At the onset of World War II, the United States faced a major labor shortage. President Roosevelt had initiated the first peacetime draft in history in 1940 and after the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, the US fully mobilized for war. With it, men swarmed the ranks of volunteers to fight and still more …
In late 1775 general George Washington’s ragtag group of colonists had besieged the British army in Boston. While they surrounded the city and controlled the hilltops, they could not force the British out due to a lack of heavy artillery. A relatively unheralded former Boston bookshop owner named Henry Knox proposed a solution to Washington’s …
The Knox Expedition: “The Noble Train of Artillery” Read More »
One indicator that economists use to measure the relative health of an economy is the national debt to GDP ratio. If this ratio is within an ideal zone, a country is set for growth. However, if the ratio is above a certain level, a country could suffer negative effects. This chart shows the US National …
As 1776 came to a close, the success of the American Revolution was looking extremely dire. The Continental Army was in shambles and the new nation was in jeopardy. They suffered from low morale and desertion after having been forced to retreat from New York and New Jersey. A decisive victory was needed to increase …
With World War II ramping up by the fall of 1942, minor league baseball teams were closing shop. Many young men were being drafted for the war effort, lowering the number of quality players available. Seeking to fill the gap, the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL) was founded in 1943. This chart shows the …
Considered controversial at the time, the Louisiana Purchase added a vast amount of territory to the relatively new nation of the United States. The purchase itself had major impacts that rippled through American society. This chart shows the total amount of US territory expansion with the Louisiana Purchase. The Louisiana territory was a vast amount …
The Battle of Midway was one of the most important battles in World War II. In the span of a couple hours – a few minutes really, the Japanese war effort suffered a major blow. This chart shows the Battle of Midway timeline of events and just exactly what happened on that fateful day. Prior …
The Trail of Tears is one of the more shameful legacies of US history. In the 1830’s nearly 60,000 Native Americans were forcibly removed from their homes and made to walk thousands of miles to a new territory in modern day Oklahoma. This chart shows the Trail of Tears Indian Removal statistics. Ever since the …
When looking back at the outset of the American Revolution most assume that the colonies were united in their quest for independence. Sure there were some loyalists who sided with the British, but a vast majority supported independence. This chart shows this narrative to be incorrect. This article shows what was the likely support for …
Patriot and Loyalist Support for the American Revolution Read More »
In 1825 the Erie Canal was completed. Stretching from Lake Erie in the west to the Hudson River in the east, the canal brought about major changes to society in the US and the economy of New York State. This chart shows an example of the economic impacts of the Erie Canal. Prior to the …
When Columbus set sail in 1492 to find a new passage to the East Indies, he didn’t know it yet, but the world was to be forever changed. Upon his arrival Native Americans populations would never be the same. This chart shows the Native American disease mortality rate in the years following Columbus’ arrival. Estimates …
Native American Disease Mortality Rate Post Columbus Read More »
The United States Civil War was a brutal conflict that lasted from 1861-1865. Estimates vary, but most figures place the total number of dead in the range of 500,000-625,000. Included wounded and prisoners, casualties were as high as 1.5 million. This chart shows the 5 bloodiest battles in the US Civil War in terms of …
