Civics & Coffee: A History Podcast

As the Union continued to rack up military victories deep in Confederate territory, there was a sense the end of the war was near. Despite hopeful sentiments, Abraham Lincoln remained stoic and cautious in his second inaugural address in early March.  Little did anyone know that surrender would be in hand just over a month later when General Robert E. Lee requested to speak with General Ulysses S....

For the final bonus episode in celebration of FOUR YEARS of Civics & Coffee, I am so excited to share a preview of a NEW bonus show I am hosting on Patreon: Civics & Cocktails! By joining the Civics & Coffee Patreon on community, you will get historical goodies like stickers, and access to the Civics & Cocktails RSS feed. Each month, I will welcome a guest (or two!) to chat about h...

Joining me this week is historian and author Dr. Anthony Gregory. Dr. Gregory specializes in the intersection of liberal political theory and carceral studies. In this episode, we discuss his latest book, New Deal Law and Order: How the War on Crime Built the Modern Liberal State. You can learn more about Dr. Gregory by visiting his website at www.anthonygregory.com Support the show

The first Black woman to represent the state of Texas since Reconstruction, Barbara Jordan was a thoughtful, pragmatic politician. She rose to national prominence during the 1974 impeachment hearings of President Richard Nixon when her remarks outlined in stark detail the reasons for pursuing impeachment. Join me on this bonus episode as I dive into the life and career of Barbara Jordan. And if yo...

In the late summer of 1968, thousands of protestors joined politicians, party leaders, and the media in Chicago to attend the Democratic National Convention.  The convention is known as one of the most chaotic and violent conventions in history and led to significant changes in the party nominating process. Tune in as I dive into what happened and why so many are comparing 1968 to 2024.  Support t...

Joining me this week is educator and historian Kristin Kessinger. In this episode, we discuss her scholarship analyzing the southern paternalistic justifications for slavery in Missouri and how important it is to understand our past.  You can follow Kristin on instagram through her handle: rockthekessbah.  Support the show

In the final months of the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln focused his attention on securing the passage of a constitutional amendment banning slavery. But why, if he issued the Emancipation Proclamation, was an amendment necessary? Tune in this week to find out.  Support the show

James Baldwin was a writer, activist, and world traveler who dedicated his life to understanding his identity and how it fit within American society. His writing deftly explore these topics and sheds a light on the Black experience in the twentieth century. Joining me for this bonus episode is past guest Ethan Healey. Healey shares his research about Baldwin's search for identity, how it infl...

Joining me as I wrap up my coverage of sixteenth president Abraham Lincoln is Jerry Landry.  Jerry is a presidential history expert and is the host and lead researcher behind the incredible Presidencies of the United States podcast. Jerry lends his insight, expertise, and analysis on Lincoln's administration, how his cabinet helped him be successful during the Civil War, and what current poli...

Join me this week for the second chapter of Lincoln's life and legacy. Tune in as I discuss Lincoln's early political career, his debates with Stephen Douglas, and how he surprised everyone to become the 16th President of the United States.  And be sure to come back next week for a special guest as I wrap up my coverage of Abraham Lincoln.  Support the show

Join me this week as I dive into the latest listener request: the history of coffee in the United States. Coffee has long been associated with American culture. But how did we get here? Learn how a little revolution altered the drinking habits of colonists and how brewers sought to make the perfect coffee blend. Why was the coffee house considered the home of revolution? And who launched the first...

Sitting down with me today is historian and author Kate Nicholson who recently published Behind Everest: Ruth Mallory's Story which details the life of Ruth Mallory, wife to famed British mountaineer George Mallory.  We chat about how she discovered Ruth and what motivated her to tell Mallory's story. You can learn more about Kate by visiting the website www.civicsandcoffee.com.  Support...

Mary Eliza Mahoney broke the gender and racial barrier when she became the first Black woman to earn her nursing license in 1879. Although Black women had long been performing the work of nurses, Mahoney's successful completion of a rigorous licensing programming demonstrated that African American women were capable of succeeding in medicine.  But just who was Mary Eliza Mahoney? Tune in to f...

Not much is known about the first recorded drag queen in the United States, William Dorsey Swann. A man who was born into slavery in Maryland just ahead of the Civil War, Swann eventually moved to Washington, D.C. where he held parties celebrating a different form of expression.  Tune in this week as I chat about William Dorsey Swann and how his actions are considered by some to be the origins of...

Joining me this week is Dr. Robin Bernstein. She is a historian, professor, and author whose latest book Freeman's Challenge: The Murder That Shook America's Original Prison for Profit investigates the origins of penal capitalism. To buy yourself a copy of the Freeman's Challenge, be sure to head over to the University of Chicago Press' website here . And to learn more about Dr...

In the nineteenth century, social norms dictated that proper ladies stayed in the domestic space, leaving the home for waged work only under desperate circumstances. As the federal government expanded during the Civil War, the need for labor intensified and administrators quickly realized they had an untapped source: women.  Join me this week as I dive into the history of women working for the fed...

Born to a wealthy Black family, Charlotte Forten enjoyed a level of privilege uncommon for Black Americans of the period. She spent her life dedicated to the uplift of her fellow countrymen by pursuing a teaching career. So just who was Charlotte Forten Grimke? Tune in to find out. To subscribe to the newly launched newsletter, be sure to head over to civicsandcoffee.substack.com  Support the show

In the midst of the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln authorized the execution of 38 Dakota warriors. His decision to execute, and the reasons used to justify the action remain a black mark on Lincoln's legacy.  Join me this week as I dive into the latest listener request and explore what prompted the mass execution of Indigenous Americans and why it remains one of the most troubling aspec...

Born into slavery in 1818, Elizabeth Keckly learned a trade that would lead to her freedom and place her into the upper echelons of white society: sewing.  Join me as I dive into the life of the woman who was known as "Madam Elizabeth" by her famous employers. Where did Elizabeth learn how to sew? How did she buy her freedom? And what caused her rift with First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln? Su...

Joining me this week is historian and author Justin McHenry. In this episode we discuss his latest effort, Lemuria: A True Story of a Fake Place, which tells the story of the fictional Lemuria. Justin dives into how Lemuria is tied to Atlantis, how Mt. Shasta is involved, and what it tells us about alternative narratives. To learn more about Justin, be sure to check out his website at www.justinmc...

One of the topics you all wanted me to cover was the impact of the war on the home front. Join me this week as I cover the impacts of a "total war" on local residents and how home front experiences changed depending on race, location, and economic status. For show notes, source material, and ways you can support the show, visit the website at www.civicsandcoffee.com Support the show

Edwin Stanton is perhaps best known as the man who oversaw the hunt for President Abraham Lincoln's assassin, John Wilkes Booth. The lawyer turned Secretary of War dealt with his fair share of heartache and uncertainty, but as I will cover in this episode, he was the right man at the right time. For show notes, source material, or ways you can support the show, head over to the website at www...

Joining me this week is fellow podcast host and new audiobook author, Michael Trapani. He is the host (and author) of How to Start a War and sat down with me to discuss both his project and what we can learn from studying the bad actors in history. To learn more about Michael, head over to his website at www.howtostartawar.com   Support the show

If you follow pop culture, then you may be aware that April 20th signifies a celebration of sorts by a certain portion of the population. Join me this week as I dive into the story behind how 420 became a cannabis smoker's holiday and how access and the legality of the drug has evolved in the United States throughout history.  Listener discretion advised.  Support the show

Join me this week as I wrap up the life of Mary Todd Lincoln. In this episode, I review her time as First Lady, her friendship with dressmaker Elizabeth Keckly, and why she was committed to an asylum.  Support the show