American History (Audio)

Rabbi Laura Geller looks at the role Jewish women played in some of the struggles that have shaped our country. She also explore the different ways men and women have been agents of social change both in the Jewish community and the larger world. Rabbi Laura Geller is a Senior Rabbi of Temple Emanuel in Beverly Hills, California. She was among the first women to be selected to lead a major metropo...

A love of learning and teaching about pirates inspired UC San Diego’s Mark Hanna to tap the world-renowned Hill Collection of Pacific Voyages, housed in Special Collections & Archives at the UC San Diego Library, to bring history to life in his mobile classroom. Hanna’s students discover the authentic Golden Age of Piracy by reading the Hill Collection log books and other original documents, touri...

University of Virginia’s Charles McCurdy explores how the Founding Fathers dealt with the unanticipated emergence of hotly contested, increasingly political interpretations of the Constitution during the first decade of the Early Republic and also how they responded to fact that constitutional change had occurred through interpretation rather than through constitutional amendment. Series: "UC Berk...

Conversations host Harry Kreisler welcomes Charles McCurdy, Professor of History and Law, University of Virginia, for a discussion of the interactions of law and politics in the United States. Case studies discussed include: Justice Stephen Field; The Anti- Rent Era in New York Law (1830-1865); Herbert Wechsler’s article on “The Political Safeguards of Federalism;” and the Sedition Acts of the 179...

The UC San Diego Library announces the purchase of the Farmworker Movement Documentation Project, an online archive containing thousands of documents related to the history of the United Farm Workers’ union and related events. A short video on the historic March to Sacramento in 1966 is shown followed by a discussion with two participants in the march: Roberto Bustos and LeRoy Chatfield, key advis...

Benjamin Franklin and the American dream are often associated with the uninhibited pursuit of money. Nothing could be further from the truth, argues UC San Diego political scientist Alan Houston. To Franklin, the good life – a life of improvement – was spent pursuing knowledge, cultivating friendship, advancing freedom, and addressing human needs. Series: "The Good Life" [Public Affairs] [Humaniti...

“The Brick People” chronicles the story and legacy of Mexican immigrants who came to work at Simons Brickyard #3 in Los Angeles during the early part of the 20th century. The bricks they made literally built Los Angeles and the surrounding region. Produced by UC Irvine professor Alejandro Morales, this documentary explores themes of immigration, discrimination and cultural foundry as told by forme...

Angela Davis visited UC Santa Barbara for a screening of "Free Angela and All Political Prisoners," a documentary by Shola Lynch that chronicles Davis's life as a young, outspoken UCLA professor. Angela Davis and producer Sidra Smith answer questions from the audience. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 25917]

Renowned author and Middlebury College Professor Jay Parini charms his dinner audience with selections from his “Promised Land: Thirteen Books That Changed America.” From “The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin” and “Walden,” through “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” to “How to Win Friends and Influence People” and “The Feminine Mystique,” Parini offers a compelling narrative on the evolution of American cultur...

Harry Kreisler welcomes George Packer for a discussion of his new book, “The Unwinding: An Inner History of the New America.” Packer discusses his formative experiences, including forging his own political identity and coming to terms with the legacy of his progressive grandfather and his liberal father. He then recounts the influence of his mother on his writing and his odyssey—Peace Corps, const...

The political fight that has broken out in the US about contraception is both surprising and at the same time traditionally American. Linda Gordon, Professor at New York University, puts today's reproduction control controversies -- foreign aid for family planning, the abortion debates, teenage pregnancy and childbearing, stem-cell research --into historical perspective and argues that reproductio...

Conversations host Harry Kreisler welcomes Pulitzer Prize winning historian Eric Foner for a discussion of his book, “The Fiery Trial.” The conversation focuses on Lincoln’s relationship to slavery over the course of his career. As Lincoln moved from local, to state and then national politics, he grew in stature and his understanding of the complexity of the issue matured. The discussion focuses o...

