavery, during the period of segregation and Jim Crow, and after political obstacles to equality were removed....

An essay that looks at other, more complex reasons for the outbreak of the Civil War, beyond the traditionally accepted ones related to the Northern industrial economy versus the Southern agricultural one.

Wonderful essay on Socrates refutation of the Sophists. Discusses Socrates' debate with Protagoras over the meaning of "arete" (justice) and its consequences for the democratic politics of Athens.

An intense debate raged over how best to rebuild the World Trade Center, as well as how to memorialize the thousands of victims. Though initial plans called for the rebuild to be completed by September 2011 -- the 10th anniversary of the...