‘Polarization’ Is Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Year for 2024
The winning word beat out finalists such as “demure,” “pander,” “totality,” “fortnight,” “allision” and “democracy”
Why the 1924 Democratic National Convention Was the Longest and Most Chaotic of Its Kind in U.S. History
A century ago, the party took a record 103 ballots and 16 days of intense, violent debate to choose a presidential nominee
Hong Kong Student Jailed Over Tiananmen Square Protest Banner
Zeng Yuxuan, 23, was sentenced to six months in prison on charges of sedition
A Monument Honoring Shirley Chisholm, the First Black Congresswoman, Is Coming to Brooklyn
After years of delays, New York City officially approved a statue commemorating the borough native and political trailblazer
Untold Stories of American History
The 1948 Democratic National Convention Is the Missing Link in Civil Rights History
Civil rights activists failed to expel an all-white, segregationist delegation. But their efforts foreshadowed later milestones in the fight for equality
A Group of Crypto Investors Is Trying to Buy the Constitution—Again
For the second year in a row, a DAO is vying to bid on a rare first-edition copy
After Selling for $43 Million, Rare Copy of the Constitution Goes on Display
The new exhibition explores diverse interpretations of the document’s founding values
Jackdaws Vote to Decide When to Take Flight
The birds use vocalizations to signal when they want to leave the roost
Hong Kong Removes ‘Pillar of Shame’ Honoring Tiananmen Square Victims
The move arrives amid continuing crackdowns on pro-democracy protesters in the Asian city
Why History Museums Are Convening a ‘Civic Season’
History is complex, says the Smithsonian’s Chris Wilson; here’s how to empower citizens with the lessons it offers
A New Summer Tradition, a Three-Week ‘Civic Season,’ Asks Americans to Reflect on the Past and Future
Museums are inviting Americans to embrace the national story from its sins to its successes as a stepping stone towards a better future
Kamala Harris Portrait Draws Inspiration From the Glass Ceiling She Shattered
Artist Simon Berger created the unconventional likeness of the vice president in just one day
A Museum Curator Reports on Rapid-Response Collecting January 6 on Capitol Hill
National Museum of American History curator Frank Blazich discusses rapid-response collecting in the wake of the Jan. 6 riots at the U.S. Capitol.
100 Years of Women at the Ballot Box
How Young Activists Got 18-Year-Olds the Right to Vote in Record Time
In 1971, more than 10 million 18– to 20-year-olds got the right to vote thanks to an amendment with bipartisan support
How the 2020 Presidential Race Became the ‘Texting Election’
Campaigns took full advantage of text-to-donate technology and peer-to-peer texting to engage voters this election cycle
The True Story of Min Matheson, the Labor Leader Who Fought the Mob at the Polls
The activist rallied garment workers and combated organized crime interests in northeast Pennsylvania in the mid-20th century
Eight of America’s Most Unusual Polling Places
To capture democracy in America, photographer Ryan Donnell tracks down polls in surprising locations across the country
100 Years of Women at the Ballot Box
Fannie Lou Hamer’s Dauntless Fight for Black Americans’ Right to Vote
The activist did not learn about her right to vote until she was 44, but once she did, she vigorously fought for black voting rights
The Voting Machine That Displayed Different Ballots Based on Your Sex
In an era of partial suffrage, these inventions helped women cast their votes
What the Weimar Republic Can Teach Us About Modern Democracy
A Berlin exhibition draws on some 250 artifacts to explore questions of democracy past and present
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