United States History, REE-STO
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
Reed, Stanley F.
Stanley F. Reed was an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States (1938–57). Reed was the only......
Rehnquist, William
William Rehnquist was the 16th chief justice of the United States, appointed to the Supreme Court in 1971 and elevated......
Remembering the American Civil War
On April 11, 1861, having been informed by messengers from Pres. Abraham Lincoln that he planned to resupply Fort......
- Introduction
- Memorials, Battles, Veterans
- Presidential Documents, Memory, Legacy
- Gettysburg Address, Union Victory, Emancipation
- Battles, Strategies, Losses
- Gettysburg, Antietam, Vicksburg
- Henry Timrod, Ethnogenesis, Poetry
- Henry Timrod, Charleston, Poetry
- Walt Whitman, Poetry, Reflection
- Daniel Emmett, Albert Pike, Dixie
- Photography, Art, Memory
- Timeline of events
- Memorials, Reenactments, Legacies
Remembering World War I
In late July and early August 1914, the great powers of Europe embarked on a course of action that would claim......
Revere, Paul
Paul Revere was a folk hero of the American Revolution whose dramatic horseback ride on the night of April 18,......
Rhodes, James Ford
James Ford Rhodes was an American businessman and historian, best known for his multivolume investigation of the......
Ricci v. DeStefano
Ricci v. DeStefano, case alleging racial discrimination that was decided by the U.S. Supreme Court on June 29,......
Richmond Bread Riot
Richmond Bread Riot, riot in Richmond, Virginia, on April 2, 1863, that was spawned by food deprivation during......
Roberts, John G., Jr.
John G. Roberts, Jr. is the 17th chief justice of the United States (2005– ). Roberts was the second of four children......
Roberts, Owen Josephus
Owen Josephus Roberts was an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States (1930–45). Roberts was......
Rochambeau, Jean-Baptiste-Donatien de Vimeur, comte de
Jean-Baptiste-Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau was a French general who supported the American Revolution......
Rockingham, Charles Watson-Wentworth, 2nd marquess of
Charles Watson-Wentworth, 2nd marquess of Rockingham was the prime minister of Great Britain from July 1765 to......
Rodney, Caesar
Caesar Rodney was a delegate to the Continental Congress (1774–76, 1777–78), “president” of Delaware (1778–82),......
Roe v. Wade
Roe v. Wade, legal case in which the U.S. Supreme Court on January 22, 1973, ruled (7–2) that unduly restrictive......
Roe v. Wade: At a Glance
Roe v. Wade (1973) is a legal case in which the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that unduly restrictive state regulation......
Roemer v. Board of Public Works of Maryland
Roemer v. Board of Public Works of Maryland, legal case in which the U.S. Supreme Court on June 21, 1976, upheld......
Rogers v. Paul
Rogers v. Paul, case in which the U.S. Supreme Court on December 6, 1965, ruled (5–0) that an Arkansas school board’s......
Romer v. Evans
Romer v. Evans, legal case in which the U.S. Supreme Court on May 20, 1996, voided (6–3) an amendment to the Colorado......
Roosevelt, Theodore
Theodore Roosevelt was the 26th president of the United States (1901–09) and a writer, naturalist, and soldier.......
Rosecrans, William S
William S. Rosecrans was a Union general and excellent strategist early in the American Civil War (1861–65); after......
Rosenberger v. Rector and Visitors of the University of Virginia
Rosenberger v. Rector and Visitors of the University of Virginia, legal case in which the U.S. Supreme Court ruled......
Rough Rider
Rough Rider, in the Spanish-American War, member of a regiment of U.S. cavalry volunteers recruited by Theodore......
Rowan, Andrew Summers
Andrew Summers Rowan was a U.S. Army officer, bearer of the “message to Garcia.” Rowan graduated from West Point......
Ruby Ridge
Ruby Ridge, location of an incident in August 1992 in which Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents and U.S.......
Rumsfeld v. Forum for Academic and Institutional Rights
Rumsfeld v. Forum for Academic and Institutional Rights, legal case in which the U.S. Supreme Court on March 6,......
Rush, Benjamin
Benjamin Rush was an American physician and political leader, a member of the Continental Congress and a signer......
Rustin, Bayard
Bayard Rustin was an American civil rights activist who was an adviser to Martin Luther King, Jr., and who was......
Rutledge, John
John Rutledge was an American legislator who, as a delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1787, strongly......
Rutledge, Wiley B., Jr.
Wiley B. Rutledge, Jr. was an associate justice of the United States Supreme Court (1943–49). Rutledge taught high......
Sackville, George Sackville-Germain, 1st Viscount, Baron Bolebrooke of Sussex
George Sackville-Germain, 1st Viscount Sackville was an English soldier and politician. He was dismissed from the......
