Those pursuing a degree in political science will learn about many people and events that have shaped and will continue to shape our world. However, with all of the previous kings, presidents, prime ministers, and private citizens having varying degrees of influence, it can be difficult to put them all into context. And many lesser-known events, as well as world-changing events, can get lost in the shuffle.

We have attempted to make sense of them all for those interested in a career in political science. In addition, we have also considered those with a passing interest in political science. We have categorized insights into eight interesting facts about American political science history. They include some outstanding achievements, both locally and globally.

Let’s Explore Interesting Facts about the US Political Science History

The United States Declares Independence from England

The Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4, 1776, as we all know! However, there are many unknown facts about the event. For example, the 13 colonies agreed to secede from England but not much else. How to govern this new country, defend it. Besides, the contentious issues threatened to derail the union before it even got started. The blogger at Legal History has even more information on a little-known spy during the Revolutionary War.

We Have a Constitution

A political science document unlike any other that had come before or since was passed in 1789. The United States Constitution, which was full of checks and balances, sought to divide the government into three branches. Each branch has its own special rules for elections and powers assigned to it. There are numerous blogs, such as About Our Constitution, that have everything you could want to know about it.

The Louisiana Purchase

How do you acquire a large tract of land without shedding a single drop of blood? Another interesting political science fact is that the Louisiana Purchase of 1803 was one of the most significant achievements in peacetime. Due to his war in France, Napoleon Bonaparte was forced to sell his massive holdings in the new colonies to the already established American colonies for the clearinghouse price of $15 million. It equates to $215 million in today’s dollars, or half of what taxpayers paid to watch Solyndra fail. President Thomas Jefferson and Merriwether Lewis negotiated the deal.

Emancipation Proclamation

Unlike the previous victory, this one could not be purchased with money. The battle between the Northern and Southern states was still going on during the Civil War, costing thousands of lives and crippling both economies. President Lincoln proclaimed on September 22, 1862, intending to undermine the South’s ability to fight and work. The proclamation contained an interesting political fact: slaves in states that remained loyal to the North, such as Delaware and Kentucky, were not freed by the proclamation. Slavery would not be abolished throughout the United States until the war ended and the 13th Amendment to the Constitution was ratified.

Women’s Vote

Soon, the entire country will vote in the next presidential election, but it won’t be 100 years since we’ve all been able to do so. Despite mass protests, the government denied women the right to vote at the federal level more than a century after it was founded. It was not until Congress passed a bill in 1920 that stated: “the right of citizens of the US to vote shall not be abridged or denied by the United States or by any State on account of sex.” Another fascinating political fact is that the vote was so close that it all came down to a crucial juncture in the Tennessee legislature. Another interesting fact: the United States was not the first country to grant women the right to vote.

Two’s the Limit

As recent events have demonstrated, when a ruler has been in power for decades, nothing short of a civil uprising can depose him. However, this was almost realized during FDR’s presidency. Following his four-term presidency from 1933 to 1945, the 22nd amendment to the Constitution was quickly ratified. It prohibited future presidents from serving for more than two terms. More on the pros and cons of this political science fact can be found at the International Debate Education Association.

First Political Debate

When did political science become such a circus act? It was probably long before the United States was ever conceived. However, September 26, 1960, or the first televised presidential debate, could certainly be considered a watershed moment. Watch as then-Senator John F. Kennedy takes on incumbent President Nixon, who actually declines opportunities to refute the opposition’s points.

Civil Rights Act of 1964

Even though the Civil War had been over a century, there was still widespread unrest in the United States’ southern states. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was one of several acts enacted in an attempt to help African Americans achieve the same level of success as their white counterparts.