Jefferson, Adams, and the Constitution
Historian Peter Onuf talks about the roles played by John Adams and Thomas Jefferson in the early days of the United States. Professor Onuf explains that when Jefferson was elected President in 1800 (following Adams), he wanted to, "...overthrow the...
Jefferson's Embargo
Historian Peter Onuf talks about Jefferson's embargo, which he calls, "one of the great tragic set pieces of American history." Professor Onuf also describes the sentiment in the United States leading up to President James Madison's declaration of w...
Immigrants at Work in the Nineteenth Century
American history professor Alice Kessler-Harris talks about the plight of the immigrants who came to the United States to work during the Industrial Revolution and beyond. In many cases, Professor Kessler-Harris explains, it was the men who immigrat...
Peace of Paris, The
Historian Peter Onuf explains that the 1783 Peace of Paris that followed the Revolutionary War was a mixed blessing for the Americans, because, "...much of American history for the next generation will be about the difficulty of consolidating Americ...
Public Response to the Louisiana Purchase
Historian Peter Onuf talks about the reaction of the American public to the Louisiana Purchase. Most Americans were very enthusiastic about the transaction, Professor Onuf explains, because it provided commercial and trade advantages, and ended the ...
Pre-Civil War Working Conditions
American history professor Alice Kessler-Harris talks about working conditions during the pre-Civil War years. "A twelve-hour working day in the pre-Civil War period in factory labor would be more or less common, and both men and women struggled for...
Madison's Dilemma
Historian Peter Onuf talks about the dilemma of James Madison, who was torn between following the Constitution as closely as possible, and yet recognizing the need to put financial resources towards what Professor Onuf calls, "establish(ing) a robus...
Men, Women and the Union Movement
American history professor Alice Kessler-Harris traces the history of the labor movement in the United States, beginning with the collectives of the early 19th century, through the huge unionizing drives of the 1930's.
Second Jefferson Administration, The
Historian Peter Onuf explores Thomas Jefferson's strategy of using "aggressive commercial diplomacy" (in the form of an embargo and sanctions) as an alternative to war.
Great Division in the 1790's, The
Historian Peter Onuf talks about the deep divisions in the United States concerning how the U.S. should align itself regarding the French Revolution. "The stakes were extremely high," Professor Onuf says. "This was not gratuitous thinking about some...