This goes all the way back to henry ford who provided the first fire engine to keep the mansion from burning down. We like to see that. That is what we see right there. It was built before that by the washington family. It was expanded by George Washington. Of course, the association has maintained this property so that everyone can learn about the life and lessons of George Washington. They are a privately funded institution and it is part of the mission to help people everywhere learn about the principles of the founding. The topic tonight is perfect for what we do. We are really excited to have this special presentation for you. Please welcome adrienne harrison. She is a graduate of west point who later went on to earn her phd degrees from rutgers university. She has been an assistant professor at west point. She served as 12 years as a commissioned officer in the u. S. Army including three combat tour is in iraq. She brings a certain amount of experience to this project. She will t
The history of the United States through objects. Up next, we visit capitol hill to talk to house historian Matthew Wasniewski and house curator Farar Elliott about the history of africanamericans in congress in the 19th century. And to see a selection of artifacts from the house collection. The story of how africanamericans come to congress in the 19th century is not one that a lot of people are familiar with. We actually had 22 africanamericans serve between 1870 and 19 01. 20 in the house, 2 in the senate, largely a house story. And it has to do with the role of congress during the civil war, and in the decade after. During the civil war there were a group of radicals in congress, radicals because they believed in the equality of africanamericans and wanted to create a society in the south after the war that was a multiracial society. These were radicals in the house like Thaddeus Stevens who was chairman of the ways means chairman of the ways and Means Committee and a very powerful
In places like indianapolis, chicago. They were described in the same derogatory way as poor blacks who were living in the city. That is part of our history that we dont talk about. We dont ruin want to face of to how important class is. Tonight at 8 00 on q a. Artifactsek american take you to museum and is stored places to learn what artifacts reveal about American History. Next, National Park Service Ranger Matthew Penrod leads a tour of arlington house, the robert e. Lee memorial. Today it is the most visited his stork home and the National Park service system, which is marking its centennial this year. Arlington house will close at the end of 2016 for a yearlong restoration made possible by a 12. 35 million gift from berlin the best David Rubenstein full interest David Rubenstein. Mr. Penrod im a Park Service Ranger here it the robert e. Lee memorial. I have been here many years. I sometimes joke is more time in this house then robert e. Lee did. It was his home for about 30 years.
Debates that transfix america to debate not political issues but constitutional issues so you the people can make up your own mind. We do that in three ways. With the museum of we the people, which is this Beautiful Museum here on Independence Hall in philadelphia, and im looking out on one of the most beautiful constitutional views in america, Independence Hall, where the declaration of independence and the constitution were drafted. Also americas town hall, a center for debates and symposiums and podcasts and you can find us on cspan and online at constitutioncenter. Org, and a center for constitutional education, and were building the best interactive constitution on the web so you can click on any provision of the constitution, hear the best arguments on both sides about it history and contemporary meaning and decide what you think it means. But today is a very exciting day for me because i have the chance to share with you our president george h. W. Bush gallery, which displays ra
Selection of artifacts from the house collection. The story of how africanamericans come to congress in the 19th century is not one that a lot of people are familiar with. We actually had 22 africanamericans serve between 1870 and 1901. 20 in the house, 2 in the senate, largely a house story. And it has to do with the role of congress during the civil war, and in the decade after. During the civil war there were a group of radicals in congress, radicals because they believed in the equality of africanamericans and wanted to create a society in the south after the war that was a multiracial society. These were radicals in the house like Thaddeus Stevens who was chairman of the house ways and Means Committee and a very powerful leader. Also people like henry winterdavis, elihu washburne. In the senate, people like Charles Sumner and benjamin wade. And they really drove the agenda and pushed the Lincoln Administration to not only prosecute the war more vigorously but also to have a recons