Primary Source Close Reads Playlist
8 items
John Adams: Thoughts on Government | Primary Source Close Reads Explained
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11 Min
What is the purpose of government? In this episode of Primary Source Close Reads Explained, Kirk examines John Adams’ ‘Thoughts on Government,’ written in April 1776, just before the Declaration of Independence.
In it, Adams explores what type of government is best and how happiness can be ensured through it. According to Adams, how do we form the best kind of republic? What is the key to its success? Were these ideals on government included in the Articles of Confederation, or the US Constitution?
11 Min
Civil and Military Relationship throughout U.S. History | Primary Source Close Reads Explained
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10 Min
What makes the relationship between the government and the military in the United States so unique? In this episode of Close Reads Explained, Kirk examines three primary source examples that highlight this relationship: General George Washington resigning his commission to the Confederation Congress, General Ulysses S. Grant’s message to President Lincoln after the surrender of the Confederate forces, and Dwight D. Eisenhower’s message announcing Germany’s surrender. What does the tone of each of these messages communicate to us about the military’s place in our governing structure? What does each of these three sources have in common?
10 Min
Dwight Eisenhower’s D-Day Statement | Primary Source Close Reads Explained
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10 Min
How can we understand Eisenhower’s leadership through his D-Day statement? In this episode of Primary Source Close Reads Explained, Kirk explores the statement given by General Dwight D. Eisenhower 79 years ago to a group of citizen-soldiers as they prepared for the great undertaking that would be known as ‘D-Day.’ Eisenhower also prepared a statement in case of failure that was never needed but exists for us to examine today as another example of how he demonstrated leadership in the face of hardship. How do these statements show Eisenhower’s commitment to taking full responsibility as a leader?
10 Min
Alexis De Tocqueville’s Democracy in America | Primary Source Close Reads Explained
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10 Min
What is “Civil Society?” In this episode of Primary Source Close Reads Explained, Kirk reads a chapter from Alexis De Tocqueville’s ‘Democracy in America’ to explore what this question meant to him. Written after his journey to America in the 1830s, De Tocqueville’s book is a reflection on American society and how its democratic system works. Why does civil society matter, according to De Tocqueville?
10 Min
Examining The Monroe Doctrine | Primary Source Close Reads Explained
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18 Min
How did James Monroe establish his unique approach to American foreign policy? In this episode of Primary Source Close Reads Explained, Kirk investigates the 1823 Monroe Doctrine in which James Monroe dictated his stance on continued European colonization in the Western Hemisphere. What is James Monroe saying and not saying about America’s position in the world in his 1823 doctrine? How does the Monroe Doctrine compare and contrast to previous administrations’ declarations of neutrality?
How can words, written and spoken, change history? “Primary Source Close Reading: Explained,” dives even deeper into some of the most pivotal pieces that shaped the America we know today. Join BRI’s Director of Content, Kirk Higgins, as he takes a detailed look at the language contained in the most formative documents, speeches, and court cases throughout the history of the United States. Learn the true meaning and story behind the writing that fashioned the country in a way you can easily digest!
18 Min
Reading William Penn’s Letter Recruiting Colonists to America | Primary Source Close Reads Explained
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11 Min
What does reading colonist recruitment letters from the 1600s tell us about how those in the Old World viewed America? In this episode of Primary Source Close Reads Explained, Kirk dissects a letter written by William Penn to recruit colonists to the New World in 1683. Penn details the beauty, serenity, and potential for success in America for anyone willing to move across the ocean and start a new life. What does Penn see as some of the most significant opportunities for those coming to America? What does this letter not tell us about the New World?
11 Min
Ronald Reagan’s “Tear Down This Wall” Speech Explained | Primary Source Close Reads Explained
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16 Min
Why did President Reagan see the Berlin Wall as a symbol of oppression during the Cold War? In this episode of Close Reads Explained, BRI Senior Fellow Tony Williams helps analyze Ronald Reagan’s 1987 speech in Berlin calling for the removal of the Berlin Wall. What are President Reagan’s main criticisms of communism? What was his overall objective in the Cold War with the Soviets and how did his speech embody this?
16 Min
The Truman Doctrine Explained | Primary Source Close Reads Explained
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12 Min
What does the Truman Doctrine argue that the United States must do regarding the state of foreign affairs? In this episode of Close Reads Explained, Kirk explores President Harry Truman’s Address to Congress in 1947, later known as the Truman Doctrine. What does President Truman define as the difference between free and coercive governments? What argument does he make to the American people regarding the United States’ role in foreign affairs?
12 Min