Bob Crawford searches for the best historians and experts to answer listener questions about American history — from the Revolutionary War to rock & roll feuds. Got a question? Send it to AmericanHistoryHotline@gmail.com.

Bob Crawford searches for the best historians and experts to answer listener questions about American history &mdash; from the Revolutionary War to rock &amp; roll feuds. Got a question? Send it to AmericanHistoryHotline@gmail.com.

American History Hotline

American History Hotline with Bob Crawford

Introducing: American History Hotline

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/becf9d58-5c8b-49ad-9fd3-b2c9015f4d7b/transcript

Bob Crawford of The Avett Brothers explores the post-presidential legacy of America’s sixth president: John Quincy Adams. Though often only seen as a failed one-term president and the son of a Founding Father, Adams spent his final decades in Congress fighting the slavocracy and forming a bridge between the founding of America and the era of Lincoln. Founding Son features Patrick Warburton as the voice of John Quincy Adams, Nick Offerman as the voice of Andrew Jackson, and Grey DeLisle as the voice of Louisa Adams.

Bob Crawford of The Avett Brothers explores the post-presidential legacy of America’s sixth president: John Quincy Adams. Though often only seen as a failed one-term president and the son of a Founding Father, Adams spent his final decades in Congress fighting the slavocracy and forming a bridge between the founding of America and the era of Lincoln. Founding Son features Patrick Warburton as the voice of John Quincy Adams, Nick Offerman as the voice of Andrew Jackson, and Grey DeLisle as the voice of Louisa Adams.

Founding Son: John Quincy's America

Before he became president, Abraham Lincoln spent just one term in Congress. So how did "the best known two-time Senate loser in the country" become one of the greatest presidents in American history? 

Bob calls up historian and author Chris DeRose (Congressman Lincoln: The Making of America’s Greatest President) to help answer this question.  

Together, they explore how Lincoln's short stint on Capitol Hill shaped his presidency — from his early and consistent resistance to the expansion of slavery to his firsthand experience of seeing men kidnapped and sold into bondage. 

Before he became president, Abraham Lincoln spent just one term in Congress. So how did "the best known two-time Senate loser in the country" become one of the greatest presidents in American history?&nbsp;
Bob calls up historian and author Chris DeRose (Congressman Lincoln: The Making of America&rsquo;s Greatest President)&nbsp;to help answer this question.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Together, they explore how Lincoln's short stint on Capitol Hill shaped his presidency &mdash; from his early and consistent resistance to the expansion of slavery to his firsthand experience of seeing men kidnapped and sold into bondage.&nbsp;

Abraham Lincoln Before the Presidency: What He Learned as a Lawmaker

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/72a3c4e7-6b12-41a3-893d-b3ce0160a9cf/transcript

For centuries, the story has been told the same way: Montezuma surrendered to Hernán Cortés, and a small band of Spaniards conquered the Aztec Empire.

But that story has always seemed a bit ... fishy. 

To get the TRUE story, Bob calls up historian Matthew Restall to debunk one of the most enduring myths of the Spanish conquest of the Americas. As it turns out, when you dig into Indigenous sources a whole new story begins to emerge. Shocker, Montezuma did not surrender and Cortés was not viewed as a God-like figure. 

In this episode, we'll revisit the famous meeting between Montezuma and Cortés, unpack the legend that Europeans were mistaken for gods, and explore how Spanish self-promotion shaped the history books for hundreds of years. 

If you’ve ever wondered how a few hundred conquistadors were said to defeat an empire of millions — or why we’ve been telling this story the same way for 500 years — this episode offers a long-overdue reset.

For centuries, the story has been told the same way: Montezuma surrendered to Hern&aacute;n Cort&eacute;s, and a small band of Spaniards conquered the Aztec Empire.
But that story has always seemed a bit ... fishy.&nbsp;
To get the TRUE story, Bob calls up historian Matthew Restall to debunk one of the most enduring myths of the Spanish conquest of the Americas. As it turns out, when you dig into Indigenous sources a whole new story begins to emerge. Shocker, Montezuma did not surrender and Cort&eacute;s was not viewed as a God-like figure.&nbsp;
In this episode, we'll revisit the famous meeting between Montezuma and Cort&eacute;s, unpack the legend that Europeans were mistaken for gods, and explore how Spanish self-promotion shaped the history books for hundreds of years.&nbsp;
If you&rsquo;ve ever wondered how a few hundred conquistadors were said to defeat an empire of millions &mdash; or why we&rsquo;ve been telling this story the same way for 500 years &mdash; this episode offers a long-overdue reset.

Did Montezuma Surrender? Debunking the Myth of the Spanish Conquest

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/57f790d5-6ed0-43f5-9eda-b3b900f5aaf3/transcript

It takes decades to build a new subway line in the United States. Meanwhile, China is building entire high-speed rail networks in just a few years. So, how did America's once-great love of trains get derailed? 

We use New York City’s Second Avenue Subway as a test case to answer this bigger question: Why is building trains in America so hard compared to places like China?

Bob calls up Dan McNichol, author of Second Avenue Subway: Building the Most Famous Thing Never Built in New York City, and transportation expert Joe Stanford to break down how the U.S. went from a rail-building powerhouse to a country where major transit projects feel nearly impossible.

In this episode we bore deep into: 

America’s century-long struggle to complete the Second Avenue Subway

China’s rapid expansion of subways and high-speed rail

How politics, regulation, and Americans' LOVE for their cars shape infrastructure

Why the cost of expanding passenger rail lines is so much higher in the U.S. (like, WAY higher) than in Europe and Asia

All aboard! Next stop: a brief history of American rail. (Toot! Toot!) 🚂

 

It takes decades to build a new subway line in the United States. Meanwhile, China is building entire high-speed rail networks in just a few years. So, how did America's once-great love of trains get&nbsp;derailed?&nbsp;
We use New York City&rsquo;s Second Avenue Subway as a test case to answer this bigger question: Why is building trains in America so hard compared to places like China?
Bob calls up Dan McNichol, author of <a href="https://www.bigdigproductions.com/#sas">Second Avenue Subway: Building the Most Famous Thing Never Built in New York City</a>, and transportation expert Joe Stanford to break down how the U.S. went from a rail-building powerhouse to a country where major transit projects feel nearly impossible.
In this episode we bore deep into:&nbsp;
America&rsquo;s century-long struggle to complete the Second Avenue Subway
China&rsquo;s rapid expansion of subways and high-speed rail
How politics, regulation, and Americans' LOVE for their cars shape infrastructure
Why the cost of expanding passenger rail lines is so much higher in the U.S. (like, WAY higher) than in Europe and Asia
All aboard! Next stop: a brief history of American rail. (Toot! Toot!) 🚂
&nbsp;

America Loves Trains. Why Can’t We Build Them Anymore? Inside NYC’s Second Avenue Subway

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/79a0a221-4b15-47f5-9a3e-b3b90142aea2/transcript

Introducing: American History Hotline

Founding Son: John Quincy's America

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American History Hotline with Bob Crawford

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