The 10 Most Powerful Pictures in American History

The first camera was invented in 1816. It took a few decades to transform its original version into a portable one so that people can carry it around and record American history pictures.

Either you’re working on the Battle of Gettysburg model or trying to cope up with essays on Martin Luther King; the true pictures will give you more information and inspiration that any encyclopedia will. We chose the United States history pictures followed by brief info-blocks. Hopefully, this collection will help you out with your school or college assignments!

1. The Battlefield at Gettysburg (1863) 

Gettysburg became legendary due to the bloody Civil War battle between Union and Confederates. The Battle of Gettysburg became the final point of the Gettysburg Campaign (June-July 1863). It contributed to the final victory of the US army led by George Meade against the Confederates led by Robert Lee. According to the Battle of Gettysburg essay, it lasted for three days and brought the record number of deaths – around 7 thousand fatalities for both sides; 10 thousand people were reported missing.

Just four months later, Abraham Lincoln delivered a profound Gettysburg Speech dedicated to the ending of the Civil War and “a new birth of freedom.” A part of this monologue was inscribed on the South wall in the Lincoln Memorial complex in Washington, D.C.

The shallow graves made in the area of Gettysburg cannot fully preserve all of the dead bodies, which are found almost every year until now.

 2. American Suffragette Parade (1917)

The first pro-women movements originated in the 1860s. However, they didn’t get much support from their target audience – American females, who were afraid to deny the national law. World War I gave a significant boost to the movements due to numerous American women acquiring non-traditional careers in military and production. Thus, dozens of women started wondering about the incorrect interpretation of the Constitutional rights (particularly the right to vote) and joined the suffragists.

The parade on the picture took place in New York in 1917. The women walking in the column held the placards signed by thousands of other females who wanted to take part in elections. The parade happened three years before Amendment 19 was passed; this document set the nation-wide right to vote.

Still, even after 1917 and 1920, women were restricted in many other spheres of life. For example, many universities didn’t accept female applicants, and most of the states didn’t allow women to see their kids after divorce. It took over a century to manifest the equal rights of men and women in the USA.

3. “Migrant Mother” (1936)

The Great Depression became one of the biggest economic crises in US history. There were many powerful pictures shot during those years; today, they are eloquent enough to tell the story better than the textbooks can.

The “Migrant Mother” picture became famous years after the Great Depression. Even though it seems to be a random shot, there’s a story behind that. In the mid-’30s, some of the poorest families were put in special camps (up to 3 thousand people in one). Dorothea Lange, who worked as a photographer, at that time, came across the family of Florence Thompson (32) and her five children. Her husband died in 1931, and then Florence got a job of a pea-picker in California.

This picture was made right after the woman had sold their home to get some food. The home was an ordinary tent. Many reporters tried to find Florence after the Great Depression; she became one of the GD symbols.

4. Pearl Harbor Attack (1941)

Pearl Harbor attack was the first tragic page in the context of World War II for the American army. In the beginning, the United States chose rather a passive strategy of an observer after Hitler attacked the European countries. However, there was always another enemy to be alert about – Japan.

On the morning of December 7, 353 Japanese planes dropped bombs on the US military base located on Pearl Harbor (Hawaii). This was an act of revenge on the US that had banned Japan from receiving American oil. As a result, apart from the destroyed aircraft, 2403 people died.

The news became a true shock for the peaceful American nation and angered the government. Just in 24 hours, on December 8, Franklin Roosevelt declared war against the Empire of Japan after having a brief Congress meeting. His short yet emotional radio announcement encouraged US citizens to join the American army and defeat the land. The conflict later provoked two atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima & Nagasaki.

5. “I have a dream” (1963)

Every single school program in the US includes essays about Martin Luther King Jr. “I have a dream” became a classic example of a public speech, which is usually mentioned in any Martin Luther King research paper. There are many things about Martin Luther King JR that made him one of the most outstanding Americans. Any Martin Luther King essay is a story of how the US manifested its freedom and, at the same time, paid respect to all of its citizens regardless of their origin.

