May 17, 1954: The Supreme Court Rules on Brown v. Board of Education On this day in 1954, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled unanimously that racial segregation in public schools violated the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution, which says that no state may deny equal protection of the laws to any person within its jurisdiction. Although the decision did not succeed in fully desegregating public education in the United States, it put the Constitution on the side of racial equality and galvanized the nascent civil rights movement into a full revolution.Can you name all the key players behind Brown v. Board of Education? Revisit the landmark case with PBS’ The Supreme Court site. You can also learn more about Brown v. Board of Education with “The Rise and Fall of Jim Crow” and explore more events of the Civil Rights Movement with PBS Black Culture Connection. Photo: School integration, Barnard School, Washington, D.C., 1955 (Library of Congress).
Pop-upView Separately

May 17, 1954: The Supreme Court Rules on Brown v. Board of Education

On this day in 1954, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled unanimously that racial segregation in public schools violated the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution, which says that no state may deny equal protection of the laws to any person within its jurisdiction.

Although the decision did not succeed in fully desegregating public education in the United States, it put the Constitution on the side of racial equality and galvanized the nascent civil rights movement into a full revolution.

Can you name all the key players behind Brown v. Board of Education? Revisit the landmark case with PBS’ The Supreme Court site.

You can also learn more about Brown v. Board of Education with “The Rise and Fall of Jim Crow” and explore more events of the Civil Rights Movement with PBS Black Culture Connection.

Photo: School integration, Barnard School, Washington, D.C., 1955 (Library of Congress).

May 14, 1804: The Lewis and Clark Expedition Sets Out to Explore the Louisiana Territory On this day in 1804, the Corps of Discovery (more commonly known as the Lewis and Clark Expedition) left Camp Dubois near St. Louis, Missouri to explore the Louisiana Territory. For $15 million, President Jefferson’s 1803 purchase of the territory had more than doubled the size of United States: 820,000 square miles for 3 cents an acre. Jefferson chose his personal secretary Meriwether Lewis to serve as commander of the expedition. Soon after, Lewis invited his former army comrade William Clark to share command. Nearly four dozen men comprised the original group. Trace the Lewis and Clarke Expedition with Ken Burns’s timeline of the trip. Top Image: Painting of Lewis and Clark on the Lower Columbia by Charles Marion Russell (1905). Middle Image: A Map of Lewis and Clark’s Track Across the Western Portion of North America from Mississippi to the Pacific Ocean”, by Samuel Lewis (1814). Bottom Image: Lewis and Clark Expedition, 200th Anniversary issue postage stamp (2004).
Zoom Info
May 14, 1804: The Lewis and Clark Expedition Sets Out to Explore the Louisiana Territory On this day in 1804, the Corps of Discovery (more commonly known as the Lewis and Clark Expedition) left Camp Dubois near St. Louis, Missouri to explore the Louisiana Territory. For $15 million, President Jefferson’s 1803 purchase of the territory had more than doubled the size of United States: 820,000 square miles for 3 cents an acre. Jefferson chose his personal secretary Meriwether Lewis to serve as commander of the expedition. Soon after, Lewis invited his former army comrade William Clark to share command. Nearly four dozen men comprised the original group. Trace the Lewis and Clarke Expedition with Ken Burns’s timeline of the trip. Top Image: Painting of Lewis and Clark on the Lower Columbia by Charles Marion Russell (1905). Middle Image: A Map of Lewis and Clark’s Track Across the Western Portion of North America from Mississippi to the Pacific Ocean”, by Samuel Lewis (1814). Bottom Image: Lewis and Clark Expedition, 200th Anniversary issue postage stamp (2004).
Zoom Info
May 14, 1804: The Lewis and Clark Expedition Sets Out to Explore the Louisiana Territory On this day in 1804, the Corps of Discovery (more commonly known as the Lewis and Clark Expedition) left Camp Dubois near St. Louis, Missouri to explore the Louisiana Territory. For $15 million, President Jefferson’s 1803 purchase of the territory had more than doubled the size of United States: 820,000 square miles for 3 cents an acre. Jefferson chose his personal secretary Meriwether Lewis to serve as commander of the expedition. Soon after, Lewis invited his former army comrade William Clark to share command. Nearly four dozen men comprised the original group. Trace the Lewis and Clarke Expedition with Ken Burns’s timeline of the trip. Top Image: Painting of Lewis and Clark on the Lower Columbia by Charles Marion Russell (1905). Middle Image: A Map of Lewis and Clark’s Track Across the Western Portion of North America from Mississippi to the Pacific Ocean”, by Samuel Lewis (1814). Bottom Image: Lewis and Clark Expedition, 200th Anniversary issue postage stamp (2004).
Zoom Info

