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In his book, "Rebels at Sea: Privateering in the American Revolution," Dr. Eric Jay Dolin explains how a previously unheralded force, independent boat captains, played a crucial role in helping the colonists win the Revolutionary War. He explains how they captured British ships, upset shipping routes, upset their financial system and contributed to their weariness in fighting the patriots. He also shows how fighting at sea changed the dynamic of politics in the continental congress and why understanding maritime fighting is essential to analyzing American conflict. Dr. Dolin's passion for the environment shines through in his writing, and he also provided a fascinating recap as to how he produced this book.Dr. Dolin's website can be found at: https://www.ericjaydolin.comInformation on his book can be found at: https://wwnorton.com/books/9781631498251Support our show at https://patreon.com/axelbankhistory**A portion of every contribution is given to a charity for children's literacy** "Axelbank Reports History and Today" can be found on social media at https://twitter.com/axelbankhistory https://instagram.com/axelbankhistoryhttps://facebook.com/axelbankhistory

On all our gravestones, there will be a date of birth, a dash, and a date of death. The dash (-) will represent the entirety of our lives. In his new book, "It Was All a Dream: Biggie and the World that Made Him," Justin Tinsley argues that the life of Notorious BIG is important for every American to understand because "the world that made him" is the one that made all of us, but especially young, Black men. How did an exuberant drug dealer go from navigating the streets of Brooklyn to the top of the charts with seemingly blinding speed? How did his unforgettable lyrics and beats tell the story of a young man who had come so far, but who had a chip on his shoulder over how it all started? How did New York City of the 80s impact him, and how did he change the Big Apple forever? Tinsley answers all those questions, and shows us why the life of Christopher Wallace is just as important to understand as his untimely and sinister death. And yes, he tells the story of how, "Juicy," one of the greatest songs of the last fifty years, was created.His website is https://www.justintinsley.comFor more information on his book, you can head to https://abramsbooks.com/product/it-was-all-a-dream_9781647001049/His work at Andscape can be found at https://andscape.com/contributors/justin-tinsley/Support our show at https://patreon.com/axelbankhistory**A portion of every contribution is given to a charity for children's literacy** "Axelbank Reports History and Today" can be found on social media at https://twitter.com/axelbankhistory https://instagram.com/axelbankhistoryhttps://facebook.com/axelbankhistory

Who ARE the newsmakers who we see on TV or the web? What makes them tick? Who are they when they aren't running for office, starring in Hollywood or battling criminals in court? In this episode, we talk with legendary Boston anchor Natalie Jacobson about the technique she used to document Boston's newsmakers over her four-decade career as a journalist. She explains how she realized that it was just as important to visit with political bigwigs in their homes as it was to cover their policy proposals. Her memoir also describes how she went from the daughter of an immigrant family in Chicago to become one of the most-well-known people in one of America's most important cities. She also talks about the history of the news business and what its future may hold. While she became famous for her, "At Home," segments, during this episode, Natalie was the one answering the questions! Information on her book can be found here:  https://perpublisher.com/portfolio-item/every-life-a-story/ Support our show at https://patreon.com/axelbankhistory**A portion of every contribution is given to a charity for children's literacy** "Axelbank Reports History and Today" can be found on social media at https://twitter.com/axelbankhistory https://instagram.com/axelbankhistoryhttps://facebook.com/axelbankhistory

It has become cliche to say that the roots of modern New York City can be found in the 1970s. But in his book, "Manhattan Phoenix: The Great Fire of 1835 and the Emergence of Modern New York," Daniel Levy argues that the leveling of 700 buildings in lower Manhattan is truly the key moment. The fire devastated lower Manhattan, left thousands homeless or out of work and exposed several ways New York was being held back from becoming great. From improvements in firefighting to a public water system, Levy argues that the time period before the Civil War should be remembered for how New Yorkers banded together to build their city into one that would become America's signature metropolis. We also discussed how fires and devastation have often set New Yorkers on the path to renewal, Levy's writing career, and how research can be a painstaking but worthwhile process.Information on his book from Oxford University Press can be found hereSupport our show at https://patreon.com/axelbankhistory **A portion of every contribution is given to a charity for children's literacy**"Axelbank Reports History and Today" can be found on social media at https://twitter.com/axelbankhistoryhttps://instagram.com/axelbankhistoryhttps://facebook.com/axelbankhistory