Safford, Mary Jane
Mary Jane Safford was an American physician whose extensive nursing experience during the Civil War determined......
Sagasta, Práxedes Mateo
Práxedes Mateo Sagasta was a seven-time prime minister of Spain (1871–72, 1874, 1881–83, 1885–90, 1892–95, 1897–99,......
Saint Albans Raid
Saint Albans Raid, (Oct. 19, 1864), in the American Civil War, a Confederate raid from Canada into Union territory;......
Saintes, Battle of the
Battle of the Saintes, in the American Revolution, major naval victory on April 9–12, 1782, for Britain in the......
Salomon, Haym
Haym Salomon was a Polish-born American businessman who was a principal financier of the fledgling American republic......
Sampson, Deborah
Deborah Sampson was an American Revolutionary soldier and one of the earliest female lecturers in the country.......
Sampson, William T
William T. Sampson was a U.S. naval officer who, as head of the North Atlantic squadron, masterminded U.S. naval......
San Juan Hill, Battle of
Battle of San Juan Hill, the most significant U.S. land victory, and one of the final battles, of the Spanish-American......
Sand Creek Massacre
Sand Creek Massacre, (November 29, 1864), controversial surprise attack upon a camp of Cheyenne and Arapaho people......
Sandwich, John Montagu, 4th earl of
John Montagu, 4th earl of Sandwich was a British first lord of the Admiralty during the American Revolution (1776–81)......
Sanford, Edward T(erry)
Edward T. Sanford was an associate justice of the United States Supreme Court (1923–30). Sanford was admitted to......
Santa Anna, Antonio López de
Antonio López de Santa Anna was a Mexican army officer and statesman who was the storm centre of Mexico’s politics......
Santa Fe Independent School District v. Doe
Santa Fe Independent School District v. Doe, case in which the U.S. Supreme Court on June 19, 2000, ruled (6–3)......
Santiago de Cuba, Battle of
Battle of Santiago de Cuba, concluding naval engagement of the Spanish-American War, fought on July 3, 1898, near......
Saratoga, Battles of
Battles of Saratoga, in the American Revolution, closely related engagements in the autumn of 1777. The Battles......
Savannah, Capture of
Stalemate in their war with the Americans in the north and concern over French attacks against British-held Caribbean......
Scalia, Antonin
Antonin Scalia was an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States from 1986 to 2016, well known......
Schechter Poultry Corp. v. United States
Schechter Poultry Corp. v. United States, case in which on May 27, 1935, the Supreme Court of the United States......
Schenck v. United States
Schenck v. United States, legal case in which the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on March 3, 1919, that the freedom of......
School Board of Nassau County v. Arline
School Board of Nassau County v. Arline, case in which the U.S. Supreme Court on March 3, 1987, ruled (7–2) that......
School Committee of the Town of Burlington v. Massachusetts Department of Education
School Committee of the Town of Burlington v. Massachusetts Department of Education, case in which the U.S. Supreme......
School District of Abington Township v. Schempp
School District of Abington Township v. Schempp, legal case in which the U.S. Supreme Court on June 17, 1963, ruled......
Schuyler, Philip John
Philip John Schuyler was an American soldier, political leader, and member of the Continental Congress. Born into......
Scott, Winfield
Winfield Scott was an American army officer who held the rank of general in three wars and was the unsuccessful......
secession
secession, in U.S. history, the withdrawal of 11 slave states (states in which slaveholding was legal) from the......
Seguín, Juan
Juan Seguín was a Tejano (Texan of Hispanic descent) revolutionary and politician who helped establish the independence......
Selma March
Selma March, political march from Selma, Alabama, to the state’s capital, Montgomery, that occurred March 21–25,......
Seminole War, First
First Seminole War, conflict between U.S. armed forces and the Seminole Indians of Florida that is generally dated......
Seminole War, Second
Second Seminole War, conflict (1835–42) that arose when the United States undertook to force the Seminole Indians......
Seminole Wars
Seminole Wars, (1817–18, 1835–42, 1855–58), three conflicts between the United States and the Seminole Indians......
Semmes, Raphael
Raphael Semmes was an American Confederate naval officer whose daring raids in command of the man-of-war “Alabama”......
Seneca Falls Convention
Seneca Falls Convention, assembly held on July 19–20, 1848, in the Wesleyan Chapel in Seneca Falls, New York, that......
Seven Days’ Battles
Seven Days’ Battles, (June 25–July 1, 1862), series of American Civil War battles in which a Confederate army under......
Seven Pines, Battle of
Battle of Seven Pines, (May 31–June 1, 1862), in the American Civil War, two-day battle in the Peninsular Campaign,......
