Mexican-American War 1846-1848: Battle of Buena Vista. (Credit: Universal History Archive/Getty Images)

A portrait of Mikhail Gorbachev featured on his book cover, 'Perestroika.'

The 'Silent' Protest That Kick-Started the Civil Rights Movement

Burning Knights Templar at the stake in the 14th century. Colorized  engraving of 1851.

Barbara Maranzani

Barbara Maranzani Archives | HISTORY

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HISTORY

<p>The 21st century saw the dawn of the war on terrorism, as the 9/11 attacks and the Boston Marathon bombing dramatically changed society. Economic issues moved to the forefront during the Great Recession. The COVID-19 pandemic upended lives and economies around the world. Awareness of social inequality grew as the killings of Black Americans, including Trayvon Martin and George Floyd, spurred widespread protests.</p>


21st Century

<p>The Vietnam War pitted communist North Vietnam and the Viet Cong against South Vietnam and the United States. The war ended when U.S. forces withdrew in 1973 and Vietnam unified under Communist control two years later.</p>


Vietnam War

<p>Folklore is made up of age-old traditions, music, stories and superstitions that help define human culture. Discover the truth behind mysteries and legends, such as the Bermuda Triangle, zombies, werewolves, witches, vampires, Robin Hood and more.</p>


Folklore

<p>The 1960s was one of the most tumultuous and divisive decades in world history. The era was marked by the civil rights movement, the Vietnam War and antiwar protests, countercultural movements, political assassinations and the emerging "generation gap."</p>


1960s

<p>The U.S. government, with its three branches of government and a system of checks and balances, is responsible for governing the 50 states and all districts and territories of the United States.</p>


U.S. Government and Politics

<p>The Revolutionary War waged by the American colonies against Britain influenced political ideas and revolutions around the globe, as a small fledgling nation won its freedom from the greatest military force of its time.</p>


American Revolution

<p>The Middle Ages, the medieval period of European history between the fall of the Roman Empire and the beginning of the Renaissance, are sometimes referred to as the "Dark Ages."</p>


Middle Ages

<p>Though the 19th century saw the rise of populism, the labor movement and Jacksonian democracy, it also ushered in the Gilded Age, when men like Cornelius Vanderbilt and J. P. Morgan wielded vast control over politics and business.</p>


19th Century

<p>The Cold War rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union lasted for decades and resulted in anti-communist suspicions and international incidents that led two superpowers to the brink of nuclear disaster.</p>


Cold War

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<div class="p-rich_text_section">African Americans have played a central role in shaping U.S. history. From slavery and its abolition to the Great Migration, the civil rights movement and military, scientific, cultural and political achievements, explore key moments, milestones and figures in Black History.</div>
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Black History

<p>The Middle East is a large and diverse region composed of several countries and cultures in north Africa and western Asia. Its complex history includes the Persian Gulf War, the Iran Hostage Crisis, the Yom Kippur War, Zionism and more.</p>


Middle Eastern History

<p>Explore the wars, battles, leaders, civilizations, regimes, prominent figures and major events from the continent that encompasses 2 percent of the Earth’s surface. From Stonehenge to the Great Awakening to the French Revolution to the rise and fall of Communism in Russia, see how Europe’s often tumultuous history unfolded.</p>


Barbara Maranzani ‑ Stories

How U.S. Intelligence Misjudged the Growing Threat Behind 9/11

Why Mexico Won the Alamo but Lost the Mexican‑American War

Why the British Royal Crown Failed to Save the Romanovs

Did Perestroika Play a Role in the Fall of the Soviet Union?

What Happened to Aaron Burr After He Killed Alexander Hamilton in a Duel?

10 Things You Didn’t Know About Robert F. Kennedy

Why the Battle for Hamburger Hill Was So Controversial

Map: Top Templar Sites in Western Europe

Knights Templar Hot Spots in the Holy Land

Why Friday the 13th Spelled Doom for the Knights Templar

The ‘Silent’ Protest That Kick‑Started the Civil Rights Movement

8 of History’s Most Notorious Serial Killers