The years leading to the American Civil War witnessed two transformative events that reshaped the nation’s political and social structure. The Supreme Court’s Dred Scott decision of 1857 fundamentally changed the legal status of African Americans and the federal government’s authority over slavery in U.S. territories. This ruling marked a critical turning point in American…
The Second Great Awakening and Women’s Rights Movement reshaped American society between 1790 and 1920. This transformative period witnessed unprecedented social change through religious revival meetings and the push for women’s equality. Religious fervor spread across the nation through camp meetings and innovative preaching methods. Women found new opportunities for public speaking and leadership in…
America’s First Steps in Self-Governance Introduction Imagine trying to run a country where each state prints its own money, maintains its own army, and can ignore national laws at will. This was the reality of America under the Articles of Confederation. Background: Following the Revolutionary War, the thirteen newly independent states needed a framework for…