If George Floyd had been killed by police in almost any other era of American history, before we all carried high definition cameras in our pocket, there's a good chance the perpetrator would have escaped justice. In "Seen and Unseen: Technology, Social Media and the Fight for Racial Justice," BET news anchor Dr. Marc Lamont Hill and longtime reporter Todd Brewster explore how changing media has leveled the playing field between those who have power, and those who historically have not. During our discussion, we explored not only the life and death of George Floyd, but also how media helped build and then tear down segregation. We discussed how access to technology has shaped white supremacy and the effort to eradicate it. They also explained their writing process and what it was like to write the book as a duo, with one author being Black, and the other being white.Information on their book, from Simon and Schuster, can be found hereMarc Lamont Hill's social media feed can be found hereTodd Brewster's social media feed can be found hereSupport our show at https://patreon.com/axelbankhistory **A portion of every contribution is given to a charity for children's literacy**"Axelbank Reports History and Today" can be found on social media at https://twitter.com/axelbankhistoryhttps://instagram.com/axelbankhistoryhttps://facebook.com/axelbankhistory

During the 2016 presidential election, we got an up-close look at how a foreign nation can influence domestic politics. US intelligence has found that Russia worked to spread disinformation, poison social media and steal documents. But that was not the first time America has been manipulated by a foreign power. In the run up to World War I, Boston Globe "Spotlight" reporter Mark Arsenault explains how a reporter for a small newspaper broke numerous stories about supposed German efforts to meddle in American affairs. What readers didn't know is that Great Britain intelligence agents had planted the stories with the willing editor of the Providence Journal, John Rathom, to turn the Wilson Administration and the American people against Germany. Arsenault argues it was a critical piece in Wilson deciding to send American troops "to make the world safe for democracy."Even more shocking though, is that in his book, "The Imposter's War: The Press, Propaganda, and the Newsman who Battled for the Minds of America," Arsenault argues that Rathom himself was a fraud. He shows how Rathom didn't just lie in his stories, that he was little more than a character Rathom himself cultivated to succeed in the newspaper industry. Arsenault also describes how Rathom was brought down by a young rising political master, Franklin Delano Roosevelt.Arsenault's biography can be found here: https://www.bostonglobe.com/about/staff-list/staff/mark-arsenault/He can be reached on social media at https://twitter.com/BostonGlobeMarkSupport our show at https://patreon.com/axelbankhistory **A portion of every contribution is given to a charity for children's literacy**"Axelbank Reports History and Today" can be found on social media at https://twitter.com/axelbankhistoryhttps://instagram.com/axelbankhistoryhttps://facebook.com/axelbankhistory

Lynching is often and understandably thought of as a southern problem. But Philip Dray's new book, "A Lynching at Port Jervis: Race and Reckoning in the Gilded Age," explores the only lynching that occurred in New York State between 1882 and 1899. He explains why northerners must come to grips with not only the violent incident that happened in the "idyllic" Delaware Water Gap village of Port Jervis, but with the racism that permeated many of the states that were first to outlaw slavery. He explores what happened on June 2nd, 1892, and how the justice system reacted to it. He also shows how the small town has begun to confront their difficult history.Information on Dray's book can be found at https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780374194413/alynchingatportjervisSupport our show at patreon.com/axelbankhistory **A portion of every contribution is given to a charity for children's literacy**"Axelbank Reports History and Today" can be found on social media at twitter.com/axelbankhistoryinstagram.com/axelbankhistoryfacebook.com/axelbankhistory

What does it mean to be white in America? What does it mean to be Black? Is it merely the color of our skin? How does the history of how different races have been treated by the law and by fellow Americans weigh on those labels? What would it be like to straddle both worlds? In "White Lies: The Double Life of Walter F. White and America's Darkest Secret," AJ Baime explains how an African-American man who looked white infiltrated the south to investigate lynchings and write reports for the NAACP. Baime explains how Walter White exposed the horrors of lynchings in a way no one else could, while also defining a new era of culture in New York City. Baime came of age as Jim Crow took hold, and sadly died before the Civil Rights movement would achieve its greatest legislative successes.Baime also describes the emotional journey he traveled to write this book, and why he says it is time for him to take a break from non-fiction!This is AJ's second appearance on our show. He joined us in the Fall of 2020 to discuss his book, "Dewey Defeats Truman." That episode can be found here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/axelbank-reports-history-and-today/id1521053272?i=1000495435095AJ Baime's can be reached on social media at facebook.com/ajbaimeInformation on his book can be found at https://www.harpercollins.com/products/white-lies-a-j-baime?variant=39935639453730Support our show at patreon.com/axelbankhistory **A portion of every contribution is given to a charity for children's literacy**"Axelbank Reports History and Today" can be found on social media at twitter.com/axelbankhistoryinstagram.com/axelbankhistoryfacebook.com/axelbankhistory

