United States History, PUL-SHU

As with most nations, the history of the United States contains a number of twists and turns throughout the centuries, from the time of the English colonization of North America up to the modern-day America that we're familiar with. Learn more about the people, events, and movements that left an indelible mark in history and shaped the development of the United States as a nation.
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United States History Encyclopedia Articles By Title

Pullman, George M.
George M. Pullman was an American industrialist and inventor of the Pullman sleeping car, a luxurious railroad......
Pushmataha
Pushmataha was a Choctaw Indian chief whose compliance facilitated U.S. occupation of Indian land in the early......
Putnam, Israel
Israel Putnam was an American general in the American Revolution. After moving to Pomfret, Connecticut, about 1740,......
Putnam, Rufus
Rufus Putnam was an American soldier and pioneer settler in Ohio. Putnam fought in the French and Indian War from......
Pułaski, Kazimierz
Kazimierz Pułaski was a Polish patriot and U.S. colonial army officer, hero of the Polish anti-Russian insurrection......
Quantrill, William C.
William C. Quantrill was the captain of a guerrilla band irregularly attached to the Confederate Army during the......
Quebec, Battle of
Battle of Quebec, (December 31, 1775), in the American Revolution, unsuccessful American attack on the British......
Quirin, Ex Parte
Ex Parte Quirin, case in which the U.S. Supreme Court on July 31, 1942, unanimously ruled to allow the military,......
Radical Reconstruction
Radical Reconstruction, process and period of Reconstruction during which the Radical Republicans in the U.S. Congress......
Radical Republican
Radical Republican, during and after the American Civil War, a member of the Republican Party committed to emancipation......
Randolph, Edmund Jennings
Edmund Jennings Randolph was a Virginia lawyer who played an important role in drafting and ratifying the U.S.......
Randolph, Peyton
Peyton Randolph was the first president of the U.S. Continental Congress. Randolph was educated at the College......
Rasul v. Bush
Rasul v. Bush, case in which the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on June 28, 2004, that U.S. courts have jurisdiction......
Ray, James Earl
James Earl Ray was an American assassin of the African American civil-rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. Ray......
Reconstruction
Reconstruction was a transformative era in U.S. history, as the government sought to rebuild the country following......
Reconstruction
Reconstruction, in U.S. history, the period (1865–77) that followed the American Civil War and during which attempts......
Reconstruction Acts
Reconstruction Acts, U.S. legislation enacted in 1867–68 that outlined the conditions under which the Southern......
Red Cloud
Red Cloud was a principal chief of the Oglala Lakota (Oceti Sakowin, or Sioux), who successfully resisted (1865–67)......
Red Lion Broadcasting Co. v. FCC
Red Lion Broadcasting Co. v. FCC, 1969 U.S. Supreme Court case that upheld the Federal Communications Commission......
Red River Campaign
Red River Campaign, (March 10–May 22, 1864), in the American Civil War, unsuccessful Union effort to seize control......
Red River Indian War
Red River Indian War, (1874–75), uprising of warriors from several Indian tribes thought to be peacefully settled......
Reed, Stanley F.
Stanley F. Reed was an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States (1938–57). Reed was the only......
Rehnquist, William
William Rehnquist was the 16th chief justice of the United States, appointed to the Supreme Court in 1971 and elevated......
Remembering World War I
In late July and early August 1914, the great powers of Europe embarked on a course of action that would claim......
Revere, Paul
Paul Revere was a folk hero of the American Revolution whose dramatic horseback ride on the night of April 18,......
Rhodes, James Ford
James Ford Rhodes was an American businessman and historian, best known for his multivolume investigation of the......
Ricci v. DeStefano
Ricci v. DeStefano, case alleging racial discrimination that was decided by the U.S. Supreme Court on June 29,......
Richmond Bread Riot
Richmond Bread Riot, riot in Richmond, Virginia, on April 2, 1863, that was spawned by food deprivation during......
Roberts, John G., Jr.
John G. Roberts, Jr. is the 17th chief justice of the United States (2005– ). Roberts was the second of four children......
Roberts, Owen Josephus
Owen Josephus Roberts was an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States (1930–45). Roberts was......
Rochambeau, Jean-Baptiste-Donatien de Vimeur, comte de
Jean-Baptiste-Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau was a French general who supported the American Revolution......
Rockingham, Charles Watson-Wentworth, 2nd marquess of
Charles Watson-Wentworth, 2nd marquess of Rockingham was the prime minister of Great Britain from July 1765 to......
Rodney, Caesar
Caesar Rodney was a delegate to the Continental Congress (1774–76, 1777–78), “president” of Delaware (1778–82),......
