Fear Tactics: A History of Domestic Terrorism [Rebroadcast]
In this hour of BackStory, the History Guys investigate the origins of domestic terrorism in the United States, and explore the question of what kinds of people and movements have been identified as “terrorists.”
Fear Tactics: A History of Domestic Terrorism
In this hour of BackStory, the History Guys investigate the origins of domestic terrorism in the United States, and explore the question of what kinds of people and movements have been identified as “terrorists.”
You’ve Got Mail: A History of the Post Office
For more than two centuries, neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night has kept American letter carriers from delivering the mail. But now it seems like budget woes might do what the weather couldn’t. What would it mean for our country if the mail only came a few days a week — or not at all?
Sweet and Dangerous: A History of Sugar
In this episode, the History Guys will explore sweetness in American history. How has our national sweet tooth shaped our political and economic priorities?
The International Brotherhood of Mothers
The following audio clip is excerpted from the BackStory episode “The Good Mother: A History of American Motherhood.” You can listen to the entire episode here. The Memory Palace’s Nate DiMeo weaves the tale of Anna Jarvis–founder of Mother’s Day–and her mother…Anna Jarvis, and how the holiday’s social justice origins turned commercial. Excerpted from: The [...]
The Great Migration
The following audio clip is excerpted from the BackStory episode “Looking for Work: A History of Unemployment.” You can listen to the entire episode here. William Brown moved north from Jacksonville, FL, during the Great Migration. He describes what happened when he asked a Philadelphia real estate agent for a job. Discussion of challenges for [...]
Measuring Unemployment
The following audio clip is excerpted from the BackStory episode “Looking for Work: A History of Unemployment.” You can listen to the entire episode here. Historian Alexander Keyssar explains how the unemployed were counted and uncounted–acknowledged and unacknowledged–in the 19th and 20th centuries. Excerpted from: Looking for Work: A History of Unemployment
A Debt to Society
The following audio clip is excerpted from the BackStory episode “Serving Time: A History of Punishment.” You can listen to the entire episode here. Historian Rebecca McLennan explains why 19th century prison labor was not only central to America’s penal system, but also to its economy. Excerpted from: Serving Time: A History of Punishment
Borderlands and Bordered Lands
State border plant inspection maintained by the US Dept. of Agriculture between Mexico and the United States. Shoppers returning from Juarez to El Paso over the bridge which carries all the traffic are required to open their packages for inspection. 1937 (Library of Congress) In this special podcast produced in conjunction with HISTORY.COM, the History Guys mark Hispanic Heritage Month with an in-depth look at the history of the US-Mexico border
Looking for Work: A History of Unemployment
With unemployment at its highest level in 25 years, we’re taking on the history of Americans between jobs. When did the concept of “unemployment” arise in the first place? Are people more or less attached to their jobs than they used to be?