Seward, William H.
William H. Seward was a U.S. politician, an antislavery activist in the Whig and Republican parties before the......
Shaw, Robert Gould
Robert Gould Shaw was a Union army officer who commanded a prominent regiment of African American troops during......
Shays, Daniel
Daniel Shays was an American officer (1775–80) in the American Revolution and a leader of Shays’s Rebellion (1786–87),......
Shelby County v. Holder
Shelby County v. Holder, legal case, decided on June 25, 2013, in which the U.S. Supreme Court declared (5–4) unconstitutional......
Shelton v. Tucker
Shelton v. Tucker, case in which the U.S. Supreme Court on December 12, 1960, ruled (5–4) that an Arkansas statute......
Shenandoah Valley campaigns
Shenandoah Valley campaigns, (July 1861–March 1865), in the American Civil War, important military campaigns in......
Sheridan, Philip H.
Philip H. Sheridan was a highly successful U.S. cavalry officer whose driving military leadership in the last year......
Sherman, Roger
Roger Sherman was an American politician whose plan for representation of large and small states prevented a deadlock......
Sherman, William Tecumseh
William Tecumseh Sherman was an American Civil War general and a major architect of modern warfare. He led Union......
Sherman’s March to the Sea
Sherman’s March to the Sea, (November 15–December 21, 1864) American Civil War campaign that concluded Union operations......
Shiloh, Battle of
Battle of Shiloh, (April 6–7, 1862), second great engagement of the American Civil War, fought in southwestern......
Shiras, George, Jr.
George Shiras, Jr. was an associate justice of the United States Supreme Court (1892–1903). Shiras was admitted......
Shooting of Trayvon Martin
The fatal shooting of Trayvon Martin by George Zimmerman occurred in Sanford, Florida, on February 26, 2012. The......
Simcoe, John Graves
John Graves Simcoe was a British soldier and statesman who became the first lieutenant governor of Upper Canada......
Sipuel v. Board of Regents
Sipuel v. Board of Regents, case in which the U.S. Supreme Court on January 12, 1948, ruled unanimously (9–0) to......
Sitting Bull
Sitting Bull was a Lakota (Teton) chief under whom the Oceti Sakowin (Sioux) peoples united in their struggle against......
Skinner v. Railway Labor Executives’ Association
Skinner v. Railway Labor Executives’ Association, case in which the U.S. Supreme Court on March 21, 1989, ruled......
Slaughterhouse Cases
Slaughterhouse Cases, in American history, legal dispute that resulted in a landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision......
Sloan v. Lemon
Sloan v. Lemon, legal case in which the U.S. Supreme Court on June 25, 1973, struck down (6–3) a Pennsylvania state......
Smalls, Robert
Robert Smalls was an American war hero and politician who, during the American Civil War, commandeered a Confederate......
Smith v. City of Jackson, Mississippi
Smith v. City of Jackson, Mississippi, legal case in which the U.S. Supreme Court on March 30, 2005, held in a......
Smith, Gerrit
Gerrit Smith was an American reformer and philanthropist who provided financial backing for the antislavery crusader......
Sotomayor, Sonia
Sonia Sotomayor associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States from 2009. She was the first Hispanic......
Souter, David Hackett
David Hackett Souter was an associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court from 1990 to 2009. Souter’s father was......
Southern Christian Leadership Conference
Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), nonsectarian American agency with headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia,......
Spanish-American War
Spanish-American War, (1898), conflict between the United States and Spain that ended Spanish colonial rule in......
Spencer v. Kugler
Spencer v. Kugler, legal case in which the U.S. Supreme Court on January 17, 1972, summarily (without argument......
Spotsylvania Court House, Battle of
Battle of Spotsylvania Court House, (8–21 May 1864), Union failure to smash or outflank Confederate forces defending......
Stanton, Edwin M.
Edwin M. Stanton was the secretary of war who, under Pres. Abraham Lincoln, tirelessly presided over the giant......
Stark, John
John Stark was a prominent American general during the American Revolution who led attacks that cost the British......
Starr, Ken
Ken Starr was an American lawyer best known as the independent counsel (1994–99) who headed the investigation of......
Stephens, Alexander H.
Alexander H. Stephens was a politician who served as vice president of the Confederate States of America during......
Steuben, Baron von
Baron von Steuben was a German officer who served the cause of U.S. independence by converting the revolutionary......
Stevens, John Paul
John Paul Stevens was an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States from 1975 to 2010. Stevens,......
Stewart, Potter
Potter Stewart was an associate justice of the United States Supreme Court (1958–81). Stewart was admitted to the......
Stockton, Robert F.
Robert F. Stockton was a U.S. naval officer and public leader who helped conquer California in the Mexican-American......