United States History, MT.-RED
As with most nations, the history of the United States contains a number of twists and turns throughout the centuries, from the time of the English colonization of North America up to the modern-day America that we're familiar with. Learn more about the people, events, and movements that left an indelible mark in history and shaped the development of the United States as a nation.
United States History Encyclopedia Articles By Title
Mt. Healthy City Board v. Doyle
Mt. Healthy City Board v. Doyle, case in which the U.S. Supreme Court on January 11, 1977, ruled (9–0) that an......
Mueller v. Allen
Mueller v. Allen, case in which the U.S. Supreme Court on June 29, 1983, ruled (5–4) that a Minnesota law that......
Muller v. State of Oregon
Muller v. State of Oregon, U.S. Supreme Court case decided in 1908 that, although it appeared to promote the health......
Munn v. Illinois
Munn v. Illinois, (1877), case in which the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the power of government to regulate private......
Murphy v. National Collegiate Athletic Association
Murphy v. National Collegiate Athletic Association, legal case in which, on May 14, 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court......
Murphy, Frank
Frank Murphy was an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States from 1940 until his death. He was......
Myers v. United States
Myers v. United States, (1926), U.S. Supreme Court case that voided a legislative provision restricting the authority......
Nashville, Battle of
Battle of Nashville, (December 15–16, 1864), American Civil War engagement in which Confederate Lieut. Gen. John......
Nast, Thomas
Thomas Nast was an American cartoonist, best known for his attack on the political machine of William M. Tweed......
Nat Turner’s Rebellion
The rebellion of Nat Turner was a revolt by enslaved African Americans that occurred in southeastern Virginia in......
National Labor Relations Board v. Noel Canning
National Labor Relations Board v. Noel Canning, legal case in which the U.S. Supreme Court on June 26, 2014, ruled......
National Labor Relations Board v. Yeshiva University
National Labor Relations Board v. Yeshiva University, legal case in which the U.S. Supreme Court ruled (5–4), on......
Nelson, Samuel
Samuel Nelson was an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States (1845–72). Nelson was the son......
Nevins, Allan
Allan Nevins was an American historian, author, and educator, known especially for his eight-volume history of......
New Freedom
New Freedom, in U.S. history, political ideology of Woodrow Wilson, enunciated during his successful 1912 presidential......
New Frontier
New Frontier, political slogan used by U.S. Pres. John F. Kennedy to describe his concept of the challenges facing......
New Hampshire v. Louisiana
New Hampshire v. Louisiana, (108 U.S. 76 [1883]), U.S. Supreme Court case (combined with New York v. Louisiana)......
New Jersey Plan
New Jersey Plan, one of two major competing proposals for the structure and functioning of the United States government......
New Orleans, Battle of
Battle of New Orleans, (April 24–25, 1862), naval action by Union forces seeking to capture the city during the......
New York slave rebellion of 1741
New York slave rebellion of 1741, a supposed large-scale scheme plotted by enslaved Black people and poor white......
New York Times Co. v. Sullivan
New York Times Co. v. Sullivan, legal case in which, on March 9, 1964, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled unanimously......
New York v. Cathedral Academy
New York v. Cathedral Academy, case in which the U.S. Supreme Court on December 6, 1977, ruled (6–3) that a New......
Noailles, Louis-Marie, vicomte de
Louis-Marie, viscount de Noailles was the second son of the marshal of Mouchy and one of the most distinguished......
North, Frederick North, Lord
Frederick North, Lord North was the prime minister from 1770 to 1782, whose vacillating leadership contributed......
Nullification Crisis
Nullification Crisis, in U.S. history, confrontation between the state of South Carolina and the federal government......
Obergefell v. Hodges
Obergefell v. Hodges, legal case in which the U.S. Supreme Court ruled (5–4) on June 26, 2015, that state bans......
Odell, Jonathan
Jonathan Odell was a Canadian writer whose works are among the few extant expressions of American Tory sentiment......
Ohio Idea
Ohio Idea, in U.S. history, proposal first presented in the Cincinnati Enquirer in 1867 and later sponsored by......
Olney, Richard
Richard Olney was the U.S. secretary of state (1895–97) who asserted, under the Monroe Doctrine, the right of the......
Oriskany, Battle of
Battle of Oriskany, (August 6, 1777), in the American Revolution, battle between British troops and American defenders......
Osceola
Osceola was an American Indian leader during the Second Seminole War, which began in 1835 when the U.S. government......