Where do rights come from? Do they come from the Constitution? The Supreme Court? From God? The voting booth?Bestselling author Dr. Kate Clifford Larson argues in her biography of Fannie Lou Hamer that rights also come from those willing to fight for them, from heroes who risk their lives while demanding the full promise of what America offers. Hamer was born a Mississippi sharecropper who would insist on the right to vote, speak at public hearings and - at times - face violence for her efforts. Dr. Larson traces the roots of Hamer's bravery, her beliefs and the moments where her life took drastic turns. Dr. Larson also describes the moments where this Civil Rights icon captured the nation's attention, to the point where even the President of the United States was forced to listen. We also spoke with Dr. Larson about the future of biography and what project she might consider next.She is on social media at https://twitter.com/KCliffLarsonHer website is https://twitter.com/KCliffLarsonInformation on her book can be found at https://global.oup.com/academic/product/walk-with-me-9780190096847?cc=ca&lang=en&Support our show at patreon.com/axelbankhistory **A portion of every contribution is given to a charity for children's literacy**"Axelbank Reports History and Today" can be found on social media at twitter.com/axelbankhistoryinstagram.com/axelbankhistoryfacebook.com/axelbankhistory

Before the phrase, "the trial of the century," became a cliche, there was New England slave trader Joseph White and the greatest whodunit of the 19th Century. The wealthy, powerful and supremely disliked shipping magnate had apparently swam with too many sharks to escape justice forever. But who would go into a man's bedroom and kill him in his sleep? Edward Renehan's book, "Deliberate Evil: Nathaniel Hawthorne, Daniel Webster, and the 1830 Murder of a Salem Slave Trader," shows how the murder drew titans of history into what was already a famous, albeit small, town. He also explains how the trial and the coverage of it still echoes today, and why we should pay close attention to how the story faded from memory as key figures passed away. It's a story of mystery and power in a town that had already been shaped by one of the most famous events in American history.Edward Renehan's website can be found at hereHe is on social media hereSupport our show at patreon.com/axelbankhistory **A portion of every contribution is given to a charity for children's literacy**"Axelbank Reports History and Today" can be found on social media at twitter.com/axelbankhistoryinstagram.com/axelbankhistoryfacebook.com/axelbankhistory

"To study history, you must study the historian."Are the writers who make history also a part of history? Are the stories they tell what actually happened, or have we all been had? What motivates a historian to practice her craft? In "Making History: Storytellers Who Shaped the Past," veteran writer and publisher Richard Cohen explains how the earliest historians built their narratives and distributed their work. He goes era by era, highlighting the most impactful non-fiction writers of all time like Thucydides, the authors of the Bible, Shakespeare, Julius Caesar and Ulysses Grant. He also considers modern authors like Ibram Kendi and today's journalists. He explains how stories are found, told and most of all, how historians themselves shape them.Information on Richard Cohen's book, "Making History," can be found hereHe is on social media hereSupport our show at patreon.com/axelbankhistory **A portion of every contribution is given to a charity for children's literacy**"Axelbank Reports History and Today" can be found on social media at twitter.com/axelbankhistoryinstagram.com/axelbankhistoryfacebook.com/axelbankhistory

The end of slavery came thanks - in part - to the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Americans. At the Civil War's conclusion, the abolitionist movement had finally achieved its most sacred goal. But in, "The Republic of Violence: The Tormented Rise of Abolition in Andrew Jackson's America," JD Dickey argues that movement gained momentum decades before, during the 1830s, as abolitionists were violently confronted by the pro-slavery movement. In both north and south, Dickey argues white supremacists stopped at nothing to prevent abolitionists from having their voices heard. He catalogues America's most violent period, with riots so commonplace, they seemed to blend into one another. He describes the lives of the abolition movement's foot soldiers and how they came to blows with followers of Andrew Jackson. Dickey argues Jackson deliberately inspired violence to tamp down those who argued America's slaves should be freed.Dickey's website is jddickey.comHe is on social media at twitter.com/empire_of_mudSupport our show at patreon.com/axelbankhistory **A portion of every contribution is given to a charity for children's literacy**"Axelbank Reports History and Today" can be found on social media at twitter.com/axelbankhistoryinstagram.com/axelbankhistoryfacebook.com/axelbankhistory

