Which witch is which? You probably heard a lot of lawyers saying that in Salem, Massachusetts in 1692. That was the year of America's largest witch hunt ever. But what sparked this mass hysteria that led to false accusations, sham justice and wrongful executions? Teenagers, of course. 

Bob is joined by historian Emerson Baker (A Storm of Witchcraft) to explore how religion, politics, and panic fueled the Salem Witch Trials. A time when no one was above suspicion! 

Guest: Emerson Baker, author of A Storm of Witchcraft: The Salem Trials and the American Experience

Which witch is which? You probably heard a lot of lawyers saying that in Salem, Massachusetts in 1692. That was the year of America's largest witch hunt ever. But what sparked this mass hysteria that led to false accusations, sham justice and wrongful executions? Teenagers, of course.&nbsp;
Bob is joined by historian Emerson Baker (A Storm of Witchcraft) to explore how religion, politics, and panic fueled the Salem Witch Trials. A time when no one was above suspicion!&nbsp;
Guest: Emerson Baker, author of A Storm of Witchcraft: The Salem Trials and the American Experience

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

Hunting Witches: What Started the Salem Witch Trials?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/b0a0655a-a5a6-4bc3-a7f2-b36b01377456/transcript

Many Americans have turned their backs on the vax, but early Early Americans would literally have killed for some vaccines.

In this episode, we explore the history of America's first vaccines, which can be traced to a mandate from none other than General George Washington. Dr. Kathryn Olivarius (author of Necropolis: Disease, Power, and Capitalism in the Cotton Kingdom) explains the surprising story of how vaccines shaped American life — from smallpox inoculations during the Revolution to modern-day debates over public health and personal freedom.

We're going to poke and jab at history to see why vaccine resistance isn’t new, and how the fight between science, religion, and politics has defined 250 years of American medicine. 

GUEST: Kathryn Olivarius, author of Necropolis: Disease, Power, and Capitalism in the Cotton Kingdom

Many Americans have <a href="https://news.gallup.com/poll/648308/far-fewer-regard-childhood-vaccinations-important.aspx">turned their backs on the vax, </a>but early Early Americans would literally have killed for some vaccines.
In this episode, we explore the history of America's first vaccines, which can be traced to a mandate from none other than General George Washington.&nbsp;Dr. Kathryn Olivarius (author of Necropolis: Disease, Power, and Capitalism in the Cotton Kingdom) explains the surprising story of how vaccines shaped American life &mdash; from smallpox inoculations during the Revolution to modern-day debates over public health and personal freedom.
We're going to poke and jab at history to see why vaccine resistance isn&rsquo;t new, and how the fight between science, religion, and politics has defined 250 years of American medicine.&nbsp;
GUEST: Kathryn Olivarius, author of <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Necropolis-Disease-Capitalism-Cotton-Kingdom/dp/0674241053/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&amp;keywords=kathryn%20olivarius&amp;qid=1634420884&amp;sr=8-1">Necropolis: Disease, Power, and Capitalism in the Cotton Kingdom</a>

The Surprising History of Vaccines in America with Kathryn Olivarius

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/5779343e-91d1-4570-9505-b39101386a99/transcript

Was it the rise of hitchhiking? Lead in the water pipes? Or was it something a little darker in our culture? Bob rings up private investigator and host of the podcast Hell & Gone: Murder Line — Catherine Townsend — to learn why there were so many serial killers in America during the 1970s.

From Ted Bundy to the Night Stalker and John Wayne Gacy, we dive into the “golden age” of serial killers to see how difficult it was to catch predators in a world before DNA testing, cell phones, and surveillance cameras. But that also begs the question: Are there fewer serial killers today? Listen, and find out! 

GUEST: Catherine Townsend, host of Hell and Gone: Murder Line and Red Collar

Was it the rise of hitchhiking? Lead in the water pipes? Or was it something a little darker in our culture? Bob rings up private investigator and host of the podcast Hell &amp; Gone: Murder Line &mdash; Catherine Townsend &mdash; to learn why there were so many serial killers in America during the 1970s.
From Ted Bundy to the Night Stalker and John Wayne Gacy, we dive into the &ldquo;golden age&rdquo; of serial killers to see how difficult it was to catch predators in a world before DNA testing, cell phones, and surveillance cameras. But that also begs the question: Are there fewer serial killers today? Listen, and find out!&nbsp;
GUEST: Catherine Townsend, host of <a href="https://www.iheart.com/podcast/105-hell-and-gone-29974699/">Hell and Gone: Murder Line</a> and <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/red-collar/id1625003615">Red Collar</a>

Why Were There So Many Serial Killers in 1970s America?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/370fa9b3-fd0c-4690-810a-b37a012ac019/transcript

We all have that relative that tells us there was actually no green bean casserole at the first Thanksgiving. Yeah, we know, Grandma! But how much do we really know about that first feast between the Pilgrims and the Indians? 

Well, a lot. But the story most of us learned in school is completely wrong. Author David J. Silverman, (This Land Is Their Land: The Wampanoag Indians, Plymouth Colony, and the Troubled History of Thanksgiving) joins us to carve up the myths about Turkey Day and serve a nice helping of truth. 

In this episode, Bob and David explore the origins of Thanksgiving, from the Wampanoag people’s strategic decision to ally with the English, to Abraham Lincoln’s role in turning that footnoted feast into a national holiday. 

Tell your family to turn down the yacht rock and play this episode of American History Hotline as you avoid talking about politics and stir the gravy. 

GUEST: David J. Silverman, author of This Land Is Their Land: The Wampanoag Indians, Plymouth Colony, and the Troubled History of Thanksgiving. He has a new book coming out in February of 2026 titled, The Chosen and the Damned: Native Americans and the Making of Race in the United States

 

We all have that relative that tells us there was actually no green bean casserole at the first Thanksgiving. Yeah, we know, Grandma! But how much do we really know about that first feast between the Pilgrims and the Indians?&nbsp;
Well, a lot. But the story most of us learned in school is completely wrong. Author&nbsp;David J. Silverman, (This Land Is Their Land: The Wampanoag Indians, Plymouth Colony, and the Troubled History of Thanksgiving) joins us to carve up the myths about Turkey Day and serve a nice helping of truth.&nbsp;
In this episode, Bob and David explore the origins of Thanksgiving, from the Wampanoag people&rsquo;s strategic decision to ally with the English, to Abraham Lincoln&rsquo;s role in turning that footnoted feast into a national holiday.&nbsp;
Tell your family to turn down the yacht rock and play this episode of American History Hotline as you avoid talking about politics and stir the gravy.&nbsp;
GUEST: David J. Silverman, author of <a href="https://garamondagency.com/work/no-reason-to-give-thanks/">T</a><a href="https://garamondagency.com/work/no-reason-to-give-thanks/">his Land Is Their Land: The Wampanoag Indians, Plymouth Colony, and the Troubled History of Thanksgiving</a>. He has a new book coming out in February of 2026 titled, <a href="https://garamondagency.com/work/4740/">The Chosen and the Damned: Native Americans and the Making of Race in the United States</a>
&nbsp;

Is Thanksgiving a Feast of Lies?! Historian David J. Silverman Separates Myth from Truth

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/44efa130-673d-4b86-b140-b3910114d160/transcript

Hunting Witches: What Started the Salem Witch Trials?

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