1972 - Five men were caught breaking into the Watergate Hotel
On June 17th, 1972, five men were caught breaking into the Democratic National Headquarters located at the office complex of the Watergate Hotel located in Washington, D.C. This eventually led to journalists Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein uncovering a massive cover-up that connected the break-in with President Richard Nixon and his reelection committee. Learn more about the Watergate scandal with these Frequently Asked Questions:
Celebrating Flag Day
The Second Continental Congress approved the design of a national flag on June 14, 1777. Many Americans commemorated that event through the year. However, it was President Woodrow Wilson who issued a proclamation establishing national Flag Day in 1916. In 1949, the US Congress passed legislation that Harry Truman signed into law national Flag Day.
Learn more about the evolution of the American flag. What are the myths associated with the stars and stripes? Follow the timeline as you celebrate Flag Day this year.
Ten Things to Know About Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson is seen as the first president elected due to the "common man." After losing in 1824 to John Quincy Adams due to the election being thrown into the house and the "Corrupt Bargain" being struck, Jackson came back and ran in 1828 to win the presidency. Called "King Andrew" by his enemies, Jackson's time in office had its share in scandals and controversies.
I've collected ten key facts that are important to know when looking at Jackson's time as president. Enjoy!
Key Supreme Court Cases of the Fourteenth Amendment
The Bill of Rights was added to the US Constitution as a way to ensure that individual rights would be protected. However, these only applied to the federal government. It was not until the passage of the fourteenth amendment that these rights have been one-by-one applied at the state level through decisions made by the US Supreme Court. The following list highlights a few of the major court cases in which the Supreme Court has extended these rights:
Repeal of the Missouri Compromise and Bleeding Kansas
In 1820, the Missouri Compromise was passed as a way to stave off issues of sectionalism surrounding the number of slave and free states. Missouri was added as a slave state while Maine was admitted as a free one at the same time. Further, slavery would be declared illegal north of the 36o30' parallel west of Missouri. However on May 30, 1853, not only was the Missouri Compromise repealed but the Kansas-Nebraska Act was passed. This act allowed settlers of the Kansas and Nebraska territories to choose whether they wanted to be free or slave territories. Kansas would soon be called Bleeding Kansas due to the fighting that resulted from this act. This would be one of the main factors that led to the US Civil War.
Top 10 Founding Fathers
The founding fathers were political leaders who took part in the American Revolution and helped found the new nation after independence was won. There were many founding fathers and mothers. However, these ten were chosen because of the huge impact they had on the American Revolution, the Articles of Confederation, and the Constitution.
- Top 10 Founding Fathers
- American Revolution
- US Constitution Facts
Deep Throat and the Use of Sources
Every presidential scandal since Watergate including the newest ones over Benghazi, the First Amendment and the press, and IRS abuses is compared against Watergate. Leaks to the press and whether a reporter in doing his job could be considered a co-conspirator are at the heart of the current AP and James Rosen controversies. Woodward and Bernstein used many sources as they investigated the coverup that occurred after the break-in to the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate Hotel. In May, 2005, W. Mark Felt revealed that he was the person codenamed Deep Throat during the Watergate investigations. Watergate led to the downfall of President Richard Nixon while greatly increasing a serious mistrust in American politics and politicians. Learn more about Watergate through this FAQ.
John F. Kennedy's Birthday
If John F. Kennedy were alive today, he would be turning 96. He was born on May 29, 1917 in Brookline, Massachusetts to Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr. and Rose Fitzgerald. Kennedy was the youngest person to be elected president at the age of 43. He was also the first Roman Catholic to become president. Click here to read some of his most famous quotes.
Memorial Day History
We celebrate Memorial Day on the last Monday in May. This holiday was originally called Decoration Day due to the practice of decorating graves of soldiers. It is a day of remembrance for those who have died serving America. Traditionally, many families gather and enjoy the outdoors with picnics and cookouts. While having fun with our families we should still remember the sacrifices that have made this freedom possible.Old Kinderhook
Martin Van Buren, "Old Kinderhook," served as the eighth president of the United States. Heavily involved in the Democratic Party, he helped form one of the first political machines. He was also part of Andrew Jackson's famed Kitchen Cabinet. Learn more about this president whose only major foreign policy issue was the anticlimactic "Aroostook War."