In "Rough Diamond: The Life of Col. William Stephen Hamilton, Alexander Hamilton's Forgotten Son," A.K. Fielding explains why understanding his life is essential to understanding the first half of the nineteenth century. Though his dad gets the attention for being one of the most famous and influential people in American history, Fielding argues that by understanding the relatively "average" life of Hamilton's sixth child, we are able to grapple with migration patterns, the impact of the powerful on the powerless, the economy, and even how political forces changed between the Founding generation and the decade before the Civil War. Col. William Stephen Hamilton tried his hand at politics, the military and mining, before winding up in California during the Gold Rush.We also spent a lot of time discussing her path to publishing this book, the challenges the publishing industry presents to independent historians, and the sexism she encountered while shopping her proposal. She also explains why art is the perfect side hobby for a historian.Her website is trehanstreasures.comShe is on social media at twitter.com/akfieldingSupport our show at patreon.com/axelbankhistory **A portion of every contribution is given to a charity for children's literacy**"Axelbank Reports History and Today" can be found on social media at twitter.com/axelbankhistoryinstagram.com/axelbankhistoryfacebook.com/axelbankhistory

Harry Truman took over the presidency during a sea-change in American history. Along with becoming the first nuclear power, the US was about to begin a massive relief effort in Europe and grapple with racial injustice. Though he left office with low marks, during the last several decades, Truman's handling of the many crises he inherited has been applauded more loudly. Jeffrey Frank's new book, "The Trials of Harry S. Truman: The Extraordinary Presidency of an Ordinary Man," explains how a seemingly simple midwesterner went from growing up on a farm to become president of the United States at the height of its power. During our episode, he explains what today's leaders could learn from him, as well as what the rest of us can learn about the importance of choosing responsible, humble leaders.His website can be found at jeffreyfrank.comHe is on social media at twitter.com/jeffreyafrankSupport our show at patreon.com/axelbankhistory **A portion of every contribution is given to a charity for children's literacy**"Axelbank Reports History and Today" can be found on social media at twitter.com/axelbankhistoryinstagram.com/axelbankhistoryfacebook.com/axelbankhistory

There are few scenes as emotional as when someone gains their citizenship. They often take place after long, painful journeys that determine whether someone has a right to hold a job, live near family or vote. But as Professor Amanda Frost explains, it is emotional for an entirely different reason when someone loses their citizenship, or as she puts it, has their citizenship, "stripped.” She argues that it happens much more often than people realize, and documents in her book, "You Are Not American: Citizenship Stripping from Dred Scott to the Dreamers," that the fight to regain it is critical to understand. We also discussed the meaning of citizenship and the future of the battle to be considered fully American.Her website can be found at amandafrost.me She is on social media at twitter.com/amanda_frost1 Support our show at patreon.com/axelbankhistory **A portion of every contribution is given to a charity for children's literacy**"Axelbank Reports History and Today" can be found on social media at twitter.com/axelbankhistoryinstagram.com/axelbankhistoryfacebook.com/axelbankhistory

The story of the most famous shipwreck in history, the Titanic, is not complete without Bill Hazelgrove's book, "One Hundred and Sixty Minutes: The Race to Save the RMS Titanic." The basics of the crash into the iceberg are well known. The heart-wrenching details of the half-full lifeboats and the frigid waters are enough to make anyone feel for the victims and their families. But Hazelgrove explains how they all could have been saved, and the missteps that led the nearby boats to shy away from getting involved to save the doomed passengers. He also explains what a certain movie got right... and wrong... about the events on board. The story of the RMS Titanic has been irresistible for over a century, and finally, we have a full picture of why so many were doomed to an unnecessary death.His website can be found at williamhazelgrove.comHe is on social media at twitter.com/rocketman46Support our show at patreon.com/axelbankhistory**A portion of every contribution is given to a charity for children's literacy**"Axelbank Reports History and Today" can be found on social media at twitter.com/axelbankhistoryinstagram.com/axelbankhistoryfacebook.com/axelbankhistory

