Watch The Skeptic's Guide to American History

Name: The Skeptic's Guide to American History
Released: 2012-07-13
Cast: Mark Stoler

2012
1 Season

The Skeptic's Guide to American History is an entertaining and informative show from The Great Courses Signature Collection that aims to challenge traditional notions about American history. Hosted by renowned historian Mark Stoler, the series analyzes various historical events, personalities, and controversial topics with a critical eye and a healthy dose of skepticism. What makes this show stand out is its focus on uncovering the myths and misconceptions that have been perpetuated throughout the years. Stoler's approach is to encourage viewers to question their assumptions and to develop a more nuanced understanding of the past. He offers a refreshing perspective, one that is not afraid to challenge the dominant narrative, and he never hesitates to point out the complexities and contradictions of history. The show is divided into 24 half-hour episodes, each of which covers a different topic. Some examples of these topics include the American Revolution, the Civil War, the role of religion in American history, and the legacy of the Cold War. Stoler covers each subject in depth, drawing on his extensive research and expertise to offer a fresh take on the events and people involved. One of the most engaging aspects of the show is Stoler's passion for history. He is an engaging and charismatic presenter, and he has a knack for making complex topics accessible to a general audience. He uses a variety of storytelling techniques, including anecdotes, historical reenactments, and visual aids, to bring history to life. Another strength of the show is its production values. The series is shot in HD and features high-quality graphics and animations that help to illustrate the concepts being discussed. The sets and costumes are top-notch, and the attention to detail is impressive. The overall effect is a show that is both visually stunning and intellectually stimulating. One of the highlights of the show is Stoler's willingness to challenge commonly held beliefs about American history. For example, in the episode about the American Revolution, he argues that the notion of an all-encompassing patriotic movement is a myth. He points out that many Americans remained loyal to the British crown and that the war was far from a unified effort. Similarly, in the episode about the Civil War, Stoler questions the idea that the conflict was solely about slavery, arguing that there were other factors at play as well. Throughout the series, Stoler pushes viewers to see history from multiple perspectives. He highlights the voices and experiences of women, people of color, and other marginalized groups, providing a more inclusive and nuanced view of the past. He also does an excellent job of contextualizing historical events, showing how they were shaped by the social, economic, and cultural forces of the time. Overall, The Skeptic's Guide to American History is a fantastic show that is both entertaining and educational. Mark Stoler's passion and expertise make him an engaging presenter, and the series' focus on challenging myths and misconceptions is both refreshing and necessary. Whether you're a history buff or just looking for a new perspective on American history, this series is definitely worth checking out.

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Seasons

24. History Did Not Begin with Us

July 13, 2012

Conclude the course with an appreciation that history did not begin with the events of our own lifetime. Explore the antecedents of the civil rights, antiwar, and women's rights movements and the tendency to pronounce any era's major technological advances as the most important in history.

23. Who Matters in American History?

July 13, 2012

Who in history do we choose to remember, and why? Take in the extraordinary accomplishments of several Americans - including John Adams, John Quincy Adams, and George C. Marshall - whose achievements and influence may well have exceeded those of many of the great figures more vividly remembered.

22. Myths about American Wars

July 13, 2012

Vietnam is far from America's only misunderstood war. This lecture delves into the common myths and misunderstandings shared by many Americans about why the nation's wars have been fought and how the results have been judged.

21. The Real Blunders of the Vietnam War

July 13, 2012

Why did America fail in Vietnam? Was it flawed military strategy? Political micromanagement? America's domestic antiwar movement? You not only learn the answer to this fundamental question, but you also gain a more nuanced understanding of why the debate has raged to this day.

20. Was the Cold War Inevitable?

July 13, 2012

Professor Stoler holds that the cold war was not necessarily destined to happen. In this lecture, he leads you in an analysis of why it took place and lasted so long, with examination along the way of several additional myths regarding this long and dangerous Soviet-American conflict.

19. World War II Misconceptions and Myths

July 13, 2012

Is our understanding of "the Good War" correct? Grasp how our reliance on a national mythology makes for not only inaccurate history but a misconceived future because of the long-term effects that myths about the war have had on American policy since 1945.

18. What Did Roosevelt's New Deal Really Do?

July 13, 2012

FDR was simultaneously one of the most beloved and most hated of U.S. presidents. Explore what the New Deal attempted and accomplished - as well as its intended and unintended consequences - as you grasp its role in creating the economic and political systems of today's America.

17. Hoover and the Great Depression Revisited

July 13, 2012

Herbert Hoover came to the White House regarded as both a skilled manager and great humanitarian, yet left the presidency perceived as just the opposite. Gain an understanding of how this could happen through a detailed examination of both his forgotten accomplishments and his often misunderstood failures.

16. The Roaring Twenties Reconsidered

July 13, 2012

Were the 1920s really a return to isolationism and the values of the late 19th century? Uncover a decade far more complex than is generally believed, as you learn how much of the change begun during the progressive era continued - in many ways setting the stage for contemporary America.

15. Woodrow Wilson and the Rating of Presidents

July 13, 2012

How, exactly, should past presidents be judged? A provocative examination of Woodrow Wilson's presidency - judged a great success by some and a profound failure by others - provides an opportunity to explore the broader issues of presidential ratings in general.

14. Early Progressives Were Not Liberals

July 13, 2012

Many liberals see the roots of their philosophy in progressivism, but this is misleading. Learn how progressivism also included many ideas - such as eugenics, limits on free speech, and restrictions on immigration - that would have outraged modern liberals.

