Today in History–July 28–the Library of Congress features the Fourteenth Amendment of the Constitution of the United States. On this date in 1868, Secretary of State William Seward issued a proclamation certifying the ratification of the amendment. The 14th amendment granted citizenship to "all persons born or naturalized in the United States", including former slaves freed after the Civil War. Referred to as one of the "Reconstruction Amendments", this amendment also prohibits states … [Read more...]
Today in History: Tennessee Secedes
June 8, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Today in History–June 8–the Library of Congress features Tennessee, which voted in favor of secession by two-to-one on this date in 1861. Tennessee resident and future president Andrew Johnson broke with his party over this issue. Find out more about about this era by visiting the Today in History section, then click the links below to access thousands of Tennessee state primary sources from the Library. Tennessee stories from America's Library Places in Civil War History: Tennessee … [Read more...]
Today in History: Impeachment
May 16, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Today in History–May 16–the Library of Congress features presidential impeachments. On this day in 1868, the U.S. Senate failed by one vote to convict President Andrew Johnson of "high crimes and misdemeanors," under the eleventh article of impeachment. The second trial of a U.S. president—President Bill Clinton—on articles of impeachment occurred in January and February of 1999. Learn more about these presidential impeachment trials by visiting the Today in History section, then click the … [Read more...]
Today in History: Andrew Johnson
December 29, 2011 by Leave a Comment
Today in History–December 29–the Library of Congress features Andrew Johnson, born on this date in 1808. Learn more about our nation’s 17th president (1865-69), a self-educated career politician and infamous for being one of two presidents impeached by the House of Representatives (both were acquitted in trials by the Senate) by visiting the Today in History section then click the links below to access more stories and primary sources about President Johnson and his impeachment … [Read more...]
James Smithson died. Check out our 
Paul Laurence Dunbar born. Check out our