May 14, 1804: The Lewis and Clark Expedition Sets Out to Explore the Louisiana Territory

On this day in 1804, the Corps of Discovery (more commonly known as the Lewis and Clark Expedition) left Camp Dubois near St. Louis, Missouri to explore the Louisiana Territory.

For $15 million, President Jefferson’s 1803 purchase of the territory had more than doubled the size of United States: 820,000 square miles for 3 cents an acre. Jefferson chose his personal secretary Meriwether Lewis to serve as commander of the expedition. Soon after, Lewis invited his former army comrade William Clark to share command. Nearly four dozen men comprised the original group.

Trace the Lewis and Clarke Expedition with Ken Burns’s timeline of the trip.

Top Image: Painting of Lewis and Clark on the Lower Columbia by Charles Marion Russell (1905). Middle Image: A Map of Lewis and Clark’s Track Across the Western Portion of North America from Mississippi to the Pacific Ocean”, by Samuel Lewis (1814). Bottom Image: Lewis and Clark Expedition, 200th Anniversary issue postage stamp (2004).

May 13, 1846: The Mexican-American War Begins On this day in 1846, U.S. Congress declared war on Mexico. The Mexican-American War was a defining event for both nations, transforming a continent and forging a new identity for its peoples. By the war’s end in 1848, Mexico had lost nearly half of its territory (the present American Southwest from Texas to California) and the United States had become a continental power.Explore a timeline of the Mexican-American war to learn about events that preceded the war, its battles, and the aftermath. Image: Battle of Veracruz during the Mexican-American War. 1851 Painting by Carl Nebel.
Pop-upView Separately

May 13, 1846: The Mexican-American War Begins

On this day in 1846, U.S. Congress declared war on Mexico. The Mexican-American War was a defining event for both nations, transforming a continent and forging a new identity for its peoples. By the war’s end in 1848, Mexico had lost nearly half of its territory (the present American Southwest from Texas to California) and the United States had become a continental power.

Explore a timeline of the Mexican-American war to learn about events that preceded the war, its battles, and the aftermath.

Image: Battle of Veracruz during the Mexican-American War. 1851 Painting by Carl Nebel.

May 10, 1963: Birmingham Campaign Ends in Victory On this day in 1963, the Birmingham Campaign ended with a victory. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Fred Shuttlesworth signed a truce agreement with local officials to outline a ‘limited desegregation plan,’ which promised to: Remove “White Only” and “Black Only” signs from restrooms and drinking fountains in downtown Birmingham Desegregate lunch counters Deploy a “Negro job improvement plan” Release jailed demonstrators Create a biracial committee to monitor the agreement Desegregation, however, would take place slowly over the next few months. Learn more about the Birmingham Campaign with PBS Black Culture Connection. Photo: Martin Luther King Jr. gives a press conference regarding an agreement reached on a ‘limited desegregation plan’ outside the Gaston Motel in Birmingham, Alabama (Photo by Ernst Haas/Ernst Haas/Getty Images)
Pop-upView Separately

May 10, 1963: Birmingham Campaign Ends in Victory

On this day in 1963, the Birmingham Campaign ended with a victory. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Fred Shuttlesworth signed a truce agreement with local officials to outline a ‘limited desegregation plan,’ which promised to:

  • Remove “White Only” and “Black Only” signs from restrooms and drinking fountains in downtown Birmingham
  • Desegregate lunch counters
  • Deploy a “Negro job improvement plan”
  • Release jailed demonstrators
  • Create a biracial committee to monitor the agreement

Desegregation, however, would take place slowly over the next few months. Learn more about the Birmingham Campaign with PBS Black Culture Connection.