Oswald, Lee Harvey
Lee Harvey Oswald was the accused assassin of U.S. Pres. John F. Kennedy in Dallas on November 22, 1963. He himself......
O’Connor, Sandra Day
Sandra Day O’Connor was an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States from 1981 to 2006. She was......
O’Neill, John
John O’Neill was an Irish-born military leader of the American branch of the Fenians, an Irish nationalist secret......
Paine, Robert Treat
Robert Treat Paine was an American politician, jurist, member of the Continental Congress (1774–78), and signer......
Paine, Thomas
Thomas Paine was an English-American writer and political pamphleteer whose Common Sense pamphlet and Crisis papers......
Palo Alto, Battle of
Battle of Palo Alto, (May 8, 1846), first clash in the Mexican-American War, fought in the disputed territory between......
Papish v. Board of Curators of the University of Missouri
Papish v. Board of Curators of the University of Missouri, legal case in which the U.S. Supreme Court on March......
Paris, Peace of
Peace of Paris, (1783), collection of treaties concluding the American Revolution and signed by representatives......
Paris, Treaty of
Treaty of Paris, (1898), treaty concluding the Spanish-American War. It was signed by representatives of Spain......
Parker, Quanah
Quanah Parker was a Comanche leader who, as the last chief of the Kwahadi (Quahadi) band, mounted an unsuccessful......
party press era
party press era, period (1780s–1830s) in United States history when news editors received patronage from political......
Paterson, William
William Paterson was an Irish-born American jurist, one of the framers of the U.S. Constitution, U.S. senator (1789–90),......
Patriotic Gore
Patriotic Gore, collection of essays by Edmund Wilson, published in 1962. Subtitled Studies in the Literature of......
Pea Ridge, Battle of
Battle of Pea Ridge, (March 7–8, 1862), bitterly fought American Civil War clash in Arkansas, during which 11,000......
Peckham, Rufus Wheeler
Rufus Wheeler Peckham was an associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court from 1896 to 1909. Peckham was educated......
Pemberton, John Clifford
John Clifford Pemberton was a Confederate general during the American Civil War, remembered for his tenacious but......
Pendleton, Edmund
Edmund Pendleton was a Virginia patriot during the American Revolution. Pendleton’s father and grandfather died......
Peninsular Campaign
Peninsular Campaign, (April 4–July 1, 1862), in the American Civil War, large-scale but unsuccessful Union effort......
Perryville, Battle of
Battle of Perryville, (October 8, 1862), in the American Civil War, engagement of Union and Confederate troops......
Petersburg Campaign
Petersburg Campaign, (1864–65), series of military operations in southern Virginia during the final months of the......
Philippine-American War
Philippine-American War, war between the United States and Filipino revolutionaries from 1899 to 1902, an insurrection......
Pickering, Timothy
Timothy Pickering was an American Revolutionary officer and Federalist politician who served (1795–1800) with distinction......
Pickett, George Edward
George Edward Pickett was a Confederate army officer during the American Civil War, known for Pickett’s Charge......
Pierce v. Society of Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary
Pierce v. Society of Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary, case in which the U.S. Supreme Court on June......
Pike, Albert
Albert Pike was a lawyer, political writer, Masonic lodge leader, and Confederate general who played a central......
Pinchback, Pinckney Benton Stewart
Pinckney Benton Stewart Pinchback was a Black man who was born free and served as a Union officer in the American......
Pinckney, Charles
Charles Pinckney was an American Founding Father, political leader, and diplomat whose proposals for a new government—called......
Pinckney, Charles Cotesworth
Charles Cotesworth Pinckney was an American soldier, statesman, and diplomat who participated in the XYZ Affair,......
Pinckney, Thomas
Thomas Pinckney was an American soldier, politician, and diplomat who negotiated Pinckney’s Treaty (Oct. 27, 1795)......
Pitcher, Molly
Molly Pitcher was a heroine of the Battle of Monmouth during the American Revolution. According to legend, at the......
Pitney, Mahlon
Mahlon Pitney was an associate justice of the United States Supreme Court (1912–22). After graduating from the......
Plains Wars
Plains Wars, series of conflicts from the early 1850s through the late 1870s between Native Americans and the United......
Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania v. Casey
Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania v. Casey, legal case, decided by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1992,......
Plessy v. Ferguson
Plessy v. Ferguson, legal case in which the U.S. Supreme Court on May 18, 1896, by a seven-to-one majority (one......
