ARTICLES

Signed by Abraham Lincoln in 1862, the Homestead Act offered eligible settlers the chance to claim public land and build new lives in the West. Explore how the law worked, the hardships homesteaders faced, and the lasting consequences of western settlement.

The Emancipation Proclamation changed the course of the Civil War, but it did not immediately free every enslaved person in the United States. Learn what Lincoln's 1863 proclamation did, where it applied, and why its limitations matter.

Before sunrise on April 12, 1861, Confederate artillery opened fire on Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor. Learn how the attack transformed a national political crisis into the opening battle of the American Civil War.

The Battle of Gettysburg brought Union and Confederate armies together for three days of intense fighting in July 1863. From the opening clashes to Pickett's Charge, the Union victory stopped Lee's invasion of the North and helped change the direction of the Civil War.

Step onto the battlefields where America’s story was forged. From the first shots at Lexington and Concord to the pivotal moments of Gettysburg and Pearl Harbor, these historic sites reveal the courage, sacrifice, and determination that shaped a nation. Discover the battles that changed history, inspired generations, and secured the freedoms enjoyed today, while gaining a deeper appreciation for the people who fought to preserve them.