15-Minute History

This discussion covers the four progressive amendments and how each changed Americans' relationship with their government. Joe and I also delve into some broader topics about constitutional changes and how our society continues to evolve in its understanding of the rule of law.
Join us every Monday for new episodes and discussions, and let us know your thoughts and questions in the comments below!

Historians have often compared current Russian aggression toward Ukraine with the two world wars of the last century. But what does history tell us about an aggressor's fate after a conflict ends? Should other nations try to contain them, isolating these aggressive states with strong alliances and large military arsenals? Or is it better to bring them into the so-called "family of nations" and allow them to reform?
Join us every Thursday for pop quizzes and Sketches in History, and comment below with your thoughts and questions!

American progressives at the turn of the 20th century saw major flaws in the United States Constitution and worked to correct them through the process of amendments. Each one was the subject of debate and controversy, and all four made measurable changes to American society (though one can debate the merits of some). Join us for this survey of the four progressive amendments--as well as a funny story from Jon's classroom--and tune in next week for our discussion about how these amendments shaped the future course of American history.

The 15-Minute History Podcast team welcomes you back to another Sketches in History. This segment, just for kids, shows that history isn't just a story; it's an adventure. Join Lottie Archer as she dives into her extraordinary notebook, where sketches from history come to life.
In this episode, she travels to May 1903 to witness an unlikely camping trip that changed America forever. Standing beside a crackling campfire in Yosemite Valley, Lottie watches as President Theodore Roosevelt ditches his Secret Service, sleeps under ancient sequoia trees, and learns from wild-bearded naturalist John Muir why these natural wonders must be saved. In this episode, your kids will learn about living the strenuous life, discover how one camping trip led to the protection of 230 million acres of America's most beautiful places, and witness the moment when a president chose to fight timber barons and powerful industries to preserve nature for children not yet born!
Listen and subscribe to the 15-Minute History podcast to hear Sketches in History every other Thursday. Got a favorite historical moment? Share it with us at [email protected], and it might just make its way into the notebook!

"What struck you most about Roosevelt?" The question hangs in the air as we return to last week's episode. The spectacles, the gymnasium, the Badlands, the Bull Moose - each moment revealing layers we're still unpacking.
Roosevelt's life demands conversation - about privilege and responsibility, grief and reinvention, the price of the strenuous life, and whether we're equal to the standard he set.
Join us as we unpack our teaching on America's youngest president. We wrestle with the boy who built himself strong, debate the widower's flight to Dakota, examine the politician-turned-warrior, and confront the complex legacy of his presidency. From his second-floor gymnasium to his final days at Sagamore Hill, we ask the questions his life forces us to answer: What do we do with privilege? What does strength actually serve?
This isn't recap. It's reckoning with what Roosevelt's life demands from ours.