Matthew Powell
@matthew-powell
Matthew Powell, an award-winning historian of slavery and southern history, has worked as a Park Ranger with the National Park Service in Montana and Tennessee. He served as the Executive Director of the La Pointe – Krebs House and Museum in Pascagoula, MS. He is currently an AP (Advanced Placement) history teacher in Arizona. As a historian, Matthew has published several articles in peer-reviewed academic journals, lectured at several prestigious institutions including Johns Hopkins, appeared on PBS, and as a guest on the Ben Franklin’s World Podcast. In 2020, he earned the John W. Odom Memorial Award for his research on slavery and his contribution to the field of history.
How Three Rights Organizations Cracked Jim Crow
The NAACP, SCLC, and SNCC all had different approaches to Civil Rights. Each leaving a lasting legacy in the fight for equality and justice.
7 Facts About the Volstead Act That Banned Alcohol
The Volstead Act, enforcing Prohibition under the 18th Amendment, banned alcohol yet sparked bootlegging, speakeasies, and public outrage, ultimately leading to its repeal.
7 Key Facts About the Life and Work of US President Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter was a peanut farmer, Naval Academy graduate, governor, and the 39th president, whose focus on human rights and peace shaped his legacy.
7 Facts About the Reconstruction Amendments That Abolished Slavery
The Reconstruction Amendments abolished slavery, guaranteed citizenship, and secured voting rights for Black men, influencing modern civil rights.
Stephen Douglas, the Senator Who Debated Lincoln and Divided a Nation
Stephen Douglas was an important and controversial figure in American politics whose policies pushed the country closer to civil war.
How Robert Gould Shaw Became the White Officer Who Led the 54th Massachusetts
Robert Gould Shaw led the 54th Massachusetts, the first Black regiment in the Union Army, and died fighting for equality and the Union cause.
John Bell Hood, the Reckless Commander of the Confederate South
John Bell Hood was a Confederate general known for his bravery, battlefield injuries, and a string of costly decisions that led to his resignation.
7 Facts About the Gadsden Purchase of 1853 That Expanded the US Southwest
The Gadsden Purchase of 1853 expanded the US Southwest, securing much-needed territory for a new southern railroad route and shaping the region.
7 Facts About the Second Continental Congress (1775)
The Second Continental Congress met after militia clashed with British troops. They organized a Continental Army and declared independence, orchestrating the United States.
7 Facts About the First Continental Congress (1774)
The First Continental Congress united twelve colonies in 1774 to protest British rule. It paved the way for the American Revolution.
William T. Sherman, the Union General Who Marched to the Sea
William T. Sherman was a Union general whose military campaigns helped win the Civil War and shape modern warfare.
The Black Codes That Controlled the Freedmen’s Lives
The Black Codes were laws passed after the Civil War in the South that stripped African Americans of freedom, turning criminality into legal slavery.