Roe v. Wade
Roe v. Wade, legal case in which the U.S. Supreme Court on January 22, 1973, ruled (7–2) that unduly restrictive......
Roe v. Wade: At a Glance
Roe v. Wade (1973) is a legal case in which the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that unduly restrictive state regulation......
Roemer v. Board of Public Works of Maryland
Roemer v. Board of Public Works of Maryland, legal case in which the U.S. Supreme Court on June 21, 1976, upheld......
Rogers v. Paul
Rogers v. Paul, case in which the U.S. Supreme Court on December 6, 1965, ruled (5–0) that an Arkansas school board’s......
Romer v. Evans
Romer v. Evans, legal case in which the U.S. Supreme Court on May 20, 1996, voided (6–3) an amendment to the Colorado......
Rosecrans, William S
William S. Rosecrans was a Union general and excellent strategist early in the American Civil War (1861–65); after......
Rosenberger v. Rector and Visitors of the University of Virginia
Rosenberger v. Rector and Visitors of the University of Virginia, legal case in which the U.S. Supreme Court ruled......
Rough Rider
Rough Rider, in the Spanish-American War, member of a regiment of U.S. cavalry volunteers recruited by Theodore......
Rowan, Andrew Summers
Andrew Summers Rowan was a U.S. Army officer, bearer of the “message to Garcia.” Rowan graduated from West Point......
Ruby Ridge
Ruby Ridge, location of an incident in August 1992 in which Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents and U.S.......
Rumsfeld v. Forum for Academic and Institutional Rights
Rumsfeld v. Forum for Academic and Institutional Rights, legal case in which the U.S. Supreme Court on March 6,......
Rush, Benjamin
Benjamin Rush was an American physician and political leader, a member of the Continental Congress and a signer......
Rustin, Bayard
Bayard Rustin was an American civil rights activist who was an adviser to Martin Luther King, Jr., and who was......
Rutledge, John
John Rutledge was an American legislator who, as a delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1787, strongly......
Rutledge, Wiley B., Jr.
Wiley B. Rutledge, Jr. was an associate justice of the United States Supreme Court (1943–49). Rutledge taught high......
Sackville, George Sackville-Germain, 1st Viscount, Baron Bolebrooke of Sussex
George Sackville-Germain, 1st Viscount Sackville was an English soldier and politician. He was dismissed from the......
Safford, Mary Jane
Mary Jane Safford was an American physician whose extensive nursing experience during the Civil War determined......
Sagasta, Práxedes Mateo
Práxedes Mateo Sagasta was a seven-time prime minister of Spain (1871–72, 1874, 1881–83, 1885–90, 1892–95, 1897–99,......
Saint Albans Raid
Saint Albans Raid, (Oct. 19, 1864), in the American Civil War, a Confederate raid from Canada into Union territory;......
Saintes, Battle of the
Battle of the Saintes, in the American Revolution, major naval victory on April 9–12, 1782, for Britain in the......
Salomon, Haym
Haym Salomon was a Polish-born American businessman who was a principal financier of the fledgling American republic......
Sampson, Deborah
Deborah Sampson was an American Revolutionary soldier and one of the earliest female lecturers in the country.......
Sampson, William T
William T. Sampson was a U.S. naval officer who, as head of the North Atlantic squadron, masterminded U.S. naval......
San Francisco 1960s overview
During the 1950s San Francisco supported several folk clubs including the hungry i, where the Kingston Trio recorded......
San Francisco ballrooms
The Avalon Ballroom, the Fillmore Auditorium, Fillmore West, and Winterland: these four venues ushered in the modern......
San Juan Hill, Battle of
Battle of San Juan Hill, the most significant U.S. land victory, and one of the final battles, of the Spanish-American......
Sand Creek Massacre
Sand Creek Massacre, (November 29, 1864), controversial surprise attack upon a camp of Cheyenne and Arapaho people......
Sandwich, John Montagu, 4th earl of
John Montagu, 4th earl of Sandwich was a British first lord of the Admiralty during the American Revolution (1776–81)......
Sanford, Edward T(erry)
Edward T. Sanford was an associate justice of the United States Supreme Court (1923–30). Sanford was admitted to......
Santa Anna, Antonio López de
Antonio López de Santa Anna was a Mexican army officer and statesman who was the storm centre of Mexico’s politics......
Santa Fe Independent School District v. Doe
Santa Fe Independent School District v. Doe, case in which the U.S. Supreme Court on June 19, 2000, ruled (6–3)......
Santiago de Cuba, Battle of
Battle of Santiago de Cuba, concluding naval engagement of the Spanish-American War, fought on July 3, 1898, near......
