In 1877 the nation came to a virtual standstill as labor united against the exploitive railroad companies. As workers protested unfair business practices in the east, racial animosity in California mixed with economic precarity led workers down a very different path. Join me as I explore the rise and fall of the Workingmen's Party of California and its impact on anti-Chinese sentiment and federal policy in the late 19th century. 

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In the final episode the special summer series, I sit down with Dr. James O'Neil Spady to discuss his book Take Freedom, a nuanced history of the 1822 uprising in Charleston, South Carolina. Using new evidence and focused on Black agency, community networks, and resistance, Dr. Spady places the story of the uprising in a new light challenging prior interpretations and powerfully argues just how close Denmark Vesey and others came to overthrowing their enslavers. 

When you are finished with the conversation, be sure grab a copy of the book here. 

To learn more about the mapping project mentioned in the episode, visit mappingblackcharleston.org 

Learn more about Dr. Spady here.   

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Join me this week as I sit down with Dr. Tim Galsworthy as we explore the influence of Civil War memory on Republican Party identity during the pivotal 1960s and how a political strategy remade the party for generations. Learn how and why the Civil War featured so prominently in campaign rhetoric throughout the 1960s and 1970s - the same era of the Civil Rights Movement and the nations bicentennial - and how it impacts today's political climate. 

Dr. Galsworthy is a historian and the author of The Republican House Divided which traces the GOP's evolution from the party of Lincoln to the racially Conservative Party of the twenty-first century. Be sure to buy your copy here. 

Learn more about Dr. Galsworthy here. 

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Ordinary women can do extraordinary things - that is one of the messages historian and author Dr. Elizabeth De Wolfe hopes readers take away from her book, Alias Agnes: The Notorious Tale of a Gilded Age Spy. Join us as we discuss the societal limitations facing women during the Gilded Age and how one court case over breach of promise exposed those double standards. 

Learn more about Dr. De Wolfe at her website: www.elizabethdewolfe.com

Be sure to pick up a copy of Alias Agnes wherever fine books are sold - or through my bookshop affiliate link here. 

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Join me for the conclusion of my conversation with educator and Early America expert Ethan Healey as we discuss the power of public history, the importance of critically evaluating consumed media, why there can be value in even the flimsiest of historical media, and of course - more books! 

If want to check out any of the books we discussed during our conversation, head over to my bookshop storefront where I have curated a special list just for this conversation. 

To learn more about Ethan, head over to ethanhealey.com

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Happy July 4th, peeps! 

2026 marks 250 years since the founders signed the Declaration of Independence and announced their decision to separate from the crown to establish a new nation - and historians haven't stopped talking about it since! Why does the American Revolution still carry such importance in the historical conversation? And what does it mean to commemorate the revolution during the nation's semiquincentennial? Early American historian and educator Ethan Healey joins me for a wide-ranging discussion that dives into this and more! 

Tune in to hear us discuss how perspectives on this pivotal event have evolved and what it means for contemporary understanding, the complexities of American history, the importance of diverse perspectives, and how public history shapes our understanding of the past. Patreon members can access the full conversation by signing up for any paid tier, join today by visiting: https://www.patreon.com/c/civicsandcoffee/membership

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Sit down with me this week as I wrap up my coverage of Elizabeth Cady Stanton. Learn about her and Susan B Anthony's efforts to expand political rights amid the drum beats of war and how they collaborated to establish the American Equal Rights Association. Tune in as I discuss Stanton's exploration of religion and the motivation behind creating the Woman's Bible, and how her complex activism laid the groundwork for the eventual passage of the 19th Amendment. 

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Elizabeth Cady Stanton is one of the most well known suffragists of the 19th century and spent her life advocating for women's rights - yet most only know the highlights. Join me this week as I begin my exploration of the life and legacy of Elizabeth Cady Stanton including her early childhood, how she got involved in activism, and the early days of her friendship with Susan B. Anthony. 

And when you are done with this episode, be sure to check out my previous episode about the Seneca Falls convention here. 

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American politics feels like it is increasingly polarized with no end in sight - how exactly did we get here, and is there a way out? Joining me this week is Dr. Maya Kornberg, author of Stuck: How Money, Media, and Violence Prevent Change in Congress. In this episode we explore the history, challenges, and reforms of Congress of the past 50 years and what lessons we can learn from prior freshman classes in pushing future changes. Our conversation also covers the rise in political violence, the influence of campaign finance, and the of civic engagement. 

Learn more about Dr. Kornberg's work by visiting her website: mayakornberg.com

Check out the Brennan Center for Justice website here. 

And be sure to grab your copy of Stuck via my bookshop storefront. 

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This week's episode comes to you thanks to Jeremy, a longtime listener who wanted me to dive into the history of computers. Join me as I explore how the personal computer evolved from the oversized mega machines of the 1940s and 1950s to the handheld devices to know and love today. And don't forget - you too can submit your episode requests via the website at www.civicsandcoffee.com. 

When you are done with this episode, be sure to check out my prior episode: Hidden Computers: Women in Tech. 

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The largest and most influential union of the nineteenth century, the Knights of Labor began as a secret fraternal organization in Philadelphia in 1869. Responding to the ongoing labor unrest with events like the Great Railroad Strike of 1877, the Knights enjoyed a brief but significant moment of influence and power, but were ultimately unable to live up to its altruistic claims. Tune in this week as I dive into the rise - and fall - of the Knights of Labor. 

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