Dueling in Early America: Hamilton, Burr, and Honor Culture with Lindsay Chervinsky
This episode demands satisfaction! Why did Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr meet on the dueling ground—and how common were duels in early America? Historian Lindsay Chervinsky joins Bob Crawford on American History Hotline to explore the surprising history of dueling in the United States. From European traditions to the honor culture of the American South, duels shaped politics, reputation, and even presidential legacies. Learn why Andrew Jackson fought so many duels, how Abraham Lincoln nearly crossed swords, and why Burr’s fatal shot at Hamilton changed his career forever. We also dive into the laws that eventually outlawed dueling, what rap battles and playground fights have in common with “affairs of honor,” and whether challenging someone to a duel today could still land you in jail. We get into all these questions about dueling so grab your second, take 10 paces and hit play. GUEST: Lindsay Chervinsky, presidential historian and the Executive Director of the George Washington Presidential Library. She is the author of the award-winning book, The Cabinet: George Washington and the Creation of an American Institution, co-editor of Mourning the Presidents: Loss and Legacy in American Culture, and the forthcoming book, Making the Presidency: John Adams and the Precedents That Forged the RepublicSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Buffalo Soldiers: The History Behind Bob Marley’s Lyrics with Cale E. Carter II
Buffalo Soldier, dreadlock RastaThere was a Buffalo SoldierIn the heart of AmericaStolen from Africa, brought to AmericaFighting on arrival, fighting for survival Most people know the phrase Buffalo Soldier from Bob Marley’s famous reggae song—but what’s the real history behind it? On this episode of American History Hotline, host Bob Crawford talks with Cale E. Carter II to uncover the true story of the Buffalo Soldiers. Discover who these Black regiments were, how they earned their name, and the crucial role they played on the Western frontier, in the Spanish-American War, and beyond. We explore their battles, their struggles with racism during the Jim Crow era, and the lasting legacy they passed on through World War I, World War II, and even into American culture today. Along the way, we connect the history to Bob Marley’s lyrics, ask what the song got right, and learn how music and memory continue to shape the story of the Buffalo Soldiers. GUEST: Cale E. Carter II, Director of Exhibitions and Military Historian at the Buffalo Soldiers National Museum in Houston, Texas. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Why Do Third Parties Fail?
Spoilers ahead! No, not those type of spoilers. We're talking about third party presidential candidates and the reasons third parties can't get a footing in American politics. So, why do third parties fail? And could the current toxicity of both major American political parties create an opening for a centrist third party? GUEST: Michael Cullinane, professor of U.S. History and the Lowman Walton Chair of Theodore Roosevelt Studies at Dickinson State University in North Dakota. He’s also author of the soon-to-be released book: Theodore Roosevelt and the Tennis Cabinet. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Episode Title Redacted: From the Files of the CIA
Who was America's most successful spy? What happens to a spy that's captured? How can you tell if your child is lying? We interrogate a former member of the CIA to get some info about American intelligence. GUEST: Brittany Butler, former targeting officer within CIA’s Directorate of Operations, Counterterrorism Center. Author of The Syndicate Spy: A Juliet Arroway Novel. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Arsenic and Cyanide: The Dark Side of Victorian Womanhood in America
Why did so many women in the 1800s turn to poison to solve their problems? (Sorry husbands). Poisons like mercury, arsenic and strychnine were so cheap and readily available in the Victorian Era that it was called the "Golden Age of Poisoning." Besides being readily available, there were very few tests to detect murder by poison. Combine this with a society where women were powerless and poison becomes "the great equalizer for women in the 19th Century," as science historian Daniel Kevles wrote. But not all poisonings in the 1800s were acts of desperation. Plenty were just good old fashioned murder. DUN DUN DUUUUN!!! Joining Bob Crawford to help sort out the means, motive and opportunity of these Victorian Era women poisoners is Lisa Perrin. GUEST: Lisa Perrin, author and illustrator of the book, The League of Lady Poisoners: Illustrated True Stories of Dangerous Women See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Bob Crawford searches for the best historians and experts to answer listener questions about American history — from the Revolutionary War to rock & roll feuds. Got a question? Send it to [email protected].
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