During this period, the states also occasionally secured convictions for treason. John Brown was executed in 1859 for crimes against the Commonwealth of Virginia, not the United States.

From the establishment of the First Bank of the United States to Dodd-Frank, American banking regulation has followed the path of a swinging pendulum.

From 10 states with only 60 electors total to 50 states with 538 electors, the Electoral College has come a long way in nearly two and a half centuries.

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works. The United States has always prized its history of individual creativity, citing a unique ...

Commentator Cokie Roberts answers listener questions and talks with NPR's Steve Inskeep about the history of the relationship between the U.S. and Mexico.