For decades, abortion has been one of the most divisive issues in American politics. But was it always that way?

Bob calls up Georgetown Law Professor Dr. Michele Goodwin to learn about the surprising history of abortion in America.

From colonial midwives and herbal remedies to the rise of the Christian Right, Roe v. Wade, and the modern political battle over reproductive rights, this episode explores how abortion went from widely accepted to hugely controversial. 

For decades, abortion has been one of the most divisive issues in American politics. But was it always that way?
Bob calls up Georgetown Law Professor <a href="https://www.law.georgetown.edu/faculty/michele-goodwin/">Dr. Michele Goodwin</a> to learn about the surprising history of abortion in America.
From colonial midwives and herbal remedies to the rise of the Christian Right, Roe v. Wade, and the modern political battle over reproductive rights, this episode explores how abortion went from widely accepted to hugely controversial.&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

Was Abortion Always Controversial? From the Pilgrims to Dobbs v. Jackson

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/a5893eeb-cbaa-4ebb-9775-b44f015b8714/transcript

The average age of a U.S. Representative is in the 50s. In the Senate, it's in the 60s. Many Congressional members are also white and wealthy. And this is not representative of the country as a whole. So, what's keeping Congress from being more reflective of nation's population, and therefore, actually getting things done? So. Many. Things. 

Bob calls up political scientist Maya Kornberg, author of Stuck: How Money, Media, and Violence Prevent Change in Congress, to unpack why Congress feels frozen in place ... and how we can fix it. 

From campaign money and social media to political violence and the rise of “performative politics,” Maya explains why younger leaders struggle to break through. 

 

The average age of a U.S. Representative is in the 50s. In the Senate, it's in the 60s. Many Congressional members are also white and wealthy. And this is not representative of the country as a whole. So, what's keeping Congress from being more reflective of nation's population, and therefore, actually getting things done? So. Many. Things.&nbsp;
Bob calls up political scientist Maya Kornberg, author of <a href="https://www.press.jhu.edu/books/title/54126/stuck?srsltid=AfmBOorOCOG8K4fHJWYs7wz6jK9n8E3-Oq5onseahbsgfHUPX7VODSLC">Stuck: How Money, Media, and Violence Prevent Change in Congress</a>, to unpack why Congress feels frozen in place ... and how we can fix it.&nbsp;
From campaign money and social media to political violence and the rise of &ldquo;performative politics,&rdquo; Maya explains why younger leaders struggle to break through.&nbsp;
&nbsp;

Why Is Congress So Old? And How Can We Change This?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/04921526-7eb9-49cd-b2ca-b44900fda5c0/transcript

Maybe we can add another guarantee, besides "death" and "taxes" ... "trade wars." 

In the early days of America, Native Nations were fighting over trade and power. And they saw the arrival of the Europeans as a tool to defeat their rivals. It's a period that led to shifting allegiances in a fight for dominance. 

And the clearest example of this early diplomacy is The Pequot War of the 1630s.  

To learn how this war depicts Native American alliances and shifting allegiances, Bob calls up Kathleen DuVal, author of Native Nations: A Millennium in North America. 

 

Maybe we can add another guarantee, besides "death" and "taxes" ... "trade wars."&nbsp;
In the early days of America, Native Nations were fighting over trade and power. And they saw the arrival of the Europeans as a tool to defeat their rivals. It's a period that led to shifting allegiances in a fight for dominance.&nbsp;
And the clearest example of this early diplomacy is The Pequot War of the 1630s.&nbsp;&nbsp;
To learn how this war depicts Native American alliances and shifting allegiances, Bob calls up Kathleen DuVal, author of <a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/575441/native-nations-by-kathleen-duval/">Native Nations: A Millennium in North America</a>.&nbsp;
&nbsp;

The Pequot War: Native American Diplomacy and Warfare

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/6a2f27e8-d154-4934-b503-b4410129db3e/transcript

What was it really like to come to America through Ellis Island? For millions of immigrants in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, this little spit of land in New York Harbor was the gateway to a better future … IF they could pass a physical exam.

To get the real-life experience of coming through Ellis Island, Bob calls up historian Vincent Cannato (author of American Passage: The History of Ellis Island – A Sweeping Epic of Immigration at the Nation's Landmark Port of Entry).

From quick and dirty medical exams to some weird name changes, Cannato separates fact from fiction, and explains why Ellis Island is synonymous with American immigration.

We’ll also explore how Ellis Island marked a turning point in American immigration policy — with power shifting from the states to the federal government. And why is Ellis Island viewed with such nostalgia while Angel Island in San Francisco Bay is not?

We’ve got all that and more in this episode!

What was it really like to come to America through Ellis Island? For millions of immigrants in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, this little spit of land in New York Harbor was the gateway to a better future &hellip; IF they could pass a physical exam.
To get the real-life experience of coming through Ellis Island, Bob calls up historian Vincent Cannato (author of <a href="https://www.amazon.com/American-Passage-History-Ellis-Island/dp/0060742747">American Passage: The History of Ellis Island &ndash; A Sweeping Epic of Immigration at the Nation's Landmark Port of Entry</a>).
From quick and dirty medical exams to some weird name changes, Cannato separates fact from fiction, and explains why Ellis Island is synonymous with American immigration.
We&rsquo;ll also explore how Ellis Island marked a turning point in American immigration policy &mdash; with power shifting from the states to the federal government. And why is Ellis Island viewed with such nostalgia while Angel Island in San Francisco Bay is not?
We&rsquo;ve got all that and more in this episode!

What was Ellis Island Really Like? 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/e2600759-b1af-4fe7-abf8-b3ce01483191/transcript

Was Abortion Always Controversial? From the Pilgrims to Dobbs v. Jackson

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