BackStory with the American History Guys » federalism http://backstoryradio.org VFH Radio at the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities Sat, 04 Feb 2012 22:40:59 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Public radio that explores the historical context of todays news. BackStory with the American History Guys no BackStory with the American History Guys vafh-web@virginia.edu vafh-web@virginia.edu (BackStory with the American History Guys) Copyright Virginia Foundation for the Humanities, All rights reserved. VFH Radio at the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities history, ed ayers, brian baloah, peter onuf, vfh, humanities, BackStory with the American History Guys » federalism http://backstory.vfhblogs.org/files/powerpress/backstory_144.jpg http://backstoryradio.org Laboratories of Democracy: The State of the States http://backstoryradio.org/laboratories-of-democracy/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=laboratories-of-democracy http://backstoryradio.org/laboratories-of-democracy/#comments Fri, 27 Feb 2009 06:29:07 +0000 VFHwebdev http://www.backstoryradio.org/?p=285

In its early years, the U.S. wasn’t so much “United” as “States.” Over time, the federal government has become more powerful, but states have continued to assert their independence on everything from gun control to medical marijuana. In this hour, we ask: If we’re all Americans, why do states still matter? Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell describes how his state has left the feds in the dust when it comes to climate change policy. Historian Eric Foner discusses the successes and failures of the 14th Amendment, created to protect us from the states. And a long-haul trucker explains why she’d like to do away with states altogether.

Guests Include:

Show Highlights

  • The Fourteenth Amendment
    Historian Eric Foner discusses the origins and changing meanings of the Fourteenth Amendment. He explains how a law intended to protect individual rights in the wake of the Civil War ended up emboldening corporate power in the Gilded Age and beyond.

Web Exclusives

BackStory’s “Federalism Challenge”
Federalism is one of the central principles in American political life, and political scientists have come up with dozens of creative ways to describe it. Think you can do better?

How did West Virginia get its name?
The answer is more interesting than you might think. Join our resident West Virginian, assistant producer Catherine Moore, as she travels back in time in search of the states-that-could-have-been-but-never-were. Listen here.

Further Reading

Want to dig deeper into the history of democracy? Check out this list of resources compiled by the History Guys to learn more.

eighthnoteCheck out the music in our “Laboratories of Democracy” show.
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]]> http://backstoryradio.org/laboratories-of-democracy/feed/ 6 14th amendment,country roads,ed rendell,eric foner,federalism,state autonomy,state sovereignty,states' rights,west virginia history In its early years, the US wasn't so much "United" as "States." Power has steadily shifted to the federal government, but states have continued to assert independence on important issues. If we're all Americans, why do states still matter? (http://backstoryradio.org/files/2009/01/rumseymap1.jpg)In its early years, the U.S. wasn't so much "United" as "States." Over time, the federal government has become more powerful, but states have continued to assert their independence on everything from gun control to medical marijuana. In this hour, we ask: If we're all Americans, why do states still matter? Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell describes how his state has left the feds in the dust when it comes to climate change policy. Historian Eric Foner discusses the successes and failures of the 14th Amendment, created to protect us from the states. And a long-haul trucker explains why she'd like to do away with states altogether. Guests Include: * Ed Rendell, Governor (http://www.governor.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/governor%27s_web_site/2985) of Pennsylvania * Eric Foner (http://www.ericfoner.com/), Professor of History at Columbia University and author of Reconstruction: America's Unfinished Revolution, 1863-1877 * "Hedon," a long-haul trucker and "Highway Hags (http://www.highwayhags.com/)" blogger who makes a living crossing state lines Show Highlights * The Fourteenth Amendment (http://www.backstoryradio.org/2009/05/the-fourteenth-ammendment/) Historian Eric Foner discusses the origins and changing meanings of the Fourteenth Amendment. He explains how a law intended to protect individual rights in the wake of the Civil War ended up emboldening corporate power in the Gilded Age and beyond. Web Exclusives (http://backstoryradio.org/files/2009/02/marblecake1.jpg)BackStory's "Federalism Challenge" Federalism is one of the central principles in American political life, and political scientists have come up with dozens of creative ways to describe it. Think you can do better? (http://www.backstoryradio.org/2009/02/the-sweeter-side-of-federalism/) (http://backstoryradio.org/files/2009/02/westvirginia_seal.gif)How did West Virginia get its name? The answer is more interesting than you might think. Join our resident West Virginian, assistant producer Catherine Moore, as she travels back in time in search of the states-that-could-have-been-but-never-were. Listen here. (http://www.backstoryradio.org/2009/03/how-did-west-virginia-get-its-name/) Further Reading Want to dig deeper into the history of democracy? Check out this list of resources (http://backstoryradio.org/laboratories-of-democracy-further-reading/) compiled by the History Guys to learn more. (http://backstoryradio.org/files/2009/01/eighthnote.jpg)Check out the music (http://www.backstoryradio.org/2009/03/backstory-show-tunes#Laboratories Music) in our "Laboratories of Democracy" show. . BackStory with the American History Guys no 53:00 The Sweeter Side of Federalism http://backstoryradio.org/the-sweeter-side-of-federalism/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-sweeter-side-of-federalism http://backstoryradio.org/the-sweeter-side-of-federalism/#comments Wed, 25 Feb 2009 20:16:33 +0000 VFHwebdev http://www.backstoryradio.org/?p=309 marblecakeThroughout American history, the relationship between the federal government and the states has taken various forms, leading historians to coin creative (and culinary) metaphors to describe the different distributions of power. Think you can do better than the examples below? Cook up your own metaphorical descriptor and post it below. (Click here for a  Federalism refresher.)

Some of BackStory‘s favorite metaphors (we’re not making these up…):

  • Marble Cake Federalism
  • Layer Cake Federalism
  • Birthday Cake Federalism
  • Fruit Cake Federalism
  • Fry-Bread Federalism
  • Picket Fence Federalism (not as delicious)

How would you describe the relationship between the federal government and the states? Add your suggestion below, and we’ll read our favorite new political metaphors on our next show!

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