Professor Ken Masugi follows the establishment of the doctrine of "separate but equal" and its opposition and eventual downfall from a legal perspective. He examines particularly the 1896 Supreme Court case Plessy v. Ferguson and the 1954 case Brown v. Board of Education.

To listen to this lecture, scroll to session five, and select the RealAudio link to the left.

Professors Christopher Flannery and David Tucker examine the definitions of the ideal American character, government, and values today and how they are both different and similar to those of the past. They look at materials written and spoken by George W. Bush and 1984 and 1988 presidential candidate Gary Hart.

To listen to this lecture, scroll to session 13, and select the RealAudio link to the left of the main body of text.

Professor Mackubin T. Owens looks at Abraham Lincoln's actions as president in relation to civil rights and liberties. Owens considers whether Lincoln abused his presidential powers and deprived citizens of civil liberties without justification or whether his actions were appropriate and justified. He also includes some preliminary discussion of Lincoln's military strategy during the war.

To listen to this lecture, scroll to session 11, and select the RealAudio image or link in the gray bar to the left of the main body of text.

Professor Steven E. Woodworth examines the "Lost Cause" view of the Civil War—as the South as justified in going to war. Woodworth also looks at the religious life and beliefs of Civil-War-era soldiers and civilians and how religion contributed to the war and the perspectives of those waging it. He refers to the film Gods and Generals and scholarly criticism of it.

To listen to this lecture, scroll to the guest lecture after session four, and select the RealAudio link to the left of the text.

Professor Lucas E. Morel examines the interrelationship of political decisions and pressures, westward expansion, and the issue of slavery in the antebellum U.S. and how these forces combined to lead to the Civil War. This lecture continues from the lecture "Slavery, Antebellum Politics, and Westward Expansion, Part One."

To listen to this lecture, scroll to session five, and select the RealAudio image or link in the gray bar to the left of the main body of text.

Professor Lucas E. Morel examines the interrelationship of political decisions and pressures, westward expansion, and the issue of slavery in the antebellum U.S. and how these forces combined to lead to the Civil War.

To listen to this lecture, scroll to session four, and select the RealAudio image or link in the gray bar to the left of the main body of text.

Professor David Tucker looks at the life and philosophies of Thomas Jefferson, examining what he wished to achieve in his political career and what he saw as necessary for good government.

To listen to this lecture, scroll to session three, and select the RealAudio link to the left of the main body of text.

Professor David Tucker discusses the life and character of George Washington. Tucker begins with a debate over the modern-day reaction to and interpretation of Thomas Jefferson's possible relationship with his slave Sally Hemings and the differences it makes (or does not make) in perceptions of Jefferson's character. He also digresses into general discussion of what qualities define a "good" president and how these perceptions have changed over time.

To listen to this lecture, scroll to session one, and select the RealAudio link to the left of the main body of text.

This lecture chronicles Samuel Clemens's travels to Nevada and California from his home state of Mississippi, beginning in 1861. At this time, Clemens was an out-of-work river pilot; the lecture follows his development into the famous writer he would become and includes readings from fragments of his writing recovered from Civil-War-era journals and newspapers.

To listen to this lecture, scroll to "Heaven on the Half-Shell: Mark Twain in California," and select "Listen to Broadcast."