Americans increasingly fantasize about a divorce between red and blue states—but they dread the thought of civil war. You can ...

A living historian brings the past to life for contemporary Americans by portraying historical figures at public events such as our long-defunct Heritage Days festival. Such a person visited my ...

When the Maryland Legislature moved to Frederick City for a special session in 1861, it was meant to send a signal. Maryland was a divided border state, but Frederick was a solid Union-backing city.

"A moonlight mind" -- "My politics are short and sweet" -- "The monstrous injustice of slavery" -- Dred Scott -- "The better angels of our nature" -- "All the laws but one" -- "A people's contest" -- ...