Restless Society: Republican Revival, The
By the late 1950s a growing restlessness lurks beneath the surface of American society. Anxiety about America's position in the world, growing pressure from African Americans and other minorities, and the increasing visibility of poverty are beginni...
Las Marthas
Unlike any other, the annual debutante ball in Laredo, Texas is part of a lucrative month-long festival honoring George Washington’s birthday. Las Marthas follows two young women as they prepare for this elaborate rite of passage: Laurita, a 13th-...
Age of the City, The: Lure of the City, The
The United States is becoming urban nation in the late 19th century. The industrial revolution has made the city the center of economic life, drawing young adults from country, African Americans from South, and immigrants to the shores of the countr...
Voices of the People: Media-based Politics Replaces the Personal Touch
In the mid-1900s, political parties kept their members active and involved in local pursuits much like unions. As the 20th century progressed it became more economical to engage in national, media-based advertising campaigns. Politics today is more ...
The Business of America
Using Pittsburgh’s steel industry as a case study, this bold documentary explores supply-side economics and the trickle-down myth, challenging the assumption that private corporations can be trusted to make the investments upon which all Americans...
Court, Trials, and Sentencing: Due Process
According to prime-time television, criminals are brought to justice in a speedy and efficient yet drama-filled manner. In reality, the process can be slow and meticulous, as rules must be followed to safeguard the defendant's constitutional rights....
When the World Breaks: Actors and Artists Recall the Great Depression
“The world breaks every one,” Ernest Hemingway wrote in A Farewell to Arms, “and afterward many are strong at the broken places.” This program applies those sentiments to the Great Depression and what it taught many Americans about creativit...
Future of U.S. and Russian Relations, The
Television news correspondent, presidential advisor and university professor Marvin Kalb talks about the future of U.S. and Russian relations. He suggests that the potential exists for the United States and Russia to be allies, but also notes that R...
The Nation's Welfare: Beginnings of Social Support in the United States
The fierce individualism that has marked this nation since its inception focuses on hard work and self reliance rather than dependence on the state. Contemporary welfare started in the early 20th century with state programs like the Mother's Pension...
World of Uncertainty: New World Order?, The
The 21st century marks a time of globalization. Although a global economy is not empirical by definition, many non-industrialized nations resent the intrusion of the industrialized west for religious, cultural and economic reasons. In much of world ...