Arsenic and Cyanide: The Dark Side of Victorian Womanhood in America
Why did so many women in the 1800s turn to poison to solve their problems? (Sorry husbands). Poisons like mercury, arsenic and strychnine were so cheap and readily available in the Victorian Era that it was called the "Golden Age of Poisoning." Besides being readily available, there were very few tests to detect murder by poison. Combine this with a society where women were powerless and poison becomes "the great equalizer for women in the 19th Century," as science historian Daniel Kevles wrote. But not all poisonings in the 1800s were acts of desperation. Plenty were just good old fashioned murder. DUN DUN DUUUUN!!! Joining Bob Crawford to help sort out the means, motive and opportunity of these Victorian Era women poisoners is Lisa Perrin. GUEST: Lisa Perrin, author and illustrator of the book, The League of Lady Poisoners: Illustrated True Stories of Dangerous Women See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Peter Sagal: Is the Electoral College "America's Worst Idea"?
The U.S. Constitution has inspired countless countries to adopt democracy, but NONE have adopted the electoral college. What's up with that? Turns out, if American's National Parks are "the best idea we ever had. Absolutely American, absolutely democratic, they reflect us at our best rather than our worst," as author Wallace Stegner wrote, then the electoral college might be America's worst idea. To figure out if the electoral college is trash, and to break down the origins, pros, cons and future of this unique electoral body, host Bob Crawford called on Peter Sagal. He's not just host of a game show on NPR (shoutout to WBEZ) and an avid marathoner. He's also host of the PBS show CONSTITUTION USA. What's in this episode: Bob and Peter unpack the history and ongoing relevance of the Electoral College, including its origins in balancing slavery, state power, and the popular vote. The conversation also touches on gerrymandering, the influence of political parties, and the challenges of achieving national unity in a polarized political climate. GUEST: Peter Sagal, host of Wait, Wait ... Don't Tell Me! and CONSTITUTION USASee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Why Haven't We Returned to the Moon in 50+ Years?
The Moon. We hit it and quit it. But after more than 50 years is it time to rekindle the relationship? We'll explore the reasons we stopped going to the moon and why NOW is the right time to go back (we see you, Artemis). Also, how does a return to the moon get us closer to landing humans on Mars? And how do we overcome some of the logistical and psychological challenges of traveling 35 million miles to our neighboring planet? GUEST: Andrew Chaikin, author of the book A Man on the Moon. Check out his cool new website: DoSpaceBetter.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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America's Favorite Fighting Frenchman: Lafayette
Why did a French-born aristocrat volunteer (without pay) to fight for the Americans during the Revolutionary War? And what happened when the Marquis de Lafayette returned to France to fight in its revolution? And is his name really Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier de La Fayette?! This episode is all about Lafayette, including his Era's Tour return to America decades after the revolution. GUEST: Lloyd Kramer, historian and author of the book Lafayette in Two Worlds: Public Cultures and Personal Identities in an Age of RevolutionsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Was Disease the Biggest Killer in the Civil War?
"War is 99 parts diarrhea and one part glory." Walt Whitman had a point when he wrote this. Diseases like dysentery, typhus, and malaria were responsible for 2/3 of the deaths in the Civil War. So, how did illness kill more soldiers on the battlefield than cannons and bayonets? It helps to look at the living conditions and atrocious medical practices in field hospitals during the deadliest war in American history. And it didn't help that sexually transmitted diseases like syphilis were rampant among soldiers. GUEST: Kathryn Olivarius, Associate Professor of History at Stanford University. Check out her book: Necropolis: Disease, Power, and Capitalism in the Cotton KingdomSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Bob Crawford searches for the best historians and experts to answer listener questions about American history — from the Revolutionary War to rock & roll feuds. Got a question? Send it to [email protected].
USA