In discussing wars in American history, we frequently focus on guns, battles, and generals and lose sight of how critical events are shaped by ordinary people such as government officials, and soldiers. Equally, we don’t always consider the impact of modern military technology on civilian populations. In this talk, we will look at how the … Continued
Thanks to movies, video games, novels, and Elon Musk, Nikola Tesla has, in the past few years, has become a prominent figure in American pop culture. At the same time, his rival Thomas Edison has come to be seen as a greedy villain. In this talk, we will explore both the myth and facts around … Continued
Just saying “the Sixties” invokes images of millions of young Americans determined to change the world. In this webinar Todd Gitlin, Professor of Journalism and Sociology, and Chair of the Ph.D. Program in Communications, Columbia University, will share his account of this supercharged decade. He will go beyond the history to share his own experience … Continued
Roman daily life deepens our understanding of the ancient Roman world as it was experienced by most of its inhabitants. Our students are excited by social history. They are drawn to understand the everyday activities and interests of ordinary people. In this webinar, we will focus on 3 topics of daily life that are among … Continued
In September, 1913, more than 10,000 mine workers in southern Colorado walked off the job. Organized by the United Mine Workers of America, the largest union in the nation, they went on strike demanding better wages, shorter hours, safer working conditions, and the end of the exploitative company town system through which Rockefeller-owned Colorado Fuel … Continued
Drug education has traditionally been delivered by science and health teachers who present scientific research regarding drugs’ physiological effects. This webinar explores the ways in which the humanities can provide essential historical context for understanding addiction as a medical condition and help students and citizens better interpret narratives of addiction and recovery. After presenting an … Continued
Visuals played a critical role in waging and understanding the Cold War. Both the U.S. and Soviet governments understood the important role of photographs, posters, films, and political cartoons in representing and characterizing the enemies, the allies, and the home front. This webinar provides teachers with an opportunity to expand their content knowledge and pedagogical … Continued
We’ve all heard the phrase “”there is no such thing as a natural disaster,”” thought about the ways an event was portrayed in the media, or were impacted by an incident in our hometowns, but in what ways did the rhetoric of an incident shape your response or understanding of what was happening? Delve deep … Continued
On September 30, 1968 George Wallace came to Chicago. From the airport his motorcade raced to downtown, where his staffers had a glistening open-top limousine waiting for him. He climbed into the back, planted himself between the driver and passenger seats, and braced for the car to start moving. Then he was off, parading along … Continued
The Persian Gulf War of 1990-1991 marked the end of one era and the start of another. Iraqi despot Saddam Hussein would never have dared invade neighboring Kuwait if Soviet and American policymakers still viewed the Middle East, and the world, as a zero-sum competition. Cold War peace in Europe, in other words, enabled war … Continued