American history

In their book, Reconstruction beyond 150: Reassessing the New Birth of Freedom, Vernon Burton and Brent Morris have brought together the best new scholarship, synthesizing social, political, economic, and cultural approaches to understanding a crucial period in our country’s history. They talk with us about how the their project came about, and about how many "reconstructions" our country has seen since the Civil War.

In his new book, The Miraculous Art of Jazz, Benjamin Franklin V, Distinguished Professor of English, Emeritus, at the University of South Carolina, has gathered reviews of hundreds of recordings written over his 40-year career as a jazz writer.In our conversation his love for jazz and blues shines through. And the reviews he has collected in his book are as vital and important as ever – for listeners new to Jazz as well as long-time listeners who want to take a deeper dive into the music.

“P” is for Pickens, Andrew (1739-1817). Soldier, legislator, congressman. During the Revolutionary War Pickens became one of the most significant leaders of patriot forces in the backcountry.

“P” is for Pickens, Andrew (1739-1817). Soldier, legislator, congressman. During the Revolutionary War Pickens became one of the most significant leaders of patriot forces in the backcountry.

This week on the Journal we will be talking with Alan Pell Crawford about his book, This Fierce People: The Untold Story of America's Revolutionary War in the South (2024, Alfred A. Knopf). In his book Alan tells the story of three-plus years in the Revolutionary war, and of the fierce battles fought in the South that made up the central theater of military operations in the latter years of the War. And it was in these bloody battles that the British were, in essence, vanquished.

“C” is for Charleston Riot (1919). The Charleston Riot of 1919 was the earliest major incident in a nationwide outbreak of racial violence that became known as the “Red Summer.”

“C” is for Charleston Riot (1919). The Charleston Riot of 1919 was the earliest major incident in a nationwide outbreak of racial violence that became known as the “Red Summer.”

“M” is for Medal of Honor recipients. Approved by the United States Congress in 1862, the Medal of Honor is America’s highest award for military valor. Thirty-two native South Carolinians have been awarded the medal for “conspicuous gallantry.”

“M” is for Medal of Honor recipients. Approved by the United States Congress in 1862, the Medal of Honor is America’s highest award for military valor. Thirty-two native South Carolinians have been awarded the medal for “conspicuous gallantry.”

“G” is for Great Wagon Road. The Great Wagon Road stretched for almost eight hundred miles from Philadelphia west to Lancaster and York Pennsylvania, and thence south through the Shenandoah Valley into the Carolina backcountry.