S. Adam Seagrave (Notre Dame): Darwin and the Declaration. Kevin Butterfield (Oklahoma): The Right to Be a Freemason: Secret Societies and the Power of the Law in the Early Republic. A review of The New Deal: A Modern History by Author Michael Hiltzik. In Drew Faust’s interpretation, the Civil War was a tragic but necessary component of national progress, but the more provincial reenactors intuitively understand a more fundamental story, that war is a result of the fallen human condition. How did Woodrow Wilson become America's most hated president? A review of The President is a Sick Man: Wherein the Supposedly Virtuous Grover Cleveland Survives a Secret Surgery at Sea and Vilifies the Courageous Newspaperman Who Dared Expose the Truth by Matthew Algeo. When money brought us together: The euro may be struggling, but history shows that a currency union really can thrive; the evidence? We’re living in it. A review of This Violent Empire: The Birth of an American National Identity by Carroll Smith-Rosenberg. American politics at ten paces: Strict codes of conduct marked the relationships of early American politicians, often leading to duels, brawls, and other — sometimes fatal — violence. A review of Civic Passions: Seven Who Launched Progressive America by Cecelia Tichi. The Rodney Dangerfield of presidents: Two hundred years after his birth, Franklin Pierce still gets no respect. Fallout Shelters: Jeff Nilsson on the underground movement that failed. A review of The American Crucible: Slavery, Emancipation and Human Rights by Robin Blackburn. An interview with Ken Burns on his latest documentary, on Prohibition. A war lost and found: After decades of doubt and confusion, the Union turns out to have been worth fighting for after all. A review of The Farfarers: A New History of North America by Farley Mowat.
