Forgotten America: Rediscovering Events That Changed the Nation

Overview

Dive into the underappreciated and underexplored stories throughout US history and meet the lesser-known figures who played an outsized role in making America what it is today.

Course Details

In this enlightening course, you will uncover significant yet overlooked events that shaped the United States, moving beyond the mainstream narratives taught in schools. Guided by historian Dr. Rachel Michelle Gunter, this series of 12 lectures will take you through essential topics such as:

• The impact of smallpox on American history.
• The complexities of Hollywood’s censorship and the Hays Code.
• The history of anti-Asian laws and their implications.
• The transformative effects of tuberculosis on society and culture.
• The struggles of World War I veterans and the GI Bill.
• The narratives of lesser-known activists who fought for rights.

Each lesson encourages a deeper engagement with American history and its myriad dimensions.

Video Lessons

1. Smallpox in the American Revolution (28 min)

• Explore the impact of smallpox on the Revolutionary War.

1. Hollywood and the Hays Code (30 min)

• Investigate how moral panic influenced film censorship in the 20th century.

1. Forever Foreigners: Anti-Asian Laws (29 min)

• Understand the origins and implications of Chinese exclusion laws.

1. Tuberculosis Transforms America (30 min)

• Analyze the effects of tuberculosis on American culture and politics.

1. Patton versus the Bonus March Veterans (29 min)

• Study the struggles of World War I veterans during the Great Depression.

1. The Rise and Fall of American Fascism (32 min)

• Trace the emergence of fascist movements in the U.S. and their decline.

1. Two Sisters Fight for Freedom (29 min)

• Delve into the lives of the Grimké sisters and their fight against slavery.

1. When Women Lost Citizenship through Marriage (29 min)

• Examine how marriage impacted women’s citizenship rights in early America.

1. The Controversial Soldier Vote (28 min)

• Investigate the challenges of voting for soldiers during wartime.

1. The Capitol Crawl for Disability Rights (29 min)

• Learn about the activism that led to disability rights legislation.

1. The German Coast Uprising (29 min)

• Discover the largest slave rebellion in American history and its ramifications.

1. Thanksgiving Stories That Made America (29 min)

• Reflect on the history and evolution of Thanksgiving in American culture.