13. Myths about American Isolation and Empire

July 13, 2012

Was the United States ever as isolationist and opposed to imperialism as is commonly believed? Explore the myth and reality surrounding our historical self-image and learn how America's expansionist history might appear from the perspectives of other nations.

12. Labor in America - A Strange History

July 13, 2012

Although often seen as a dramatic reversal of historical government support for labor, today's efforts to scale back collective bargaining rights are actually a reassertion of policy with a long precedent. Learn that the pro-union policies of the New Deal represent the real break with the past.

11. Misconceptions about the Original Populists

July 13, 2012

Is a reference to someone as a "populist" praise or criticism? Does it have any reference to where a person stands on the political spectrum? This lecture analyzes the nation's original populist movement and what links - if any - it has to contemporary namesakes.

10. The Myth of Laissez-Faire

July 13, 2012

The great age of post - Civil War industrialization and the enormous levels of national and personal wealth it generated (for some) have often been attributed to a governmental attitude of "hands-off" toward business. Discover that such an attitude did not exist in the United States and that, in fact, it never had.

9. The Civil War's Actual Turning Points

July 13, 2012

Discover how perceptions of Gettysburg as the Civil War's "turning point" are inaccurate. Here, examine three battles that were arguably more important and gain new insights into what determines - in any war - how meaningful a battle really was.

8. Did Slavery Really Cause the Civil War?

July 13, 2012

By analyzing this question and the different answers posed by generations of historians, you begin to understand "historiography" - the study of the writing of history - and take a key step in your understanding of history itself.

7. The Second Great Awakening - Enduring Impacts

July 13, 2012

Grasp how the links between religion and politics that today inspire such powerful positive and negative emotions are nothing new. See how issues born out of the 19th-century's evangelical upheaval - from prison reform to women's suffrage - still engage us today.

6. Andrew Jackson - An Odd Symbol of Democracy

July 13, 2012

Andrew Jackson's election ushered in an era marked by much democratic reform. Ironically, as you'll learn, the man who would be seen as the symbol of such reform actually opposed much of it and championed many policies that few today would call democratic.

5. Confusions about Jefferson and Hamilton

July 13, 2012

Jefferson and Hamilton held sharply differing views on policy and constitutional interpretation. Learn how their conflict - often thought of in terms of our contemporary understanding of liberalism and conservatism - is actually relevant to us in very different ways from those we imagine.

4. Washington - Failures and Real Accomplishments

July 13, 2012

Set aside the hagiography that helped shape George Washington's image and undertake a balanced examination that measures his military and presidential failings against his numerous successes. See how some of the least known of those successes may have been his most important contributions to American history.

3. The Constitution Did Not Create a Democracy

July 13, 2012

Gain a nuanced understanding of what the Founders' "original intent" really was and how so many of the questions they grappled with divided them for their entire lives - ultimately being bequeathed to their successors and persisting even to this day.

2. Neither American nor Revolutionary?

July 13, 2012

Continue this new approach to understanding history with a look at efforts of the colonists to defend their "rights as Englishmen" and the ironic role played by European tyrannies in helping establish the nation that would forever change the definition of liberty.

1. Religious Toleration in Colonial America?

July 13, 2012

Learn the key elements of a broadened approach to the study of history with this fast-moving examination of the origins of religious and racial tolerance in America. Grasp how the assumptions you've long held can differ dramatically from historical reality. #History

Description

What makes this show stand out is its focus on uncovering the myths and misconceptions that have been perpetuated throughout the years. Stoler's approach is to encourage viewers to question their assumptions and to develop a more nuanced understanding of the past. He offers a refreshing perspective, one that is not afraid to challenge the dominant narrative, and he never hesitates to point out the complexities and contradictions of history.

The show is divided into 24 half-hour episodes, each of which covers a different topic. Some examples of these topics include the American Revolution, the Civil War, the role of religion in American history, and the legacy of the Cold War. Stoler covers each subject in depth, drawing on his extensive research and expertise to offer a fresh take on the events and people involved.

One of the most engaging aspects of the show is Stoler's passion for history. He is an engaging and charismatic presenter, and he has a knack for making complex topics accessible to a general audience. He uses a variety of storytelling techniques, including anecdotes, historical reenactments, and visual aids, to bring history to life.

Another strength of the show is its production values. The series is shot in HD and features high-quality graphics and animations that help to illustrate the concepts being discussed. The sets and costumes are top-notch, and the attention to detail is impressive. The overall effect is a show that is both visually stunning and intellectually stimulating.

One of the highlights of the show is Stoler's willingness to challenge commonly held beliefs about American history. For example, in the episode about the American Revolution, he argues that the notion of an all-encompassing patriotic movement is a myth. He points out that many Americans remained loyal to the British crown and that the war was far from a unified effort. Similarly, in the episode about the Civil War, Stoler questions the idea that the conflict was solely about slavery, arguing that there were other factors at play as well.

Throughout the series, Stoler pushes viewers to see history from multiple perspectives. He highlights the voices and experiences of women, people of color, and other marginalized groups, providing a more inclusive and nuanced view of the past. He also does an excellent job of contextualizing historical events, showing how they were shaped by the social, economic, and cultural forces of the time.

Overall, The Skeptic's Guide to American History is a fantastic show that is both entertaining and educational. Mark Stoler's passion and expertise make him an engaging presenter, and the series' focus on challenging myths and misconceptions is both refreshing and necessary. Whether you're a history buff or just looking for a new perspective on American history, this series is definitely worth checking out.