Point Four Program
Point Four Program, U.S. policy of technical assistance and economic aid to underdeveloped countries, so named......
Polk, James K.
James K. Polk was the 11th president of the United States (1845–49). Under his leadership, the United States fought......
Polk, Leonidas
Leonidas Polk was a U.S. bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church, founder of the University of the South, and......
Pollock v. Farmers’ Loan and Trust Company
Pollock v. Farmers’ Loan and Trust Company, (1895), U.S. Supreme Court case in which the court voided portions......
Poor People’s Campaign
Poor People’s Campaign, political campaign that culminated in a demonstration held in Washington, D.C., in 1968,......
Pope, John
John Pope was a Union general in the American Civil War who was relieved of command following the Confederate triumph......
Porter, David Dixon
David Dixon Porter was a U.S. naval officer who held important Union commands in the American Civil War (1861–65).......
Porter, Eliza Emily Chappell
Eliza Emily Chappell Porter was an American educator and welfare worker, remembered especially for the numerous......
Porter, Fitz-John
Fitz-John Porter was a Union general during the American Civil War who was court-martialed and cashiered—but later......
Powell, Lewis F., Jr.
Lewis F. Powell, Jr. was an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States (1972–87). Powell was the......
Price, Richard
Richard Price was a British moral philosopher, expert on insurance and finance, and ardent supporter of the American......
Price, Sterling
Sterling Price was an antebellum governor of Missouri, and Confederate general during the U.S. Civil War. After......
Prohibition
Prohibition, legal prevention of the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcoholic beverages in the United......
Pullman Strike
Pullman Strike, (May 11, 1894–c. July 20, 1894), in U.S. history, widespread railroad strike and boycott that severely......
Pullman, George M.
George M. Pullman was an American industrialist and inventor of the Pullman sleeping car, a luxurious railroad......
Pushmataha
Pushmataha was a Choctaw Indian chief whose compliance facilitated U.S. occupation of Indian land in the early......
Putnam, Israel
Israel Putnam was an American general in the American Revolution. After moving to Pomfret, Connecticut, about 1740,......
Putnam, Rufus
Rufus Putnam was an American soldier and pioneer settler in Ohio. Putnam fought in the French and Indian War from......
Pułaski, Kazimierz
Kazimierz Pułaski was a Polish patriot and U.S. colonial army officer, hero of the Polish anti-Russian insurrection......
Quantrill, William C.
William C. Quantrill was the captain of a guerrilla band irregularly attached to the Confederate Army during the......
Quebec, Battle of
Battle of Quebec, (December 31, 1775), in the American Revolution, unsuccessful American attack on the British......
Quirin, Ex Parte
Ex Parte Quirin, case in which the U.S. Supreme Court on July 31, 1942, unanimously ruled to allow the military,......
Radical Reconstruction
Radical Reconstruction, process and period of Reconstruction during which the Radical Republicans in the U.S. Congress......
Radical Republican
Radical Republican, during and after the American Civil War, a member of the Republican Party committed to emancipation......
Randolph, Edmund Jennings
Edmund Jennings Randolph was a Virginia lawyer who played an important role in drafting and ratifying the U.S.......
Randolph, Peyton
Peyton Randolph was the first president of the U.S. Continental Congress. Randolph was educated at the College......
Rasul v. Bush
Rasul v. Bush, case in which the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on June 28, 2004, that U.S. courts have jurisdiction......
Ray, James Earl
James Earl Ray was an American assassin of the African American civil-rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. Ray......
Reconstruction
Reconstruction, in U.S. history, the period (1865–77) that followed the American Civil War and during which attempts......
Reconstruction
Reconstruction was a transformative era in U.S. history, as the government sought to rebuild the country following......
Reconstruction Acts
Reconstruction Acts, U.S. legislation enacted in 1867–68 that outlined the conditions under which the Southern......
Red Cloud
Red Cloud was a principal chief of the Oglala Lakota (Oceti Sakowin, or Sioux), who successfully resisted (1865–67)......
Red Lion Broadcasting Co. v. FCC
Red Lion Broadcasting Co. v. FCC, 1969 U.S. Supreme Court case that upheld the Federal Communications Commission......
Red River Campaign
Red River Campaign, (March 10–May 22, 1864), in the American Civil War, unsuccessful Union effort to seize control......
Red River War
Red River War, (1874–75), uprising of warriors from several Indigenous tribes thought to be peacefully settled......