All upcoming American History programs

In the fall and early winter of 1903, two innovative and courageous engineering teams were racing toward a once-unimaginable goal: to be the first to fly. One was a pair of brothers, Orville and Wilbur Wright; the other was Dr. Samuel Langley, secretary of the Smithsonian, and his brilliant assistant, Charles Matthews Manly. We know who won—but do we know why? Writer and filmmaker Paul Glenshaw tells the story of the epic competition.

Early in 1947, hundreds of contiguous acres of Long Island, New York, were operating as potato farms. Before the end of that year, 350 new homes occupied part of the site. Four years later, Levittown was complete, with more than 17,000 homes, paved streets, schools, and shops. Bill Keene, lecturer in urban studies and architecture, explores how developers such as the Levitts and other visionaries pioneered the creation of large-scale suburbs as he delves into this transformation.

From World War II through the Cold War, Winston Churchill and Dwight D. Eisenhower maintained a friendship unlike any other in history, an alliance and camaraderie that defeated Nazism and kept communism at bay. Although occasionally testy, their connection remained close until Churchill’s death. Historian Mitchell Yockelson discusses the personal story of these heads of state and their lasting influence on the world.

As he confronted the most violent and challenging war ever waged on American soil, Abraham Lincoln issued a proclamation freeing the 3.5 million enslaved Americans without whom the South could neither feed nor fund their armed insurrection—ultimately dooming the rebellion led by Jefferson Davis. Historian and author Nigel Hamilton discusses how two Americans faced off as the fate of the nation hung in the balance and how Lincoln came to embrace emancipation as the last best chance to save the Union.

With the discovery of prehistoric fossils, nineteenth-century Americans were astonished to learn that the New World was far older than previously thought—providing evidence of what is now known as “deep time,” the concept that Earth is billions of years old. Historian Caroline Winterer traces the rise of this transformative idea, examining how naturalists, explorers, engineers, and ordinary Americans unearthed a history more ancient than anyone could have imagined.

Urban renewal efforts in the mid-20th century ushered in a Brutalist phenomenon that reshaped Washington, D.C. But many of the high-profile public buildings designed in the rough, minimalist style haven’t aged well and their architectural significance is still debated. Angela Person and Ty Cole, curators of “Capital Brutalism,” at the National Building Museum, provide an overview of the exhibition, which explores the history, current state, and future of seven polarizing Brutalist buildings in the capital. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit)

Presidential speechwriters provide a unique lens through which to view the nation’s chief executives. Learning about how presidents prepared their speeches and who helped them can reveal much about their views of the job. Author Robert Schlesinger explores the evolving role that presidential speechwriters have played over the last century and by extension how presidents have approached the bully pulpit.

For five weeks in early 1945, the tiny island of Iwo Jima became the site of some of the most brutal fighting in the Pacific Theater. The battle's intensity led Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz to remark, “Uncommon valor was a common virtue.” Historian Christopher Hamner draws on primary sources from both the American and Japanese sides to examine its strategic significance to the United States’ effort against Imperial Japan; its consequences for the final stages of the Pacific war; and its importance to Americans’ memories of World War II.

How did the name of a Continental Army general become a synonym for treason? Historian Richard Bell reconstructs the life and times of Benedict Arnold, the reasons he turned on his country, and the larger problems of betrayal and desertion that dogged George Washington’s army.

Benjamin Franklin was one of the preeminent scientists of his time. He conducted cutting-edge research on electricity, ocean currents, chemical bonds, and plants. While Franklin is often remembered more for his political prowess than his scientific creativity, that political life cannot be understood without giving proper credit to his scientific accomplishments, argues author Richard Munson. He offers a compelling portrait of a shrewd experimenter, clever innovator, and visionary physicist whose fame opened doors to negotiate French support for American independence.