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Does democracy always foster moral success, or can the systems in place actually help those with devious intentions? To kick off our first episode of season three, Mary, Gary, and Eryn explore these questions by examining the life of Boss Tweed and why the backdrop of Gilded Age New York City was a perfect setup for the corrupt politician to seize power. How did Tweed manipulate each sector of society--from the police to groups of immigrants--to control an entire city?

Disney World, Disney+, Donald Duck. The legacy of Walt Disney is all around us, but what do we actually know about the creator of the multi-industry empire we have all grown up with? In our last episode of 2020, Mary, Gary, and Eryn, are joined by special guest Tracey Downey, teacher and long-time Disney World cast member, to examine the relationship between the entrepreneur Walt Disney and his company today. What can Tracy's unique insider perspective teach us about the thoughtfulness that goes into the Disney experience? How important is Walt's vision to the present-day company?Check Our Our YouTube Channel: https://rb.gy/7u4pxs

In a world of Zoom, Netflix, and automation, technology is all around us. This week, Mary, Gary, and Eryn take a look at the most significant technological changes across history—from the wheel to the Dot-com era—to understand human reaction to change. Does technological change always equal progress, or does it present new challenges? What happens to those who don’t want to adapt?BRI's New, Free Digital Textbook:https://billofrightsinstitute.org/educate/educator-resources/free-us-history-resource/

Why do certain moments in time stand out to us? Today, Mary, Gary, Eryn, and special guest Joshua Schmid explore this question by tracing the sinking of the Lusitania and how it fit into the complicated state of foreign affairs in 1915. Was the German U-boat torpedo of the British ocean liner an act of evil or of defense? With two years separating the tragedy and America’s entrance into World War I, was this really a turning point in the war?Check Our Our YouTube Channel: https://rb.gy/7u4pxs

Gary, Mary, and Eryn reflect on a particularly important moment in the civil rights movement, the march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama in 1965. They'll explore how the events of Selma fit into the bigger picture of the civil rights movement and the passage of the Voting Rights Act. What can this march teach us about the significance of turning points in a movement? And what lessons from it are still very relevant today?Check out our Fall Seminars and Events: https://billofrightsinstitute.arlo.co/w/upcoming/

The start of the school year prompts Mary, Gary, and Eryn to reflect on the broader concept of education and how schooling has evolved throughout history. They'll explore how educational structures reflected the times during which they were implemented and what modern-day schooling says about our values today. Has the purpose of education changed over time? And what should the future of education look like?Check out our Fall Seminars and Events: https://billofrightsinstitute.arlo.co/w/upcoming/

For our first ever Fabric of History interview, Mary brings fellow BRI staff member Tony Williams on to discuss his book The Pox and the Covenant, a fascinating look at Boston’s 1721 smallpox epidemic and the far-reaching effects it had on colonial society and the relationship between science and religion. How did Puritan minister Cotton Mather and others employ new scientific methods to mitigate the epidemic? And what unlikely role did a young Benjamin Franklin have in response to them?Check out our Fall Seminars and Events: https://billofrightsinstitute.arlo.co/w/upcoming/

To continue our celebration of the 19th Amendment's ratification, Mary, Gary, and Eryn discuss the seminal works of Mary Wollstonecraft and her daughter, Mary Shelley. They’ll explore how both women were icons in their own rights, as Wollstonecraft famously advocated for enhanced female education in A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, while Shelley authored the sci-fi classic, Frankenstein. Learn how this mother-daughter pair proved to be an empowering force in the early struggle for women’s rights and equality!Check out our Fall Seminars and Events: https://billofrightsinstitute.arlo.co/w/upcoming/

With the Democratic and Republican National Conventions fast approaching, Mary, Gary, and Eryn take a look at the history behind these pivotal electoral systems. From the elitist presidential nominating processes that defined much of the 19th and 20th centuries, to the more inclusive systems of the modern era, the roles of party caucuses, primaries, and conventions have shifted considerably over time. How have today’s elections come to represent the voice of the people?Check out our Fall Seminars and Events: https://billofrightsinstitute.arlo.co/w/upcoming/

We hear the phrase "The American Dream" all the time, but what does it actually mean? In this episode of Fabric of History, Mary, Gary, and Eryn explore this question by tracing the origins of one of the most successful families in American history, the Vanderbilts. What do the legacies of some of its most prominent members teach us about integrity and human nature?Check out our Fall Seminars and Events: https://billofrightsinstitute.arlo.co/w/upcoming/