Lee Benson, author of The Concept of Jacksonian Democracy: New York as a Test Case (1961), has died. While Jacksonian historians recognize Benson's work as pioneering the use of social science research and quantitative methods to argue for an ethnocultural interpretation of the Jacksonian period, the UPenn professor was also deeply involved in civic engagement: … Continue reading R.I.P. Lee Benson, Author of The Concept of Jacksonian Democracy
The “Truth” of Wikipedia
Timothy Messer-Kruse's wrote an excellent Chronicle column on Wikipedia last week. (Word to the wise: The comments section has devolved into nonsense at times, so read at your own peril.) It reminded me of the discussion that I had with my Jacksonian class last week about my own brief foray into Wikipedia editing. In 2007, I decided … Continue reading The “Truth” of Wikipedia
What History Professors Do
The "What People Think I Do/What I Do" meme is spreading like wildfire on the Web. Two seem particularly appropriate; if someone combined them, they would describe my life perfectly. H/t to Jenifer Hays Salo for the historians meme and Fred Monardi for the professors meme.
Books for Fall 2012 Semester
It's time to choose books for the Fall 2012 semester. After great thought and deliberation here are my selections: HIS 201 History of the United States I R.B. Bernstein, The Founding Fathers Reconsidered (Oxford Univ. Press, 2011) ISBN 9780199832576 Students responded well to Bernstein's biography of Jefferson, and I'm counting on a similar reaction to this book. … Continue reading Books for Fall 2012 Semester
The Link Between the Mayans, Madonna, and the Anti-Christ
Ever wonder about the connection between the Super Bowl, the Mayan apocalypse, the Nephilim, Madonna, Roman mythology, and Satanism? If you're like me, then you haven't, but someone else has it all figured out. I tried to sketch this conspiracy theory on the board for students in the conspiracy theories class. I ran out of … Continue reading The Link Between the Mayans, Madonna, and the Anti-Christ
Interview on Darren Reid’s Blog
British historian Darren Reid recently interviewed me for his blog, The History Journal. I appreciate his willingness to offer my thoughts on the Jacksonian period, teaching, and my research.
Post-Civil War Slave Nostalgia
Update: This is a timely post, as my student, Kimberley Davis, reminded me with this letter purportedly written by an emancipated slave to his former owner. I am currently looking at post-Civil War interviews and memoirs of African American men and women who were enslaved at The Hermitage. The interviews are rendered in the stereotypical … Continue reading Post-Civil War Slave Nostalgia
Depressing Students
As I was leaving class Tuesday, one of my students good-naturedly quipped, "So, what are you going to make us feel bad about next class?" This student was referring to the past week of classes, during which we have discussed lynching photographs on the Without Sanctuary website and the mythology of the Old West and watched clips from Bamboozled (the … Continue reading Depressing Students
The Music of the Jesus People: Review of Stowe, No Sympathy for the Devil: Christian Pop Music and the Transformation of American Evangelicalism
I grew up in a faith community that frowned on contemporary music. And by contemporary, I mean anything post-1950. Drums, breathy singing, electric anything--all verboten, although there were inexplicable exceptions for southern gospel music. As a teenager, I rebelled and began listening to forbidden music. One of the artists I discovered and devoured was Keith … Continue reading The Music of the Jesus People: Review of Stowe, No Sympathy for the Devil: Christian Pop Music and the Transformation of American Evangelicalism
The Tennessee Tea Party and Slavery in Textbooks: An Example of Lazy Journalism
As a local Nashville paper pointed out, the HuffPo article on the Tennessee Tea party's criticism of the discussion of slavery in school textbooks is a year old. I even wrote about it last January. The idea that textbooks shouldn't discuss historical reality remains absurd, but I don't understand why HuffPo and other news outlets only … Continue reading The Tennessee Tea Party and Slavery in Textbooks: An Example of Lazy Journalism
Jacksonian America: Society, Personality, and Politics 