CHALLENGES FACING AMERICAN POLITICS: HISTORY SERIES

TUESDAYS, FEB. 25, MARCH 4, 11 & 18 @ 2:00 – 3:00 PM

SHERBORN TOWN HALL, 2ND FLOOR / COST: $40

The Gilded Age

Mark Twain and Charles Dudley Warner coined the phrase “Gilded Age” in their 1873 novel The Gilded Age: A Tale of Today, which satirized the greed, materialism, and corruption of post-Civil War American society. This talk will explore the last quarter of the 19th century with special attention to parallels with the last quarter of the 20th century.

All in the Family

A Window into the Turbulent 1970s- In the 1970’s the United States weathered numerous upheavals, such as the loss of the Vietnam war, record inflation, job losses and changing gender and race expectations.  All in the Family was a groundbreaking sit-com and one of the most successful television shows in history.  Unlike its predecessors in the genre, AITF addressed social issues head on, combining humor with incisive social commentary.  A look at the show helps us remember that turbulent time and gives us insights into the present.

Conspiracy Theories & Why People Believe Them

Conspiracy theories have been part of history for a long time.  A Charlestown minister started one of the first in the 1790s when he claimed that a secret organization called the Bavarian Illuminati was working to undermine Christianity and overthrow the civil government.  People believe these theories for a variety of reasons, like wanting to belong to a group of like-minded individuals, or to help them understand complex events.  Exploring why people adhere to, and spread, such theories will help us to better understand the current political milieu of the United States.

Important Women in History

For many years the study of history has meant examining the lives of men. This talk breaks pattern and explores the lives of four women who shaped their nations and changed the course of history: Queen Elizabeth I of England, First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, Rep. Edith Nourse Rogers (R-MA), and Dr. Grace Hopper, computer pioneer.

Presenter: Jon Huibregtse, Ph.D., is a Professor of History at Framingham State University. Jon is the Faculty Advisor to the History Club, working on a biography of MA Senator David Walsh, and has taught at Framingham State since 1997.