Grand Old Party: A History of Partisanship
When it comes to partisan politics, Americans today are deeply conflicted. We want an engaged citizenry without the deep fissures in the body politic, but can we have it both ways? Have we EVER had it both ways?
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American Spirit: A History of the Supernatural
Help us shape a new show! Share a comment, question, or story about the history of American belief in–and skepticism toward–the supernatural.
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Of Monkeys and Men: The History of Science and Religion
The “Scopes Monkey Trial” has come to symbolize the fundamental conflict between science and religion… but are the two necessarily opposed?
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Pitch a Show! (Summer ’10)
BackStory invites you to propose a topic for our summer season and let us know why you think it would make for a compelling hour of radio!
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Now Airing
Jefferson Then and Now (Pt. 2)
[Click here for Pt. 1.]
From FDR to Sarah Palin, leaders on both sides of the political aisle have long claimed Thomas Jefferson as their own. So what did Jefferson really stand for? That’s the question at the root of this special podcast, produced in conjunction with HISTORY.com.
In Part One, the History Guys take on the perennial debate over the appropriate role of central government. Did Jefferson think it should be pared-down and limited, or robust enough to confront external threats if and when they arise?
In Part Two, the History Guys look at Jefferson’s idea of a “wall of separation” between church and state. How did the personal beliefs of Jefferson and his contemporaries influence the framing of the Constitution itself?
PART TWO
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PART ONE
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