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Traces development in Big Business, supported by the Republican Party, which led to efforts by the farmers and by labor to protect their share of opportunity. Discusses the growth of the Granger movement and the beginning steps toward unionism. (KETC) Kinescope.
Considers the earliest peoples to come to America, namely, Vikings, Chinese, and much earlier, the American Indian. Studies these early civilizations and reviews the relationships between the Indians and their European conquerors. (KETC) Kinescope.
Points out the American legacy from the English along the seaboard, including the English law, the English language, representative government, land hunger, the regime of "Opportunity Unlimited," self-reliance, and even the acceptance of Negro Slavery, and the attitude of "getting away with it." (KETC) Kinescope.
This program addresses westward expansion. The first westward movement took the pioneers across the Appalachians into Kentucky and Tennessee, then to the Ohio country. Gradually, several new states in the Old Northwest were built. Here, two important pieces of national legislation were put on trial: the Land Ordinance of 1785 became the basis for federal land policies for decades, and the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 set the pattern by which new territories could move through progressive stages to statehood.
During the first thirty-odd-years of the young nation’s independent existence, despite the fact that it had political freedom, the USA found itself most unpleasantly and generally quite inextricably involved in Old World affairs. The Young USA was snubbed first and then bullied by England; it was treated patronizingly and then double crossed by France; for a time it was pushed around by Spain and even bedeviled by the tiny Barbary states of North Africa. These were painful, exasperating, humiliating years. More and more it became painfully evident to the Young USA that there are times in international life when war becomes the only alternative to national dishonor and humiliation. The choice of the adversary, which might have been France quite as much as Britain, was in large measure resolved by pressures from the West. The “war hawks” wanted to fight England in order to have a chance to settle old scores and justification for taking Canada. The War of 1812 was not exactly a glorious venture. Poorly prepared and her armies badly led, the young nation was lucky to come out of it unscathed. Nothing was lost, but nothing was really settled.
Reviews early sixteenth century efforts to cross or circumvent the American land masses. Reveals the change in attitude towards the Americas after the exploits of Cortes and Pizarro among the Aztecs and Incas. Discusses later Spanish attempts to find "another Mexico" and their plans to hold both continents for themselves. (KETC) Kinescope.
Presents the story of the rise of totalitarianism and the failure of the democracies to produce effective answers to world problems. Discusses the American attitudes towards Fascism, Nazism, and Communism. Appraises the validity of these attitudes. (KETC) Kinescope.
There was an overwhelming decision in November 1932 to change leadership. Early New Deal legislation sought to accomplish the first two R’s, Relief and Recovery. The later years of the New Deal were pointed toward the third, Reform. An English historian of the modern American scene has offered a sound theme for this part of the story: “One many not agree with the answers which he gave, but one must admit that FDR asked the right questions.”
Imperialism was in the air as the nineteenth century ran toward its close. The USA proved not to be immune. A new “manifest destiny” took hold of American minds; expansion beyond continental limits had its attractions. The early twentieth century saw the USA taking its part in world affairs as a solid full-grown member of the family of nations.
This program addresses the Civil War; even before Lincoln took office, the retreat from the Union had begun. He did not want war but was determined that, if the preservation of the Union demanded it, he would not refuse the challenge. Fort Sumter was bombarded and on April 13th its garrison surrendered. The next four years would be bloody, painful, unfortunate ones in the American story.