Issue


Featured Articles

“Impeach President Washington!”

Author: Michael Beschloss

In his second term, George Washington faced a crisis that threatened to tear apart the young Republic. His wife Martha later thought the bitterness of the debate may have hastened the President’s death, but Washington gave America the gift of peace, and an important precedent in leadership.

Monticello

Author: Robert A.M. Stern

Jefferson transformed an elegant country house into an American symbol, a paradigm for the young nation’s architecture.

Foreseeing the Future

Author: Arthur C. Clarke

Sir Arthur Clarke predicted that a revolution in communications would bring electronic mail, telecommuting, the Internet, and inexpensive long distance calls in a seminal but forgotten 1962 essay, published by American Heritage more than half a century ago.

Mixed Bits: The True History of Chop Suey

Author: Andrew Coe

Once the most famous Chinese dish in America, chop suey helped spur the growth of Chinese restaurants. A Smithsonian curator is now criss-crossing the country to research its beginnings. 

“We Shall Overcome”

Author: Allan M. Winkler

The modern version of an African-American spiritual has helped draw together people fighting for a better life

Holding Down the Fort

Author: Edwin S. Grosvenor

Members of the Maryland Forces guard memories of a dramatic history at Fort Frederick, the best preserved fort from the former English colonies in America. 

The Struggles of Edwin Stanton

Author: Walter Stahr

Working closely with President Lincoln, Secretary of War Stanton was indefatigable in laboring to win the Civil War. But his abruptness could sometimes be counterproductive.

“No One Returns Alive”

Author: James P. Duffy

Too often overlooked today, the New Guinea campaign was the longest of the Pacific War, with 340,000 Americans fighting more than half a million Japanese.

It’s Time to Strengthen—Not Reduce!—History in Our Classrooms

Author: Tom Birmingham

In order to have a well-informed citizenry, it's critical to focus on history and civics education in our schools.