History 132

The second Reconstruction. This lecture addresses the origins of the Civil Rights movement in the 1950s.

Massive retaliation! This lecture examines the foreign policy of the Eisenhower years, with a focus on the emergence of the Middle East as a region of special importance to the US after WWII. The beginning of the lecture makes reference to "Duck and Cover," a short animated clip that can be watched here. We also watch part of a documentary on "Operation Cue," which took place in 1955. You can watch part of that film here.

I hate talking to myself. This is a short lecture covering the domestic politics of the 1940s and early 1950s -- Truman, McCarthyism, and suburbanization especially.

Note to self -- always check batteries. For the third time this semester, I goofed with the recording technology. The first 30 minutes is from the lecture itself, while the last hour was recorded in my home studio, which doubles as a living room. This lecture covers the broad features of FDR's New Deal, with an emphasis on its mixed legacy for different groups.

Here's the next lecture. No time to describe it . . . Too much to do today. Lots of stuff about the KKK and the so-called "culture wars" of the 1920s.

At last. No good explanation for why this has taken so long -- end of the semester laziness, most likely. The lecture itself is short and covers a lot of ground; also, I delivered the lecture with my year-old daughter in my left arm. A difficult feat. Thanks for listening....

More than disco. Lecture covers the political transformations leading to the rise of the New Right; Carter presidency; and the Iranian hostage crisis.

Destroy the country in order to save it.

Not a good war.

Direct action and other new tactics for the civil rights campaigns.

Long time, no see. I was out of town last week and had to record this lecture in my elaborate home studio. For some reason I was having trouble loading the audio to the server, which explains the delay. This lecture covers the early years of the Cold War -- the doctrine of containment, the increasingly tense rivalry between the US and the Soviet Union, and the Korean War are among the topics examined . . .

The rest of the story. In this lecture, we consider the meaning of World War II on the home front and look at the escalating violence that marked the final year of the war.

Back from break. This lecture addresses the origins of the second World War and examines the factors that led to US entry into the war.

Brother, Can you Spare a Dime? Lecture covers the origins of the Great Depression, the consequences for different groups of Americans, and the political outcomes for Hoover and Roosevelt.

Not always so jazzy. Lecture covers the debates about the League of Nations, global influence of the US during the 1920s -- politically, economically, militarily -- as well as the reactions against immigration during the post-WWI era.

Over there. This lecture continues with the "framing" of the war; addresses the federal management of the war effort; and looks at how the war opened up discussions about national identity and citizenship.

Not a good war. This lecture covers the causes of World War I and the reasons for America's eventual entry into the war; some discussion of how the war was "framed" by Wilson and his administration. Apologies for the poor sound quality -- I had to record this lecture using my computer's internal microphone, so the audio is a little softer than usual.

Remember the Maine! Today's lecture gives an overview of the progressive movement -- the kinds of issues that preoccupied reformers; the methods and theories they relied on; and the underlying causes of progressive politics. We also look at some of the more radical voices during this era, including the Industrial Workers of the World.

Apologies to podcast subscribers -- I goofed last week and somehow neglected to turn on my recorder at the start of class. Bummer. It was a good lecture, much more coherent than this. But since it's Blame Someone Else Day (I'm not kidding -- look it up), I'm going to blame my 9-month-old baby. As for the lecture itself, it covers the debate over the Philippines, Indian assimilation, and Teddy Roosevelt's strange ideas about manliness and nationhood.

Bob Marley Day. Smoke 'em if you've got 'em. This lecture covers segregation and lynching, then briefly introduces and describes the Populist movement.

Return those shopping carts After a brief investigation of the Feb. 1 holidays, we finish our discussion of the West and look at the organization of working class life.

Give me a home, where the buffalo roam are driven into pens and shot. After a bizarre story about Andrew Jackson, we deal with the mythology of "the West" and some of its less pleasing realities, particularly for various Indian groups.

"Is anyone a scientologist?" First ten minutes is spent wanking around, discussing scientology, Opposite Day, popsicles and strange mail. Then we discuss business organization in the 19th century, as well as differing views on the social responsibilities of the rich toward the poor.

I blame the cough meds. Lecture covers reconstruction, railroads, and the rise of business and industry. At the end, I tell a stupid tale about riding a train.