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Ever had your paycheck suddenly stop without warning? Imagine that happening to hundreds of thousands of people at once—that’s exactly what goes down during a government shutdown. And the longest government shutdown in U.S. history was one for the record books. What Is a Government Shutdown, Anyway? Before we dive into the “longest ever,” let’s back up. A government shutdown happens when Congress and the President can’t agree on funding the federal government. Without that agreement, non-essential services are put on pause. Essential workers—think TSA agents, Coast Guard, and air traffic controllers—still have to show up. The catch? They often work without pay until the shutdown ends. Shutdowns have happened quite a few times since the 1970s, but one stands out above the rest. How Long Was the Longest Government Shutdown? The longest government shutdown in U.S. history lasted 35 days , from December 22, 2018, to January 25, 2019 . This standoff was between President Donald Trump...

What if I told you one U.S. president basically warned Europe to “stay out of our backyard” and it worked? That bold move came from James Monroe, the fifth president, whose name is still tied to one of America’s most famous foreign policy principles. Let’s step into his world and see what made him stand out. Who Was the Fifth President of the United States? The fifth president was James Monroe, serving from 1817 to 1825. He was the last of the Founding Fathers to hold the presidency and is often remembered for the “Era of Good Feelings.” That nickname came from a period of relative national unity after years of political tension. Monroe followed James Madison and was succeeded by John Quincy Adams, creating a presidential streak dominated by Virginia statesmen. The Era of Good Feelings Monroe’s presidency is often summed up by this phrase. But what does it mean? Political divisions eased after the War of 1812. The Federalist Party faded away, leaving the Democratic-Republi...

Have you ever thought about how different life would be if half the population couldn’t vote? I have — and it’s a pretty unsettling thought. That’s exactly why the 19th Amendment is such a big deal, even today. It didn’t just give women the right to vote; it reshaped American democracy forever. What Is the 19th Amendment? The 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution is a law that guarantees women the right to vote. It was ratified on August 18, 1920, after decades of activism from women’s rights leaders and everyday citizens who believed in equality at the ballot box. Here’s what it says in simple terms: “No one can be denied the right to vote based on their sex.” Short and straightforward, but it took nearly 100 years of fighting to make it happen. The Road to Ratification Women didn’t just wake up one day in 1920 and suddenly have voting rights. The journey was long, complicated, and full of obstacles. 1848 – The Seneca Falls Convention marked the official start of the wo...