Episode 10: The Mother of Exiles

03/09/20 • 31 min

Give Me Liberty: The Making of American Exceptionalism

A famous sonnet written to raise money for the construction of a pedestal for the Statue of Liberty, Rick and Luke discuss how “The New Colossus” set out the symbolism and impact of the Statue of Liberty for generations. Even today, Liberty Enlightening the World exists as a symbol of the uniquely American idea of liberty and represents refuge to those suffering around the world.

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Episode 9: Abraham Lincoln Goes Back to Basics

As Abraham Lincoln said in his famous Gettysburg Address, the United States of America was conceived in liberty. By the time the Civil War broke out, most of the country’s population had abandoned these long sought-after principles. In this episode, Rick and Luke reveal how Abraham Lincoln revived the foundation of a nation torn apart by war.

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Episode 11: The Practical Meaning of Economic Equality

Famously proclaiming that we “shall not crucify mankind on a cross of gold,” William Jennings Bryan delivered a plea for the coinage of silver, which he believed would help combat the rampant economic inequality of the late 19th century. Rick and Luke examine how one of the most famous pieces of American political oratory changed the meaning of economic equality.