People That Changed the Course of History

A quick internet search will yield results of Leonardo da Vinci's legendary paintings, the Mona Lisa and the Last Supper, and you might even catch a glimpse of his well-known sketches of machines, human bodies, and animals. However, there's so much more to da Vinci than his paintings and drawings. This 16th-century Italian man embodied the Renaissance spirit - he was intensely interested in everyone and everything. His curiosity spanned every discipline, from geometry to anatomy to the link between art and science. 500 years ago was a time of insight, of investigation, and in this sense, da Vinci fit in perfectly. However, in another sense, he didn't belong at all - he was a loner living in his own world. An illegitimate child with 17 half-siblings, Leonardo also shrouded himself in secrecy. He wrote in a mirror script, meaning that you could only understand what he had written by holding it up to a mirror. He believed that we all have potential to do amazing things, but he also had lots of unfinished projects and struggled with lifelong self-doubt. Delve in to these pages to find out why Leonardo di Ser Piero d'Antonio di Ser Piero di Ser Guido da Vinci - yes, this was his full name - was as mysterious as his painting of Mona Lisa's famous smile.

Born 100 years ago, John F. Kennedy was the youngest man ever elected president. Learn more about President Kennedy's life and his short, but impactful, time in office. Take a closer look at the life of one of the most beloved presidents in American history.

This year marks the 250th anniversary of the birth of John Quincy Adams. He was born in Massachusetts on July 11, 1767. Following in the footsteps of his father, John Adams (the second President of the United States), John Quincy Adams became the sixth president in 1825. But even before his term as president, John Q. Adams was heavily involved in the early formation of our country. Follow John Q. Adams' journey from getting his start in politics as Minister to the Netherlands, to eventually being appointed Secretary of State under President Monroe. During his time as Secretary of State, Adams worked to bring several territories in North America under the power of the United States and, along with the President, created the Monroe doctrine, which stated that the U.S. would see any further colonization by European as acts of aggression. The Monroe Doctrine was invoked several times throughout history, most recently against the Soviet Union during the Cuban Missile Crisis. During his own presidency, Adams undertook a series of improvements to the country, such as an increased number of roads to connect the states. However, many of his proposals were knocked down by Andrew Jackson, who would defeat Adams in the next election, and his followers. Although his term as president may have been less successful then he hoped, Adams continued his career in politics until his death. Take a closer look at this statesman and his role in making the United States the country that it is today.

Have you ever wondered about the man behind the face on the $20 bill? Andrew Jackson, the seventh president of the United States, was born 250 years ago. During his two terms as president, Andrew Jackson enacted a number of changes to the U.S. government and created policies that are controversial to this day. On March 15, 1767, in a backwoods settlement in the Carolinas, Andrew Jackson was born into poverty, but eventually rose to become a wealthy and successful lawyer and politician. He was a brawler and viewed himself as the direct representative of common man in politics. During the War of 1812, Jackson served as a major general and became a national war hero. This popularity eventually led to him defeating John Q. Adams in the presidential election of 1828. During his two terms as president, Jackson enacted several controversial policies, including the closing of the Bank of the United States and the Indian Removal Act, which eventually led to the Trail of Tears. Whether you love him or hate him, Andrew Jackson was one of the most influential presidents of his day. Take a closer look at Old Hickory and his impact on American history.