Photo: Martin Luther King Jr. gives a press conference regarding an agreement reached on a ‘limited desegregation plan’ outside the Gaston Motel in Birmingham, Alabama (Photo by Ernst Haas/Ernst Haas/Getty Images)

May 9, 1994: Nelson Mandela is Elected President of South Africa On this day in 1994, South Africa’s parliament elected Nelson Mandela as the country’s next president. The next day, Mandela was inaugurated, becoming the nation’s first black president and a symbol of change in the post-apartheid era.  Nelson Mandela’s election was even more triumphant, as he had spent 27 years in prison for his involvement in the anti-apartheid and anti-colonial movement. While in prison, Mandela had been confined to a small cell with the floor his bed, a bucket for a toilet, and he was forced to do hard labor in a quarry. He was allowed one visitor a year for 30 minutes. He could write and receive one letter every six months. Through his intelligence, charm and dignified defiance, Nelson Mandela eventually bent even the most brutal prison officials to his will, assumed leadership over his jailed comrades and became the master of his own prison. He emerged from it the mature leader who would fight and win the great political battles that would create a new democratic South Africa. Learn more about Nelson Mandela’s time in prison and his early years as a revolutionary with FRONTLINE’s The Long Walk of Nelson Mandela site. Photo: South African National Congress (ANC) President Nelson Mandela gives a clenched fist to supporters upon his arrival for his first election rally on March 15, 1994 (WALTER DHLADHLA/AFP/Getty Images).
Pop-upView Separately

May 9, 1994: Nelson Mandela is Elected President of South Africa

On this day in 1994, South Africa’s parliament elected Nelson Mandela as the country’s next president. The next day, Mandela was inaugurated, becoming the nation’s first black president and a symbol of change in the post-apartheid era. 

Nelson Mandela’s election was even more triumphant, as he had spent 27 years in prison for his involvement in the anti-apartheid and anti-colonial movement. While in prison, Mandela had been confined to a small cell with the floor his bed, a bucket for a toilet, and he was forced to do hard labor in a quarry. He was allowed one visitor a year for 30 minutes. He could write and receive one letter every six months.

Through his intelligence, charm and dignified defiance, Nelson Mandela eventually bent even the most brutal prison officials to his will, assumed leadership over his jailed comrades and became the master of his own prison. He emerged from it the mature leader who would fight and win the great political battles that would create a new democratic South Africa.

Learn more about Nelson Mandela’s time in prison and his early years as a revolutionary with FRONTLINE’s The Long Walk of Nelson Mandela site.

Photo: South African National Congress (ANC) President Nelson Mandela gives a clenched fist to supporters upon his arrival for his first election rally on March 15, 1994 (WALTER DHLADHLA/AFP/Getty Images).

May 7, 1915: The RMS Lusitania Sinks On this day in 1915, The RMS Lusitania, A British ocean liner, was torpedoed by a German U-Boat. Less than an hour later, over 1000 passengers had lost their lives when she sank off the coast of Ireland. Only three years had passed since the Titanic disaster. Afterward, there was much controversy with the sinking, as the Lusitania had been carrying mostly civilians. Europe was in the midst of World War I, and the German Navy insisted that the Lusitania was a legitimate target as she had also been carrying munitions and serving as an auxiliary military ship. As 128 Americans were among the dead, the British thought that the United States would declare war on Germany, but this would not be the case. Two years would pass until America joined World War I. Learn more about the RMS Lusitania with our “Lost Liners” collection. Photo: RMS Lusitania coming into port, possibly in New York, 1907-13 (Library of Congress).
Pop-upView Separately

May 7, 1915: The RMS Lusitania Sinks

On this day in 1915, The RMS Lusitania, A British ocean liner, was torpedoed by a German U-Boat. Less than an hour later, over 1000 passengers had lost their lives when she sank off the coast of Ireland. Only three years had passed since the Titanic disaster.

Afterward, there was much controversy with the sinking, as the Lusitania had been carrying mostly civilians. Europe was in the midst of World War I, and the German Navy insisted that the Lusitania was a legitimate target as she had also been carrying munitions and serving as an auxiliary military ship.

As 128 Americans were among the dead, the British thought that the United States would declare war on Germany, but this would not be the case. Two years would pass until America joined World War I.

