Bard College History Professor Christian Ayne Crouch looks at the roots of the War of 1812, which she traces back to the Seven Years' War in the 1750s and 1760s. The New York Public Library hosted this event. 

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A discussion on the War of 1812 with J.C.A. Stagg, a history professor at the University of Virginia and author of "The War of 1812: Conflict for a Continent." This event was hosted by the Maryland Historical Society.

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History professors Alan Taylor and Nicole Eustace are interviewed about the significance and legacy of what professor Taylor called "The Civil War of 1812" in his Pulitzer Prize winning book on the subject. Nicole Eustace discusses the fact that the war began in a presidential election year, and was the first time a modern democracy formally declared war. The interview was recorded at the annual meeting of the Organization of American Historians meeting.

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The Battle of Fort McHenry during the War of 1812 inspired Francis Scott Key to write the words that eventually became the "Star Spangled Banner." The Maryland Historical Society hosted music historian David Hildebrand for a look at how the history of the Star Spangled Banner - and how writing and poetry became musical expressions of patriotism during and after the war of 1812.

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This year is the Bicentennial of the start of the War of 1812. Donald Hickey talked about some of the myths that have lingered through history about that war at an event hosted at the Detroit Historical Museum. Mr. Hickey is the author of the book "Don't Give up the Ship! Myths of the War of 1812."

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On June 18, 1812 the United States declared war on Great Britain.  Hostilities continued until the Treaty of Ghent was ratified on February 16, 1815.  We'll be live from Fort McHenry National Monument & Historic Shrine in Baltimore, Maryland on Saturday with Vince Vaise, chief of interpretation.  We'll hear about the fort bombardment and the creation of the Star-Spangled Banner.  Tall ships began arriving in Baltimore this week to mark the war bicentennial and exchanged fire with Fort McHenry as they sailed toward the harbor.

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American History TV visited the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery for a look at an unprecedented gathering of portraits and objects representing the major personalities of this little-known war. Curators Sidney Hart and Rachael Penman take us on a guided tour through the collection assembled from the United States, Canada and Great Britain. The War of 1812 technically ended in a draw, but it buoyed American nationalism, birthed the national anthem and Uncle Sam, and anointed a future president in General Andrew Jackson. The exhibit, “1812: A Nation Emerges,” is open at the National Portrait Gallery until January 27, 2013.

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Harvard Law School history professor Annette Gordon-Reed is the author of two books exploring the story of Sally Hemings and her family’s ties to Thomas Jefferson. Her 2009 book, “The Hemingses of Monticello,” won a Pulitzer Prize. At the National Council for History Education National Conference in Richmond, Virginia, professor Gordon-Reed discusses teaching about slavery, as well as the research that led to her books.

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These are unedited excerpts from a 1992 conversation with former President Gerald Ford. He remembers Dwight D. Eisenhower from the perspective of the Michigan congressman that he was in the 1950s. Topics include the 1952 election and the GOP’s domestic agenda, McCarthyism, civil rights, and Ike’s legacy for the Republican party. He also discusses the day he took his young sons to visit Eisenhower at his Gettysburg farm, and the impromptu lesson the former World War II general gave the Ford boys on one of this nation’s most storied battles.   

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In this program from our 1999 "American Presidents: Life Portraits" series we focused on Rutherford B. Hayes' life and career. Author Ari Hoogenboom and the director of the Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center, Roger Bridges, talked about President Hayes as a lawyer, soldier, and politician during the contested election of 1876 in which Congress appointed Hayes president despite his loss to Samuel Tilden in the national election. The guests also explored the grounds of the Hayes Presidential Center, highlighting the various landmarks there. 

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