Even decades or centuries after a historic event, it can be the center of endless and spirited debate. These historical controversies and the questions surrounding them may never be put to rest — but that doesn’t mean historians and writers will ever stop trying to find the answers.
Vietnam War
Were We Right to Be Afraid of China During the Vietnam War?
Fears of China on the battlefield were rampant during the Vietnam War. Were they justified?
World War II
Why on Earth Did Hitler Invade the Soviet Union?
Historians have been grappling with that question for decades.
Civil War
Embattled Banner: The True History of the Confederate Flag
The history of the Confederate Flag is full of myth and hearsay. So here’s the truth of how it emerged during the Civil War—and its meaning then and now.
Other historical controversies
How Did Columbus Day Become Indigenous Peoples Day?
Once celebrated as a hero, the explorer has come under attack. Why are more towns and states celebrating a new holiday instead?