Audiobooks by Jeffrey Rogers Hummel

This volume is a two-part history of the Civil War. Part I From 1861 to 1865 America was caught in the convulsions of war-the Civil War. No historical event, short of the American Revolution itself, has so deeply affected the United States. The Civil War is often called the War between the States by Southern historians, aptly illustrating the political question underpinning the war: Was the United States one nation, or were the United States a group of sovereign entities that could choose to disassociate? Both sides honored the same constitution, spoke the same language, and worshipped the same God. But the two could not agree on whether America was a union or a compact of states. Part II With the advent of war, the Confederate States of America faced serious problems. The Confederate population was 9.1 million compared to the Union's 19.1 million. The South controlled only one quarter of America's wealth. Its railroad mileage was only half that of the Union, and its navy was badly outnumbered. But the South was fighting a defensive war on its own soil, and military theorists agree that such a war requires a three-to-one superiority for an aggressor to win. Many believed the South could prevail. Nevertheless, on April 9, 1865, General Lee surrendered what remained of his army. But what had the North won? The United States of America was now one nation under God. But that nation was crippled by the economic costs of the war-wholesale destruction, inflation, poverty. The political costs were no less. Abraham Lincoln had been assassinated; Southern leaders were in jail; the federal government had swollen in size and power. Northern politicians then began to "reconstruct" the South, building state governments that would be loyal to the union. But the conquered South simmered with resentments that could not be legislated out of existence. Edited by Pat Childs and Wendy McElroy

Jeffrey Rogers Hummel (Author), George C. Scott (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Civil War

This volume is a two-part history of the Civil War. Part I From 1861 to 1865 America was caught in the convulsions of war—the Civil War. No historical event, short of the American Revolution itself, has so deeply affected the United States. The Civil War is often called the War between the States by Southern historians, aptly illustrating the political question underpinning the war: Was the United States one nation, or were the United States a group of sovereign entities that could choose to disassociate? If America was a union rather than a confederacy of states, then the powerful North could abolish slavery and impose tariffs on the slaveholding, agricultural South. If America was a confederacy, then Southern states could preserve their institutions by withdrawing from the union. What provoked this bloodletting? Both sides honored the same constitution, spoke the same language, and worshipped the same God. But the two could not agree on whether America was a union or a compact of states. Part II With the advent of war, the Confederate States of America faced serious problems. The Confederate population was 9.1 million compared to the Union's 19.1 million. The South controlled only one quarter of America's wealth. Its railroad mileage was half that of the Union, and its navy was badly outnumbered. But the South was fighting a defensive war on its own soil, and military theorists agree that such a war requires a three-to-one superiority for an aggressor to win. Many believed the South could prevail. Nevertheless, on April 9, 1865, General Lee surrendered what remained of his army. But what had the North won? The United States of America was now one nation under God. But that nation was crippled by the economic costs of the war—wholesale destruction, inflation, poverty. The political costs were no less. Abraham Lincoln had been assassinated; Southern leaders were in jail; the federal government had swollen in size and power. Northern politicians then began to 'reconstruct' the South, building state governments that would be loyal to the union. But the conquered South simmered with resentments that could not be legislated out of existence. The United States at War series is a collection of presentations that review the contending political, economic, and social forces that have erupted in military conflict and examine how the conflict resolved, or failed to resolve, those forces.

Jeffrey Rogers Hummel (Author), George C. Scott (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Civil War Part I

From 1861 to 1865 America was caught in the convulsions of war—The Civil War. No historical event, short of the American Revolution itself, has so deeply affected the United States. The central question involved the nature of the union. Was the United States one nation, or were the United States a group of sovereign states that could choose to disassociate? If America was a union then the powerful North could abolish slavery and impose tariffs on the slave-holding, agricultural South. If America was a confederacy, then Southern states could preserve their institutions by withdrawing from the union. What provoked this bloodletting? Both sides honored the same Constitution, spoke the same language, and worshipped the same God. But neither side could agree whether America was a union or a compact of states. The United States at War Series is a collection of presentations that review the political, economic, and social forces that have erupted in military conflict.

Jeffrey Rogers Hummel (Author), George C. Scott (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Civil War Part II

On April 9, 1865, General Lee surrendered what remained of his Confederate Army. But what had the North won? The United States of America was now one nation, but that nation was crippled by the economic costs of war: wholesale destruction, inflation, and poverty. The political costs were no less. Abraham Lincoln had been assassinated and Southern leaders were in jail. Northern politicians now began to “reconstruct” the South, to build state governments that would be loyal to the union. But the conquered South simmered with resentments that could not be legislated out of existence. The United States at War series is a collection of presentations that review the political, economic, and social forces that have erupted in military conflict and examine how the conflict resolved, or failed to resolve the forces that caused war. "Here, for a certainty, is one of the great historical narratives of our century, a unique and brilliant achievement, one that must be firmly placed in the ranks of the masters...a stirring and stupendous synthesis of history."—Chicago Daily News

Jeffrey Rogers Hummel (Author), George C. Scott (Narrator)

Audiobook

The War of 1812

The United States emerged from the American Revolution still entangled in old world politics. In particular, America faced all the trade restrictions of the British Navigation Acts. The result: in 1812, the United States declared war on Great Britain, and proceeded to invade Canada, one of Britain’s possessions. But the invasion failed. In the war that ensued, British troops entered Washington, D.C. and burned the White House to the ground. The peace treaty of 1814 established the border between the United States and Canada – the longest mutually disarmed border in the world. Some historians have called the War of 1812 “America’s most unpopular war.” America – born from a commitment to liberty and equality – seemed to betray its heritage. The War of 1812 relied on conscription, a soaring tariff, and war taxes. Before the war, the national debt had been cut in half to $45 million; now it rose to $127 million. Moreover, the War of 1812 had an ominous impact; a single political party assumed almost unchallenged power. Other historians have observed that America fought Britain – the world’s foremost commercial and military power – to a negotiated settlement. This, they claim, meant that America had won the war.

Jefffrey Rogers Hummel, Jeffrey Rogers Hummel (Author), George C. Scott (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Bill of Rights and Additional Amendments

The Constitution of the United States created a nation with a strong centralized government. In 1791, the Constitution was amended to include ten amendments, commonly referred to as the Bill of Rights. These were guarantees of individual liberty upon which critics of the Constitution had insisted. Changing times raise changing questions. What of black rights-the right of former slaves to vote? And do women not share in that privilege? How many terms should a president serve? These and other issues were resolved through additional amendments to the Constitution. Throughout America's history, the Constitution has remained a living document. Here, each of the twenty-six amendments is presented in the unique historical context that gave it birth.

Jeffrey Rogers Hummel (Author), Walter Cronkite (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Mexican-American War

On May 13, 1846, the United States Congress declared war upon Mexico. Although the Mexican-American War lasted only 18 month, its consequences were profound. Mexico lost nearly one-half its territory; the United States acquired most or all the future states of Texas, California, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, and Colorado. During the Mexican-American War, the United States military made its first successful offensive on foreign soil, capturing Mexico City – the enemy capital. Some historians have described this offensive as America’s first step toward empire. More ominously, the Mexican-American War raised the explosive issue of whether slavery should be permitted in the newly acquired territories. Less than two decades later, this issue would help to speed America toward its greatest tragedy: The Civil War.

Jefffrey Rogers Hummel, Jeffrey Rogers Hummel (Author), George C. Scott (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Bill of Rights and Additional Amendments

Jeffrey Rogers Hummel (Author), A Full Cast, Walter Cronkite (Narrator)

Audiobook