Learn more about the RMS Lusitania with our “Lost Liners” collection.

Photo: RMS Lusitania coming into port, possibly in New York, 1907-13 (Library of Congress).

May 6, 1937: The Hindenburg Crashes On this day in 1937, the Hindenburg, a Nazi hydrogen filled airship, burst into flames as it attempted to land at New Jersey’s Lakehurt Navy Air Base. The airship had departed from Frankfurt, Germany and carried 36 passengers and sixty-one crew members. As the airship was landing, it burst into flames and began to fall 200 feet to the ground. Thirty-five people lost their lives, while others suffered major injuries. Many people still argue on what caused the disaster, from engine failure to sabotage. Think you know? Explore this diagram of the Hindenburg and see if you can come up with any theories. Also, check out this episode of History Detectives to find out if someone actually managed to salvage an item from the Hindenburg disaster. Image: A photo captures the Hindenburg as it crashes in an airfield at NAS Lakehurst, N.J., at 7:25 p.m., May 6, 1937. (U.S. Navy file photo)
Pop-upView Separately

May 6, 1937: The Hindenburg Crashes

On this day in 1937, the Hindenburg, a Nazi hydrogen filled airship, burst into flames as it attempted to land at New Jersey’s Lakehurt Navy Air Base. The airship had departed from Frankfurt, Germany and carried 36 passengers and sixty-one crew members.

As the airship was landing, it burst into flames and began to fall 200 feet to the ground. Thirty-five people lost their lives, while others suffered major injuries.

Many people still argue on what caused the disaster, from engine failure to sabotage. Think you know? Explore this diagram of the Hindenburg and see if you can come up with any theories.

Also, check out this episode of History Detectives to find out if someone actually managed to salvage an item from the Hindenburg disaster.

Image: A photo captures the Hindenburg as it crashes in an airfield at NAS Lakehurst, N.J., at 7:25 p.m., May 6, 1937. (U.S. Navy file photo)

May 6, 1856: Sigmund Freud is Born On this day in 1856, the father of psychoanalysis, Sigmund Freud, was born in the present-day Czech Republic. Freud explored topics such as child sexuality and libido as well as dream interpretations. He believed that neuroses were derived from past traumatic experiences and in order to lessen the neurotic behavior, one had to remember the event and analyze it. Unlike others, Freud argued that neuroses resulted from previous sexual events.  After reviewing his work and theories, Freud published The Interpretation of Dreams, The Psychopathology of Everyday Life and Three Essays on Theory of Sexuality. To this day, Freud’s work is constantly debated and criticized, but continues to influence the world of psychology. Keep learning about Freud with this biographical essay.  Image: Freud at work in his study 1938, Freud with sons Ernst and Martin 1916, Freud at a psychoanalytic congress in The Hague 1920 (Library of Congress)
Zoom Info
May 6, 1856: Sigmund Freud is Born On this day in 1856, the father of psychoanalysis, Sigmund Freud, was born in the present-day Czech Republic. Freud explored topics such as child sexuality and libido as well as dream interpretations. He believed that neuroses were derived from past traumatic experiences and in order to lessen the neurotic behavior, one had to remember the event and analyze it. Unlike others, Freud argued that neuroses resulted from previous sexual events.  After reviewing his work and theories, Freud published The Interpretation of Dreams, The Psychopathology of Everyday Life and Three Essays on Theory of Sexuality. To this day, Freud’s work is constantly debated and criticized, but continues to influence the world of psychology. Keep learning about Freud with this biographical essay.  Image: Freud at work in his study 1938, Freud with sons Ernst and Martin 1916, Freud at a psychoanalytic congress in The Hague 1920 (Library of Congress)
Zoom Info
May 6, 1856: Sigmund Freud is Born On this day in 1856, the father of psychoanalysis, Sigmund Freud, was born in the present-day Czech Republic. Freud explored topics such as child sexuality and libido as well as dream interpretations. He believed that neuroses were derived from past traumatic experiences and in order to lessen the neurotic behavior, one had to remember the event and analyze it. Unlike others, Freud argued that neuroses resulted from previous sexual events.  After reviewing his work and theories, Freud published The Interpretation of Dreams, The Psychopathology of Everyday Life and Three Essays on Theory of Sexuality. To this day, Freud’s work is constantly debated and criticized, but continues to influence the world of psychology. Keep learning about Freud with this biographical essay.  Image: Freud at work in his study 1938, Freud with sons Ernst and Martin 1916, Freud at a psychoanalytic congress in The Hague 1920 (Library of Congress)
Zoom Info

May 6, 1856: Sigmund Freud is Born

On this day in 1856, the father of psychoanalysis, Sigmund Freud, was born in the present-day Czech Republic.

