Bank Night was a form of lottery used to promote the film industry in the 1930s, when the Great Depression made some consumers reluctant to spend money, especially on frivolities like movies. Although Bank Night was a short-lived tradition, some…
The mammy archetype is a racial stereotype which originated in the United States. Many people find this archetype racist and offensive, but it still crops up in American entertainment, advertising, and culture, and a few examples can even be found…
The women's suffrage movement was the crusade to gain women the same rights as men to vote and run for public office. Some accounts trace origins of the movement back to France during the 18th century. In the United States,…
Following the Seven Years' War, known as the French and Indian War in North America, the period known as the Revolutionary Era began in the late 1700s. The time period was known for the adaptation of independent thought and self-determination…
The Land-Grant College Act of 1862, also known as the Morrill Act, was legislation enacted by the United States Congress to assist states in financing colleges that would specialize in “agriculture and the mechanic arts,” meaning agriculture, engineering and military…
The Louisiana Purchase was a land acquisition for the United States. On 30 April 1803, the Louisiana Purchase Treaty was signed, transferring claim to the property from France to the United States. President Thomas Jefferson authorized the purchase of the…
Appomattox, Virginia is the site where Robert E. Lee, the commander of the Army of Northern Virginia during the American Civil War, officially surrendered to Union forces. The surrender took place in the Appomattox Court House on 9 April 1865.…
The Consumer Credit Protection Act (CCPA) is another name for the federal wage garnishment law which went into effect in the United States in 1968 and states that employers who must withhold part of an employee's wages to repay a…
Antebellum is a Latin term that means "before the war." The antebellum period in the United States was the time period before the American Civil War, which began in 1861. It is most often described as the period between the…
An abolitionist generally refers to a person in the 19th century who desired an immediate end to slavery. The abolitionist movement refers to a period where many organized efforts worked to achieve this goal. Although the movement is commonly attributed…