This week at In The Past Lane, the history podcast, we explore the story of the largest slave auction in American history when some 436 enslaved people were sold in a two-day auction in 1859. To the people sold and the people they left behind, it would forever be known as “the weeping time.” This … [Read more...]
Episode 059 The Weeping Time – The Story of the Largest Slave Auction in US History
Episode 048 The Southern Vision of a Vast Empire of Slavery
This week at In The Past Lane, the history podcast, we look at how in the decades before the Civil War, proslavery southerners dominated US foreign policy and promoted a vision of an ever expanding empire of slavery, both within the US but also throughout the western hemisphere. I’ll speak with … [Read more...]
Episode 045 Thanksgiving and the Great Epidemic of 1616
This week at ITPL, the American history podcast, we examine the history behind the first Thanksgiving in 1621. In particular, we look at a little-known event that preceded the arrival of the Pilgrims in Massachusetts. It was an epidemic that raged across southern New England for four years, … [Read more...]
Episode 044 The Remaking of America during Reconstruction & the Gilded Age
This week at ITPL, the American history podcast, we take on the last third of the 19th century, a period known as both Reconstruction and the Gilded Age. As many of you know, the Gilded Age is the period of US history that I specialize in. I know I’m biased, but to me, this is the most fascinating … [Read more...]
Episode 025 Who Was Thomas Jefferson?
In this episode, we take a close look at another Founding Father - Thomas Jefferson (Episode 23 focused on Alexander Hamilton). And why not? Jefferson was born in the month of April – April 13th to be precise – and he’s Thomas Jefferson, maybe the most multi-talented of the Founders. He was part … [Read more...]