American Essence

Pop Warner: The Architect of American Football
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Pop Warner: The Architect of American Football

The creative college football coach reinvented the game from a sheer brute collision course to a thinking game of misdirection and trick plays.

The National Bank Controversy That Left a President Without a Party
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The National Bank Controversy That Left a President Without a Party

In ‘This Week in History,’ Whigs worked to empower their party and corral support for a national bank only to see a Whig destroy their efforts.

The Humble Origin and Lasting Impact of William Dean Howells
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The Humble Origin and Lasting Impact of William Dean Howells

In this installment of ‘Profiles in History,’ a self-educated Ohioan rose through the literary ranks to become known as the Dean of American Letters.

The Gray Ghost and the Union General: An Unlikely American Friendship
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The Gray Ghost and the Union General: An Unlikely American Friendship

A fierce Confederate guerrilla and a Union general forged an unexpected bond to champion postwar reconciliation.

The Battle of Athens, Tennessee: The Story of an American Rebellion in 1946
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The Battle of Athens, Tennessee: The Story of an American Rebellion in 1946

Thousands of WWII veterans came home from war only to take up arms against local officials attempting to steal an election.

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Pop Warner: The Architect of American Football

Pop Warner: The Architect of American Football

The creative college football coach reinvented the game from a sheer brute collision course to a thinking game of misdirection and trick plays.

The National Bank Controversy That Left a President Without a Party

The National Bank Controversy That Left a President Without a Party

In ‘This Week in History,’ Whigs worked to empower their party and corral support for a national bank only to see a Whig destroy their efforts.

The Humble Origin and Lasting Impact of William Dean Howells

The Humble Origin and Lasting Impact of William Dean Howells

In this installment of ‘Profiles in History,’ a self-educated Ohioan rose through the literary ranks to become known as the Dean of American Letters.

The Gray Ghost and the Union General: An Unlikely American Friendship

The Gray Ghost and the Union General: An Unlikely American Friendship

A fierce Confederate guerrilla and a Union general forged an unexpected bond to champion postwar reconciliation.

The Battle of Athens, Tennessee: The Story of an American Rebellion in 1946

The Battle of Athens, Tennessee: The Story of an American Rebellion in 1946

Thousands of WWII veterans came home from war only to take up arms against local officials attempting to steal an election.

An All-American Mind: What Influenced Author and Professor Matthew Spalding

An All-American Mind: What Influenced Author and Professor Matthew Spalding

A look at what shaped one of the country’s most thoughtful voices on the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.

Mighty Funny: Stand-Up Comedian Steven Rogers Gets the Laughs Without Being Offensive

Mighty Funny: Stand-Up Comedian Steven Rogers Gets the Laughs Without Being Offensive

This New York-based comic proves that humor is the ultimate way to connect.

‘100 Years of Laughter’: America’s Funniest Years

‘100 Years of Laughter’: America’s Funniest Years

Garry Berman traces comedy’s evolution across the 20th century.

Louis B. Mayer: The Lion of MGM

Louis B. Mayer: The Lion of MGM

In this installment of ‘Men Who Made the Movies,’ we meet a father-figure and top executive of a great movie studio.