Saratoga, Battles of
Battles of Saratoga, in the American Revolution, closely related engagements in the autumn of 1777. The Battles......
Savannah, Capture of
Stalemate in their war with the Americans in the north and concern over French attacks against British-held Caribbean......
Scalia, Antonin
Antonin Scalia was an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States from 1986 to 2016, well known......
Schechter Poultry Corp. v. United States
Schechter Poultry Corp. v. United States, case in which on May 27, 1935, the Supreme Court of the United States......
Schenck v. United States
Schenck v. United States, legal case in which the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on March 3, 1919, that the freedom of......
School Board of Nassau County v. Arline
School Board of Nassau County v. Arline, case in which the U.S. Supreme Court on March 3, 1987, ruled (7–2) that......
School Committee of the Town of Burlington v. Massachusetts Department of Education
School Committee of the Town of Burlington v. Massachusetts Department of Education, case in which the U.S. Supreme......
School District of Abington Township v. Schempp
School District of Abington Township v. Schempp, legal case in which the U.S. Supreme Court on June 17, 1963, ruled......
Schuyler, Philip John
Philip John Schuyler was an American soldier, political leader, and member of the Continental Congress. Born into......
Scott, Winfield
Winfield Scott was an American army officer who held the rank of general in three wars and was the unsuccessful......
Seguín, Juan
Juan Seguín was a Tejano (Texan of Hispanic descent) revolutionary and politician who helped establish the independence......
Select Decisions of the United States Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of the United States is the final court of appeal and final expositor of the Constitution of......
Selma March
Selma March, political march from Selma, Alabama, to the state’s capital, Montgomery, that occurred March 21–25,......
Seminole War, First
First Seminole War, conflict between U.S. armed forces and the Seminole Indians of Florida that is generally dated......
Seminole War, Second
Second Seminole War, conflict (1835–42) that arose when the United States undertook to force the Seminole Indians......
Seminole Wars
Seminole Wars, (1817–18, 1835–42, 1855–58), three conflicts between the United States and the Seminole Indians......
Semmes, Raphael
Raphael Semmes was an American Confederate naval officer whose daring raids in command of the man-of-war “Alabama”......
Seneca Falls Convention
Seneca Falls Convention, assembly held on July 19–20, 1848, in the Wesleyan Chapel in Seneca Falls, New York, that......
Seven Days’ Battles
Seven Days’ Battles, (June 25–July 1, 1862), series of American Civil War battles in which a Confederate army under......
Seven Pines, Battle of
Battle of Seven Pines, (May 31–June 1, 1862), in the American Civil War, two-day battle in the Peninsular Campaign,......
Seward, William H.
William H. Seward was a U.S. politician, an antislavery activist in the Whig and Republican parties before the......
Shaw, Robert Gould
Robert Gould Shaw was a Union army officer who commanded a prominent regiment of African American troops during......
Shays, Daniel
Daniel Shays was an American officer (1775–80) in the American Revolution and a leader of Shays’s Rebellion (1786–87),......
Shelby County v. Holder
Shelby County v. Holder, legal case, decided on June 25, 2013, in which the U.S. Supreme Court declared (5–4) unconstitutional......
Shelton v. Tucker
Shelton v. Tucker, case in which the U.S. Supreme Court on December 12, 1960, ruled (5–4) that an Arkansas statute......
Shenandoah Valley campaigns
Shenandoah Valley campaigns, (July 1861–March 1865), in the American Civil War, important military campaigns in......
Sheridan, Philip H.
Philip H. Sheridan was a highly successful U.S. cavalry officer whose driving military leadership in the last year......
Sherman, Roger
Roger Sherman was an American politician whose plan for representation of large and small states prevented a deadlock......
Sherman, William Tecumseh
William Tecumseh Sherman was an American Civil War general and a major architect of modern warfare. He led Union......
Sherman’s March to the Sea
Sherman’s March to the Sea, (November 15–December 21, 1864) American Civil War campaign that concluded Union operations......
Shiloh, Battle of
Battle of Shiloh, (April 6–7, 1862), second great engagement of the American Civil War, fought in southwestern......
Shiras, George, Jr.
George Shiras, Jr. was an associate justice of the United States Supreme Court (1892–1903). Shiras was admitted......
shooting of Trayvon Martin
shooting of Trayvon Martin, fatal shooting of Trayvon Martin by George Zimmerman in Sanford, Florida, on February......
Shuttlesworth, Fred
Fred Shuttlesworth was an American minister and civil rights activist who established, with Martin Luther King,......

United States History Encyclopedia Articles By Title