The Whiskey Rebellion

Whiskey Rebellion 124: Scots in the California Gold Rush (w/ Devin Grier)

In honor of Tartan Day, Frank and David are joined by University of Edinburgh doctoral student Devin Grier, whose research examines the Scots in the California Gold Rush.

Last Drops

Frank: Joanne Freeman's new venture with the National Council for History Education, History Matters 

David: Heather Cox Richardson's new book, How the South Won the Civil War

Devin: RIP Bill Withers

Whiskey Rebellion 123: Lockdown

A few days into our Covid-19 lockdown, Frank and David discuss how their lives have changed. In a wide ranging discussion, they talk about teaching online, what they are reading, watching, and listening to during the lockdown, and how they are staying sane. 

Last Drops

David: Grace Hale's Cool Town

Frank: new song from Bob Dylan

 

Whiskey Rebellion 122: Crisis Management

With the Covid-19 emergency entering a new phase, Frank and David look at how administrations have dealt with crises in the past, including:

• The secession crisis
• The Great Depression
• The Cuban Missile Crisis

In lieu of Last Drops, we'd love to hear how listeners are dealing with life during this crisis. What are you reading, listening to, and watching? 

Stay safe, everybody!

Whiskey Rebellion 121: Wash Your Hands

With the COVID-19 virus causing panic around the world, Frank and David talk about the history of disease and public health, including:

• The Revolutionary Era smallpox epidemic
• Typhoid Mary
• 1918 Flu Pandemic
• AIDS crisis

Last Drops

Frank: Hilary Mantel's The Mirror and the Light and Richard Ben Cramer's What It Takes

David: Ben Park's The Kingdom of Nauvoo

 

 

Whiskey Rebellion 120: Summer of George

George Washington seems to be having something of a renaissance, with historians reinterpreting his life and legacy. 

Frank and David discuss:

• A George Washington letter at the University of Edinburgh's Centre for Research Collections
• Alexis Coe's new biography, You Never Forget Your First
• The History Channel's miniseries, Washington

Last Drops

Frank: David Laing Collection at CRC

David: Mount Vernon removes Washington Teeth Magnet from gift shop

 

Whiskey Rebellion 119: Socialist for President

After Iowa and New Hampshire, Bernie Sanders, a self-proclaimed Democratic Socialist, is currently the front runner for the Democratic nomination. Frank and David look at the history of Socialism in the United States, paying particular attention to when and how Socialists have run for office.

Last Drops

Frank: Alexis Coe's You Never Forget Your First

David: Megan Kate Nelson's The Three Cornered War  and Adam Domby's The False Cause

Whiskey Rebellion 118: Iowa, SOTU, and Impeachment - Oh My!

Frank hijacks the show's intro, congratulating David for having Raising the White Flag named as a finalist for the Gilder Lehrman Lincoln Prize.

This week featured three major news events: the Democratic Iowa Caucus, the State of the Union, and the end of the Trump impeachment trial. Frank and David discuss what this all means and try to put it in historical perspective.

Last Drops

Frank: BBC's Americast

David: votefromabroad.org

Whiskey Rebellion 117: Mourning Celebrities

In the aftermath of Kobe Bryant's death in a helicopter crash earlier this week, Frank and David reflect on how Americans mourn the death of celebrities, including:

• the rise of celebrity death culture in the 1950s and 1960s with the deaths of James Dean, Buddy Holly, and Marilyn Monroe
• precursors including Rudolf Valentino, Gen. Tom Thumb, and George Whitefield

Last Drops 

Frank: Historical Marker Database

David: Star Trek Picard

Whiskey Rebellion 116: Impeachment Cast of Characters

As President Donald Trump's impeachment trial proceeds in the Senate, Frank and David look at the actors who defined the two previous trials: the Chief Justice, the House Managers, the defense team, and the senators. 

Last Drops

Frank: National Archives photo controversy

David: end of Lee-Jackson Day in VA

Whiskey Rebellion 115: The Last 20 Years

In their first show of 2020, Frank and David reflect on the past 20 years. They hypothesize what big themes from these two decades future historians will highlight in textbooks and undergrad lectures. 

Last Drops

Frank: Critiques of the 1619 Project

David: NYT article on US history textbooks