It can be scary to learn how much our democracy relies on norms and convention when the rule of law is put to the test. But, at least our Founding Fathers had an excellent understanding of authoritarianism when they drafted the U.S. Constitution. Are the guardrails they created enough to prevent a dictator, though? 

Bob calls up Jeffrey Rosen (former President and CEO of the National Constitution Center) to answer this question. 

It can be scary to learn how much our democracy relies on norms and convention when the rule of law is put to the test. But, at least our Founding Fathers had an excellent understanding of authoritarianism when they drafted the U.S. Constitution. Are the guardrails they created enough to prevent a dictator, though?&nbsp;
Bob calls up Jeffrey Rosen (former President and CEO of the National Constitution Center) to answer this question.&nbsp;

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

Listen to this collection of top episodes from iHeartRadio and iHeartPodcasts. 

Listen to this collection of top episodes from iHeartRadio and iHeartPodcasts.&nbsp;

Podcasts from iHeartRadio

American History Hotline with Bob Crawford

The Constitution vs. Authoritarianism

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/3b14e7d6-3479-4c26-9305-b3fa015e8e9b/transcript

Why does the United States use the Electoral College instead of a national popular vote? Wait Wait ... Don't Tell Me! Or, actually, DO tell me. 

To get answers, Bob calls up Peter Sagal, longtime host of NPR's Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! and host of the PBS series Constitution USA, to unpack what some have called "America's Worst Idea."  

Where did the Electoral College come from? Why did the Founding Fathers create it? How did slavery, the Three-Fifths Clause, and the political compromises of the Constitutional Convention shape the system we still use today? And why can't we get rid of it? 

Peter traces the surprising history of the Electoral College from 1787 to the present day, explaining how presidential elections work, why swing states receive so much attention, and why the Electoral College remains one of the most controversial institutions in American politics.

Guest: Peter Sagal

Why does the United States use the Electoral College instead of a national popular vote? Wait Wait ... Don't Tell Me! Or, actually, DO tell me.&nbsp;
To get answers, Bob calls up Peter Sagal, longtime host of NPR's Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! and host of the PBS series Constitution USA, to unpack what some have called "America's Worst Idea."&nbsp;&nbsp;
Where did the Electoral College come from? Why did the Founding Fathers create it? How did slavery, the Three-Fifths Clause, and the political compromises of the Constitutional Convention shape the system we still use today? And why can't we get rid of it?&nbsp;
Peter traces the surprising history of the Electoral College from 1787 to the present day, explaining how presidential elections work, why swing states receive so much attention, and why the Electoral College remains one of the most controversial institutions in American politics.
Guest: Peter Sagal

Why Does America Have the Electoral College? Peter Sagal Explains

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/79d2356a-f4ec-4e56-b9cc-b46e01688a11/transcript

The history of the Army Rangers isn't one continuous story, it's a cycle of creation, disbandment, and revival that stretches back before the United States even existed.

In this episode of Bob calls up Brian Halstead, President of the U.S. Army Ranger Association, about the remarkable history of the Rangers. Together they trace their evolution from frontier scouts during the French and Indian War to George Washington's reconnaissance units, the Civil War, World War II's legendary D-Day assault at Pointe du Hoc, and the creation of today's 75th Ranger Regiment.

Along the way, you'll discover:

• Why the Rangers were repeatedly shut down after America's wars
• The surprising connection between Robert Rogers, frontier warfare, and modern special operations
• Whether Abraham Lincoln really served as an Army Ranger
• How Native American fighting tactics influenced Ranger doctrine
• Why the Rangers became one of America's premier special operations forces
• The origin of the famous motto: "Rangers Lead the Way."

Have an American history question you'd like answered? Send it to AmericanHistoryHotline.com and it could become a future episode.

The history of the Army Rangers isn't one continuous story, it's a cycle of creation, disbandment, and revival that stretches back before the United States even existed.
In this episode of Bob calls up&nbsp;Brian Halstead, President of the U.S. Army Ranger Association, about the remarkable history of the Rangers. Together they trace their evolution from frontier scouts during the French and Indian War to George Washington's reconnaissance units, the Civil War, World War II's legendary D-Day assault at Pointe du Hoc, and the creation of today's 75th Ranger Regiment.
Along the way, you'll discover:
&bull; Why the Rangers were repeatedly shut down after America's wars &bull; The surprising connection between Robert Rogers, frontier warfare, and modern special operations &bull; Whether Abraham Lincoln really served as an Army Ranger &bull; How Native American fighting tactics influenced Ranger doctrine &bull; Why the Rangers became one of America's premier special operations forces &bull; The origin of the famous motto: "Rangers Lead the Way."
Have an American history question you'd like answered? Send it to AmericanHistoryHotline.com and it could become a future episode.

Why Did the U.S. Army Keep Disbanding the Rangers?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/00956d3e-aaef-4b3e-8386-b478013b0d8e/transcript

Guns, germs and steel. Emphasis on GERMS. When Europeans arrived in the Americas, they brought all sorts of diseases!  

A listener asks: Why did diseases like smallpox devastate Native American populations but not European colonists? Was it simply a lack of immunity, or is the story more complicated?

To get answers, Bob calls up bestselling author and journalist Charles C. Mann, author of 1491 and 1493, to explore one of the most consequential—and misunderstood—chapters in American history.

Together they discuss:

• What North America looked like before Columbus
• Why Native societies were far larger and more sophisticated than many people realize
• How diseases such as smallpox, malaria, and yellow fever spread across the Americas
• The role of immunity, genetics, and prior exposure
• The Great Dying in New England before the Pilgrims arrived
• How epidemics shaped the fall of the Aztec and Inca empires
• The connection between disease and the transatlantic slave trade
• Why historians estimate that Indigenous populations declined dramatically after European contact

This fascinating conversation reveals how microbes became one of the most powerful forces in American history—and why understanding disease helps us better understand colonization, survival, and the world we live in today.

Guest: Charles C. Mann, author of 1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus and 1493: Uncovering the New World Columbus Created

Guns, germs and steel. Emphasis on GERMS. When Europeans arrived in the Americas, they brought all sorts of diseases!&nbsp;&nbsp;
A listener asks: Why did diseases like smallpox devastate Native American populations but not European colonists? Was it simply a lack of immunity, or is the story more complicated?
To get answers, Bob calls up bestselling author and journalist Charles C. Mann, author of 1491 and 1493, to explore one of the most consequential&mdash;and misunderstood&mdash;chapters in American history.
Together they discuss:
&bull; What North America looked like before Columbus &bull; Why Native societies were far larger and more sophisticated than many people realize &bull; How diseases such as smallpox, malaria, and yellow fever spread across the Americas &bull; The role of immunity, genetics, and prior exposure &bull; The Great Dying in New England before the Pilgrims arrived &bull; How epidemics shaped the fall of the Aztec and Inca empires &bull; The connection between disease and the transatlantic slave trade &bull; Why historians estimate that Indigenous populations declined dramatically after European contact
This fascinating conversation reveals how microbes became one of the most powerful forces in American history&mdash;and why understanding disease helps us better understand colonization, survival, and the world we live in today.
Guest: Charles C. Mann, author of 1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus and 1493: Uncovering the New World Columbus Created

Why Did Disease Devastate Native Americans—but Not European Colonists? | Charles C. Mann

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/4ca49ad7-7293-4e82-96c5-b46e016f6a26/transcript

The Constitution vs. Authoritarianism

In 1 playlist(s)

American History Hotline with Bob Crawford

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips