The late 1980s saw a new kind of threat to liberty — one that infected sovereign nations far and wide. In one of the most famous speeches delivered by Ronald Reagan, he issued a rallying cry for liberty, exclaiming “tear down this wall!” In the final episode, Rick and Luke reflect on the everlasting power behind the words of Ronald Reagan as he worked to defeat one of the world’s most evil forces — socialism — in the name of liberty.
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28:35
Episode 12: The Great Arsenal of Democracy
Around the time of World War II, the United States once again faced the question of what it means to be a force of power on the world stage and preserve liberty both at home and abroad. In this episode, Rick and Luke explore how Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s fireside chat “The Arsenal of Democracy” combined the necessity for both national security and the safety of liberty.
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30:35
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.
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Episode 10: The Mother of Exiles
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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31:54
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.
About Give Me Liberty: The Making of American Exceptionalism
Historian Richard Brookhiser joins constitutional scholar Luke Thompson to examine thirteen historical documents and recount their role in the development of liberty.
USA