To understand how America became involved in World War I, we have to transport ourselves to a different America. Troops had never been sent overseas, progressivism was the primary political force and three presidents were battling to chart the nation's future. In Neil Lanctot's new book, "The Approaching Storm: Roosevelt, Wilson, Addams and their Clash Over America's Future," he explains how the life of Jane Addams intersected with that of Teddy Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson to bring the country's mindset from isolationist to interventionist. The decisions made during the run-up to American involvement in "The Great War," would pave world history for at least the next century. While many may be familiar with TR and Woodrow Wilson, Lanctot paints a vivid picture of Jane Addams, one of America's most prominent and accomplished peacemakers.Lanctot's website can be found at neillanctot.comMore information on his book can be found at https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/539530/the-approaching-storm-by-neil-lanctot/Support our show at patreon.com/axelbankhistory**A portion of every contribution is given to a charity for children's literacy**"Axelbank Reports History and Today" can be found on social media at twitter.com/axelbankhistoryinstagram.com/axelbankhistoryfacebook.com/axelbankhistory

What stories can comic strips tell in a way that nothing else can? Dr. Blake Scott Ball explains in his book, "Charlie Brown's America: The Popular Politics of Peanuts," how Charles Schultz famed comic strip not only reached Americans in a way few others have, but also told the country's story when his readers were least expecting it. Dr. Ball argues Schultz used Charlie Brown as a vehicle to take on the most sensitive topics of the second half of the twentieth century. From race, poverty, disease, war and mental health, Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Lucy and Franklin were always there to make readers think while they were being entertained. We also chatted with Dr. Ball about his current study of Batman, and why super heroes still hold a place in our imagination.Dr. Ball is on social media here"Charlie Brown's America" is available from Oxford University Press hereSupport our show at patreon.com/axelbankhistory**A portion of every contribution is given to a charity for children's literacy**"Axelbank Reports History and Today" can be found on social media at twitter.com/axelbankhistoryinstagram.com/axelbankhistoryfacebook.com/axelbankhistory

Tall tales are nothing new when it comes to family "history." Meriel Schindler's new book, "The Lost Cafe Schindler: One Family, Two Wars, and the Search for Truth," is her effort to determine the veracity of her dad's claims about their ancestors. Were the Schindlers really related to famed-Nazi foiler Oscar Schindler and a host of other artists, doctors and important people in western Europe? She focuses on a cafe her family owned in WWI-era Austria and finds it was the center of life in a lovely town before it was stolen from them. She uses a treasure trove of documents left behind by her father, and discovers how he stretched the truth in an effort to place his family in the center of the action during the most consequential period in world history. Not even writing a book could rectify her complicated feelings towards him.Meriel Schindler is on social media hereHer website is hereSupport our show at patreon.com/axelbankhistory**A portion of every contribution is given to a charity for children's literacy**"Axelbank Reports History and Today" can be found on social media at twitter.com/axelbankhistoryinstagram.com/axelbankhistoryfacebook.com/axelbankhistory

If you've been there, you'll never forget it. If you haven't, you probably want to go. But what makes Yellowstone National Park a destination in the first place? Dr. Megan Kate Nelson explores how one of America's crown jewels, the two million acres that make up the one-of-a-kind place, was preserved for all of us. In her new book, "Saving Yellowstone: Exploration and Preservation in Reconstruction America," she explains how the array of trees, geysers and animals was "discovered" by white men, and how the effort to keep Yellowstone as-is, intersects with Reconstruction-era politics, race and mystery. Contemporary Americans are used to Yellowstone as a hotspot for mystery, and the 1870s were no different. She also describes how Native peoples' were not able to share in the glory that Yellowstone would provide for so many. Spend an hour with us as one of America's most-brilliant nature historians takes us on a journey through the wildnerness, and explains how it's never far from any of us.Dr. Nelson's website is megankatenelson.comShe is on social media at twitter.com/megankatenelsonHer book is available from Simon & Schuster at https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Saving-Yellowstone/Megan-Kate-Nelson/9781982141332Support our show at patreon.com/axelbankhistory**A portion of every contribution is given to a charity for children's literacy**"Axelbank Reports History and Today" can be found on social media at twitter.com/axelbankhistoryinstagram.com/axelbankhistoryfacebook.com/axelbankhistory