The monologue was delivered to the large multiracial audience of nearly 250 thousand Americans in Washington, DC. The March of Washington for Jobs was held by the American civil rights activists, who supported President Kennedy and his edits to the civil rights legislation offered in June. Rosa Parks, Bayard Rustin, Ella Baker, Roy Wilkins, and other Afro-American activists could finally demand social and economic equality of the US citizens in a public way, standing together with their communities. 

6. “The guest” (1966)

Vietnam Was is considered the most controversial military period in history. Why? Some Americans simply didn’t believe that the US forces lost thousands of their soldiers overseas and imagined the whole thing as a global fraud. The war lasted from around 1962 till 1973 – no exact dates were still released by both governments.

The picture depicts a fully equipped American soldier looking at a Vietnamese woman standing with her two kids in front of a typical house of that area. The American troops preferred to live side by side with the locals having home-made meals in exchange for medicine and English lessons.

Communism was a special kind of trigger for the US government. However, the US citizens couldn’t accept the fact that the country sacrificed so many civilians to prevent South Vietnam from becoming a communistic state. Over 2 million people from both sides died, not including 1.1 million North Vietnamese soldiers, who represented the Communist North Vietnamese Army.

7. “Welcome to the Moon” (1969)

 Apollo 11 was a project originally planned by President Kennedy back in 1961. The Cold War with Soviet Russia provoked a severe scientific competition between the countries; space became their goal.

Neil Armstrong is saluting after setting the American flag on the Moon surface. His other companion Edwin Aldrin joined him after 15 minutes. Together with Michael Collins, the Apollo crew spend over 12 hours in the space, which set a record for the US at the time. Due to this trip, American scientists were the first ones to gain over 21 kilograms of the Moon soil for research. 

8. “The falling man” (2001)

“The falling man” became one of the most dramatic pictures made on the tragic date of September 11. Richard Drew was a photographer to randomly catch a take of a stranger who jumped out of the window of a burning building. In his interview, the artist also mentioned that the man in the picture was just one of the dozens of desperate people falling from the skyscraper.

Drew said it took him a nanosecond to decide that he’s not running away from the fire but to it in order “to record history.” He also mentioned this photo to be very quiet, unlike thousands of other rather violent pictures made on this day. Indeed, there’s no blood, no fire, no tears, no guns, no guts, and no police. The falling man remains unidentified till today.

The plain crush on September 11 killed almost 3 thousand people; 6 thousand were wounded as a result of 10 al-Qaeda terrorists attacking the North and South Towers of the World Trade Center. “The Ground Zero” is now an enormous national memorial surrounded by the huge silent oak trees. 

9. “Proud of my Family” (2015)

  2015 became a year when the federal government finally legalised same-sex marriages in all the states. The historic case of Obergefell vs. Hodges highlighted that same-sex marriages are rather “an equal right to enter the long-standing institution of marriage” than a “constitutional right. “ During the case, the Supreme Court discussed whether or not same-sex marriages could be potentially protected by Amendment 14 so that not to deny the Constitution in their decision.

The decision announced by the Supreme Court gave something to celebrate to all the gay couples. A magnetic picture above can demonstrate the sincere joy two women experience after hearing the news. By using the portrait lens, the photographer could easily record a moment of happiness highlighted by the vibrant colors on the poster. A few easy touches of a professional editor make you feel standing right in front of the women who are about to become a legal family. 

10. “Under the bullets” (2017)

David Becker went to Vegas to take pictures of a local music festival. Instead, he got a ton of pictures showing the worst mass shooting happening that night. It took the lives of 59 people and leftover 850 wounded.

The couple on the picture, however, survived. Later, the take hit the covers of American magazines and newspapers carrying that’s night story.

Backer was lucky enough to capture a clear picture of static bodies with the perfect lighting on the foreground. Their message was about unconditional love surviving through anything, even bullets. Then, your eyes start examining the deep shadows on a background depicting the crowd grieving on the street covered with party cups, decorations, and dead bodies. No wonder Becker’s collection from that night was requested by most of the distinguished American, British, and Australian media.  

Pictures may not fully immerse you in the historical context yet transfer the mood and emotions of the era. Make sure you study at least some of the outstanding shots of American history to understand how you and your generation happened to be where you are!