Sample Clips from One Day U Weekly Scholar Video Newsletter & iHeart Podcast
What the Founding Fathers Were Really Like (And What We Can Still Learn from Them Today) – clip
Christmas in America: What’s Going on Here? – clip
Carol Berkin / Baruch College
Edward O’Donnell / College of the Holy Cross
Most of us know that America’s Founding Fathers attended the Constitutional Convention of 1787 in Philadelphia and drafted the Constitution of the United States. The delegates decided to replace the Articles of Confederation with a document that strengthened the federal government, with the most contentious issue being legislative representation. Eventually, a compromise established the bicameral Congress to ensure both equal and proportional representation. But a lot more happened, as well – much of it underreported or misunderstood. That’s the focus of this insider’s look at the birth of American Government as we know it today.
Was Christmas really banned in Massachusetts until the 1850s? How did the eight reindeer get their names? Why do we bring pine trees into our houses at Christmas? How did Santa go from a 4th century Turkish bishop, to a tiny elf, to a life-size grandfatherly figure dressed in red? What role did Coca-Cola play in this? Where does the Yule log fit into Christmas? Why are so many Christmas songs like “Rudolph” written by Jewish composers? What’s with the recent trend of upside-down Christmas trees? And is there really a “War on Christmas?” During this talk, Professor O’Donnell will take on these and many more Christmas-related questions.
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