America at 250: The Podcast
This one-time-only course examines U.S. history from 1776 to the present, in advance of the nation’s semiquincentennial (or 250th birthday) in 2026. Taught jointly by Professors Joanne Freeman, David Blight, and Beverly Gage, the course emphasizes the history of the nation-state and the contested nature of American national identity. All three scholars will deliver the course’s first and final lectures together, as an introduction and a wrap-up. In between, they will each deliver eight lectures individually based on their areas of expertise.
Episodes
Studio Conversation 11: The Politics of the 1980s, 1990s, and So Much More
Professors Beverly Gage, David Blight and Joanne Freeman recap their final lectures on the late 20th century and reminisce about the Bicentennial.
Class 26 – Meanings on the Eve of 2026
The final class in the course is presented by Professors Beverly Gage, David Blight, and Joanne Freeman with a recap of how we got to America at 250 and what we can all learn from the history.
Class 25 – Making Sense of the Millennium
Professor Beverly Gage wraps up her portion of the course with a look at the 1980s through 2007 as the nation moves from consensus politics to more divisive trends.
Studio Conversation 10: Left and Right in the 60s and 70s
Professor Beverly Gage describes the growing movements on the left and the right in the 1960s and 70s while Professors Blight and Freeman try to resist the urge to stroll down memory lane.
Class 24 – Reagan’s America
The progress of the conservative movement in late 20th Century America is examined by Professor Beverly Gage in this lecture.
Class 23 – Race, Rights, and Resistance
The 1960s brought prosperity, violence, and protests. Professor Beverly Gage brings into focus some of the important trends and events.
Studio Conversation 9: WWII and the Cold War
Professors Joanne Freeman and David Blight ask Professor Beverly Gage about her recent lectures on World War II and the Cold War.
Class 22 – Anticommunism and the American Way
The aftermath of World War II brought prosperity to America along with a growing fear of Communism. Professor Beverly Gage brings the class through the ‘red menace’ and a new security state.
Class 21 – A New Deal for the World
World War II was the most significant event of the 20th Century and is one of the issues discussed by Professor Beverly Gage in this class.
Studio Conversation 8: The Progressive Era and The New Deal
Professors David Blight, Joanne Freeman, and Beverly Gage discuss Professor Gage’s recent lectures on the Progressive Era, The New Deal, and some Warren Harding fun facts.
Class 20 – A New Deal for America
The New Deal, FDR, Labor, and the 1930s are the topics covered by Professor Beverly Gage in this class.
Class 19 – Money, Power, and Progressivism
From the bully pulpit of Theodore Roosevelt to Woodrow Wilson and the Great War, Professor Beverly Gage continues the examination of early 20th Century America.
Studio Episode 7 – Immigration and Its Discontents
Professors Beverly Gage and David Blight discuss Professor Gage’s first lecture on the United States’ identity crisis in the early 20th century.
Class 18 – Melting Pot or Guarded Gate
Professor Beverly Gage begins her 8 classes for the final portion of the course with issues surrounding immigration.
Class 17 – A Violent Reunion: The Lost Cause, New South and Origins of Jim Crow
The lingering costs of the Civil War, Jim Crow, and the westward expansion are topics of Professor David Blight’s final lecture in the series.
Studio Episode 6: Reconstruction
Professor Beverly Gage asks David Blight to expand on his recent lectures on the Reconstruction and all the challenges it faced.
Class 16 – Gilded Age and the Aftermath of Reconstruction, South, North, and West
What becomes of a nation filled with corruption that’s covered with gold. Professor David Blight returns to Mark Twain as he details the Gilded Age and what it brings.
Class 15 – The Defeat of Reconstruction, 1870-1877 and Beyond
The Presidential election of 1868 was the first after the Civil War and the first where freed slaves could vote. The 1860s and 1870s are explored by Professor David Blight.
Class 14 – Reconstruction: Andrew Johnson vs. the Radical Republicans
“Beware the people weeping, when they bear the iron hand.” Professor David Blight examines Reconstruction, past and present.
Studio Conversation: The Cause of the Civil War
In this episode, Professor David Blight answers the simple question: What caused the Civil War?
Class 13 – Union Victory, Confederate Defeat, and Emancipation
It comes to war. Professor David Blight takes the class through the Civil War, emancipation, and shape of things to come.
Class 12 – Two Constitutions, Secession and War, 1860-1862
John Brown’s raid on Harper’s Ferry and the Lincoln – Douglas debates are two key parts of Professor David Blight’s examination of the road to Civil War.
Studio Conversation: Frederick Douglass, The Slave Power, and The Fourth of July
Professors Beverly Gage and Joanne Freeman ask Professor David Blight about his recent lectures about early Republicans, The Slave Power conspiracy, and the slave narratives that affected them most.
Class 11 – The Road to Disunion: Politics, Dred Scott, and the Crisis of the 1850s
Professor David Blight continues with the lead up to the Civil War.
Class 10 – The Mexican War and its Aftermath: Compromise or Armistice
The Mexican – American War from 1846-1848 had an immense impact on the territory of America and the issue of slavery. Professor David Blight begins his series of classes with an in depth review.
Studio Conversation: What is a Republic? Hamilton, Jackson, and more
Professors David Blight, Beverly Gage, and Joanne Freeman discuss Professor Freeman’s final lectures on Alexander Hamilton, Andrew Jackson, and how America’s experiment with democracy was received by outsiders.
Class 9 – Whose America? Protest and Reform
Searching and struggles, opportunities and losses. Professor Joanne Freeman concludes her series of lectures for the course.
Class 8 – Jacksonian “Democracy”
Jeffersonian Republicans to the rise of Jackson populism. Professor Joanne Freeman discusses the impact of the election of 1800 and more.
Class 7 – What Kind of Nation? Democracy, Hamilton, Jefferson, and More
Professor Joanne Freeman continues with the 1790s, the “Reign of Witches” and how the Federalists tried to hold onto power.
Class 6 – Republican Precedents and Presidents: The Placement of Power
The 1790s was a pivotal time for the new America and Professor Joanne Freeman takes us on a tour.
Studio Conversation: The Federalists, Early Republic, and the real Hamilton
Professors David Blight, Beverly Gage, and Joanne Freeman discuss Professor Freeman’s Week 2 lectures on the Federalists (don’t call them papers) and whether anyone would actually like the real Alexander Hamilton.
Class 5: Framing a Nation: The Constitution
Professor Freeman describes the structure and process of the new Constitution.
Class 4 – What Kind of Union?
Professor Joanne Freeman explains the role of states in the American Experiment.
Studio Conversation: John Adams’ To-do List and “Common Sense”
Professors David Blight, Beverly Gage, and Joanne Freeman discuss Professor Freeman’s first 3 lectures.
Class 3 – Declaring Independence
Professor Joanne Freeman continues her exploration of the American Experiment with an inside view of the deliberations leading to the Declaration of Independence.
Class 2: Revolutionary (and Not So Revolutionary) Beginnings
Professor Joanne Freeman begins her section on The American Experiment.
This one-time-only course examines U.S. history from 1776 to the present, in advance of the nation’s semiquincentennial (or 250th birthday) in 2026. Taught jointly by Professors Joanne Freeman, David Blight, and Beverly Gage, the course emphasizes the history of the nation-state and the contested nature of American national id
Class 1: The Road to 250
Introduction to the course with all three professors setting the stage, recorded live from Battell Chapel at Yale University.
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