The early Cold War from 1945-1968 was arguably the most critical period in America’s history. During this era the nation entered an Atomic Age and Cold War against the Soviet Union, underwent the expanse of consumer society and technology, experienced two wars, dealt with myriad social changes, and witnessed assassinations of the nation’s leaders. This presentation looks at this era that, fortunately, had four of our greatest presidents: Harry Truman, Dwight Eisenhower, John Kennedy, and Lyndon Johnson.

The Supreme Court has played a major role in determining the course of American history with its landmark decisions related to the U.S. Constitution. The Court’s decisions have had a major impact on states’ rights, presidential power, and individual rights. Moreover, the Court’s interpretation of rights under the Constitution changes over time. Such decisions as Dred Scott v. Sandford in 1854 declaring that Black Americans could never be American citizens, and Plessy v. Ferguson in 1896 upholding “separate but equal” are just two examples of decisions that reflected the era in which they were made. This presentation looks at some of the Supreme Court’s more significant decisions in American history and discusses the two ways to view the U.S. Constitution: originalism or living constitution.

Less than a month after taking office, President Donald Trump issued 60 Executive Orders, affecting immigration, tariffs, government agencies, freedom of speech, and foreign aid, to mention a few. President Trump is not the first president to use Executive Orders to circumvent Congress, however. The Emancipation Proclamation was an Executive Order issued by Abraham Lincoln. Franklin Roosevelt issued an Executive Order to detain more than 100,000 Japanese Americans during World War II. Harry Truman placed the steel industry under federal control with an Executive Order. And Theodore Roosevelt used Executive Orders to set aside more than 170 million acres of land for public use. This presentation explores the history of presidential Executive Orders and their impact on American society.

Union General William Tecumseh Sherman said about the Civil War: “War is cruelty. There’s no use trying to reform it. The crueler it is, the sooner it will be over.” The Civil War ended in 1865 with the defeat of the Confederate states and slavery. Memorial Day began a few years later, in 1868, as Decoration Day: a day to remember Union soldiers who had lost their lives. Memorial Day is the time to reflect on those who fought and died in the Civil War and the wars that followed: Spanish-American War, World War I, World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam War. A famous saying is “Older men declare war. But it is the youth that must fight and die.” This multimedia presentation honors the youth as well as older American men and women who have donned the military uniform for America.

On July 2, 1776, the Second Continental Congress, meeting in Philadelphia, announced its independence from Great Britain. Two days later, on July 4, the Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence, the formal statement declaring the establishment of the United States of America as a separate and sovereign nation—no longer under the control of Great Britain. Since that day, the nation has celebrated July 4th each year, recognizing it as a defining moment in American history and reflecting on its importance in the nation’s future. This presentation explores the history of this day of independence.

Women have long been associated with the traditional gender roles of wives, mothers, and homemakers, except during wartime. This presentation looks at women during World War I and World War II. From working in war production and governmental agencies, to participating as volunteers in various organizations, to being actively involved in the theater of war, women have played a vital and essential role.