A distinguished panel moderated by Scott Shafer opens the forum on democracy and the culture of civic conversations with a look at contemporary American democracy and in/civility in civic conversation, what drives the character of today’s public discourse, and the history of US political discourse. With Joyce Appleby, Dept. of History, UCLA; Kathleen Hall Jamieson, Annenberg School for Communicati...

This panel focuses on the fate of print journalism and the impact of new information technologies in creating an informed society. With Tara McPherson, School of Cinematic Arts’ Critical Studies Program, USC; Siva Vaidhyanathan, Dept. of Media Studies and Law, University of VA; Louis Freedberg, California Watch; Leif Wellington Haase, Senior Fellow for New America's Health Policy Program. Series:...

This panel focuses on direct democracy, emerging majorities and civic participation, and what needs there are for reforming government. With Daniel HoSang, Depts. of Political Science and Ethnic Studies, University of Oregon; Jane Junn, Dept. of Political Science, USC; Mark Paul, New America Foundation and Institute of Governmental Studies, UC Berkeley. Series: "Searching for Democracy" [Public Af...

This panel looks at US pluralism in the post-Civil Rights era and the new demographic map of America with Lisa García Bedolla, Graduate School of Education and Center for Latino Policy Research, UC Berkeley; George Lipsitz, Dept. of Black Studies, UC Santa Barbara; Donald Miller, Dept. of Sociology and Center for Religion and Civic Culture, USC; Gregory Rodriguez, Zócalo Public Square, New America...

After a day spent exploring democracy and discourse in the 21st century, a panel convened to synthesize the ideas discussed and consider what the future may hold with respect to US democracy and public discourse in a world with changed modes of participation and association, and how to become better translators and interpreters in order to continue to forge an ever-evolving common good. With Chris...

This panel looks at the history of the US’s learning curve on pluralism and the struggles to defend it. With William Deverell, Dept. of History, USC and Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University; Elaine Elinson, Author; Stan Yogi, Author; George J. Sanchez, Dept. of American Studies and Ethnicity and History, Center for Diversity and Democracy, USC. Series: "Searching for Democrac...

This panel focuses historically on how legal, economic, and social structures have shaped the possibility of engagement in the public realm for different populations. With Cruz Reynoso, School of Law, UC Davis; Donna Schuele, Dept. of Criminology, Law, and Society, UC Irvine; Robert C. Smith, Dept. of Political Science, San Francisco State University; Ian Masters, KPFK-FM and UCLA/Hammer Forum. Se...

This panel examines from a historical perspective how we access the information we need to participate in a democratic society, with a focus on public education, public libraries, and how we learn about the people we elect. With Lisa García Bedolla, Graduate School of Education and Center for Latino Policy Research, UC Berkeley; Thomas Hollihan, Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, U...

UC Berkeley alumna Geralyn Ryan produced this video oral history from interviewing the employees of the Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans District, during the reconstruction post Hurricane Katrina. Ms. Ryan produced this video as part of a master’s thesis. While the US Army Corps of Engineers gave permission to interview their staff, this is not an official program of the Army Corps of Engineer...

Roger Daniels, Professor Emeritus of History, University of Cincinnati, examines and analyzes the changing place of the World War II incarceration of the Japanese Americans of the West Coast in American culture. Series: "UC Berkeley Graduate Lectures" [Humanities] [Show ID: 20022]

Host Harry Kreisler discusses his new book, "Political Awakenings," and tells the story of the Conversations series. Kreisler traces the origins of the program, describes his vision of the craft of interviewing, and talks about the ways technology dramatically increased access to the programs creating a global audience. He then discusses the origin of the book and its content. Choosing twenty inte...

Conversations host Harry Kreisler welcomes historian, critic, and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Garry Wills for a discussion his new book, “Bomb Power.” Wills recalls his formative influences including his Catholic faith and education; William Buckley and the editors of The National Review; the Vietnam War protests; and the Civil Rights movement. He compares Obama to past presidents and explains w...

Ronald C. White. Jr., a leading Lincoln scholar, explores Lincoln’s religious ideas and their role in policy making in this Burke Lecture from UC San Diego. Series: "Burke Lectureship on Religion and Society" [Humanities] [Show ID: 16399]