Freud explored topics such as child sexuality and libido as well as dream interpretations. He believed that neuroses were derived from past traumatic experiences and in order to lessen the neurotic behavior, one had to remember the event and analyze it. Unlike others, Freud argued that neuroses resulted from previous sexual events. 

After reviewing his work and theories, Freud published The Interpretation of Dreams, The Psychopathology of Everyday Life and Three Essays on Theory of Sexuality. To this day, Freud’s work is constantly debated and criticized, but continues to influence the world of psychology.

Keep learning about Freud with this biographical essay. 

Image: Freud at work in his study 1938, Freud with sons Ernst and Martin 1916, Freud at a psychoanalytic congress in The Hague 1920 (Library of Congress)

May 4, 1979: Margaret Thatcher Becomes Prime Minister On this day in 1979, Great Britain swore in its first female prime minister, Margaret Thatcher. Thatcher represented the Conservative Party and she was re-elected for two additional terms. Throughout her three terms, Thatcher cut social welfare programs, limited trade unions, and cut government spending. Thatcher was dubbed the nickname “The Iron Lady” due to her strict conservative agenda and dislike for socialism.  On April 8, 2013, Margaret Thatcher passed away. News of her death brought back memories of her time as prime minister for Britons. View the NewsHour’s photo gallery of Thatcher’s funeral and its protestors. Image: British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher with President Jimmy Carter at the White House, Washington, D.C 1977 (Library of Congress).
Pop-upView Separately

May 4, 1979: Margaret Thatcher Becomes Prime Minister

On this day in 1979, Great Britain swore in its first female prime minister, Margaret Thatcher. Thatcher represented the Conservative Party and she was re-elected for two additional terms.

Throughout her three terms, Thatcher cut social welfare programs, limited trade unions, and cut government spending. Thatcher was dubbed the nickname “The Iron Lady” due to her strict conservative agenda and dislike for socialism. 

On April 8, 2013, Margaret Thatcher passed away. News of her death brought back memories of her time as prime minister for Britons. View the NewsHour’s photo gallery of Thatcher’s funeral and its protestors.

Image: British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher with President Jimmy Carter at the White House, Washington, D.C 1977 (Library of Congress).

May 3, 1469: Niccolò Machiavelli is Born On this day in 1469, Italian writer, philosopher, and politician, Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli was born in Florence, Italy. At the age of 29, Machiavelli served as a defense secretary for Florence. In 1513, Machiavelli released his work, The Prince, where he described the important characteristics of a leader. Machiavelli suggests to rulers that in order to reign effectively, they may have to use their power unethically.  In this work, he coined the phrase “the end justifies the means.” Due to his tyrannical beliefs and practices, people use the word “Machiavellian” to refer to someone who is very cunning and unscrupulous. Learn more about Machiavelli with Medici: Godfathers of the Renaissance. Image: Portrait of Machiavelli by Santi di Tito
Pop-upView Separately

May 3, 1469: Niccolò Machiavelli is Born

On this day in 1469, Italian writer, philosopher, and politician, Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli was born in Florence, Italy. At the age of 29, Machiavelli served as a defense secretary for Florence.

In 1513, Machiavelli released his work, The Prince, where he described the important characteristics of a leader. Machiavelli suggests to rulers that in order to reign effectively, they may have to use their power unethically.  In this work, he coined the phrase “the end justifies the means.”

Due to his tyrannical beliefs and practices, people use the word “Machiavellian” to refer to someone who is very cunning and unscrupulous.

Learn more about Machiavelli with Medici: Godfathers of the Renaissance.

Image: Portrait of Machiavelli by Santi di Tito

Top