HowStuffWorks United States History Guide  Tags: economy howstuffworks north_america united_states usa history united_states_history america american american_history world_war_i world_war world_war ii wars colonial native_american indians revolution civil_war  

The world looks to the United Nations for guidance on important international matters. Find out what goes on inside the United Nations and what role it really plays in international politics.

Post-war railroads chronicles the height of American railroad transportation. Railroads at this time featured lavish passenger cars that offered passengers unparalleled levels of comfort and style. Learn about railroads and post-war railroads.

On August 15, 16 and 17, 1969, just a month after the famous moon landing of Apollo 11, nearly 500,000 people attended the Woodstock music festival.

How does change happen? For the civil rights movement, it began with a group of people who decided that separate but equal wasn't good enough.

On this day, five men were arrested at an office suite in the Watergate Hotel/office facility. Learn how the Watergate break-in eventually led to the impeachment and resignation of President Nixon.

By the 1960s the lonesome whistle of the steam railroads was a thing of the past. The decline of railroads came about during the 1960s and 1970s as the automobile dominated transportation.

The Iranian Hostage Crisis was a conflict caused by the holding in captivity of United States embassy personnel by Iranian militants in from 1979-1981.

The Persian Gulf War was a war fought between Iraq and a coalition of Middle Eastern and Western powers led by the United States.

The Twin Towers of the World Trade Center were true originals -- their history is one of innovation, persistence and grand ideas.

Supporters claim it's been instrumental for security investigations and terrorist arrests, while critics counter that it gives the government too much power and undermines democracy.