Elections
What the Long History of Mail-In Voting in the U.S. Reveals About the Election Process
A recent exhibition shows how soldiers sent in votes during the Civil War and World War II, as many Americans would in 2020 following the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic
This Defeated Presidential Candidate, Once the 'Best-Known Man in America,' Died in a Sanatorium Less Than a Month After Losing the Election
Newspaper editor Horace Greeley unsuccessfully ran against incumbent Ulysses S. Grant in November 1872. Twenty-four days later, he died of unknown causes at a private mental health facility
When a Trailblazing Suffragist and a Crusading Prosecutor Teamed Up to Expose an Election Conspiracy
An unlikely duo exposed political corruption in Terre Haute, Indiana, in 1914—and set a new precedent for fair voting across the country
When a Debate Flop Raised Concerns About Ronald Reagan's Fitness to Run for Re-Election
During the 1984 campaign, the 73-year-old president meandered his way through his first face-off against Walter Mondale, prompting questions about his mental acuity
Archaeologists May Have Found Home Built by One of New England’s First Black Property Owners
Pompey Mansfield was an enslaved man who won his freedom, purchased land, constructed a house and became a prominent community leader
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
See the Photographs That Introduced Americans to Their Presidents
The National Portrait Gallery traces early images of American leaders, from John Quincy Adams to Abraham Lincoln
Twenty-Four Smithsonian Shows to See in 2024
Election-year items, truth serum, Nigerian art and a pioneering self-driving car are on display this year
Archaeologists Discover Electoral Campaign Inscription Inside Pompeii House
The text urged voters to elect a candidate named Aulus Rustius Verus to a position of political power
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
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
The Masonic Murder That Inspired the First Third Party in American Politics
Public outcry over whistleblower William Morgan's disappearance gave rise to the Anti-Masonic Party, which nominated a candidate for president in 1832
Rioters Damage Art at Government Buildings in Brazil
The government has released a list of artworks that were harmed during the attacks
This Congressman Was Sworn Into Office With Rare Superman Comic
California’s Robert Garcia says the superhero embodies values like truth and justice
How a Failed Assassination Attempt Pushed George Wallace to Reconsider His Segregationist Views
Fifty years ago, a fame-seeker shot the polarizing politician five times, paralyzing him from the waist down
Meet the Black Men Who Changed Lincoln's Mind About Equal Rights
During the Civil War, these individuals convinced the president, altering the course of U.S. history
The Little-Known Story of 19th-Century America's Partisan Warfare
In a new book, Smithsonian curator Jon Grinspan examines the history of America's furious and fractious politics
Proactive Tips for Speaking With Children About Violence, Racism and Tragic Events
What do we tell children now? It's time to ask ourselves what we are going to say and do before the next time this happens
Smithsonian Educators Offer Tips for Talking to Children After a Traumatic Event
As details about traumatic events unfold in the news, it is important for families to navigate these conversations with young children with care.
Five Things to Know About the 1876 Presidential Election
Lawmakers are citing the 19th-century crisis as precedent to dispute the 2020 election. Here's a closer look at its events and legacy
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