{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/6467b7de03f4220011a934bd/6ade598f959e7ea69d314472?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"342. America Hasn’t Always Been This Bastion of Democracy with Jackson Van Uden","description":"<p>Is America really the global saviour of democracy it claims to be, or is that just a myth? </p><p><br></p><p>Dive deep into the complex world of <strong>US Politics</strong> and <strong>American History</strong> with host Paul Bavill and guest historian Jackson Van Uden on this special episode of History Rage. Far from being a pure bastion of freedom from its inception, the <strong>History of the United States</strong> reveals a consistent, hidden vein of authoritarianism and anti-democratic behaviour that stretches all the way from the <strong>American Revolution</strong> to the modern era. </p><p><br></p><p>Discover how Founding Fathers like Thomas Jefferson used George III as a political scapegoat, why early elections like 1824 subverted the popular will, and how figures from Abraham Lincoln to Richard Nixon wrestled with executive overreach. Whether you are fascinated by <strong>American Presidents</strong>, the <strong>History of Democracy</strong>, or the complex realities of <strong>US Midterm Elections</strong>, this episode dismantles centuries of sanitized <strong>Political History</strong> to challenge everything you thought you knew. </p><p><br></p><p><strong>Key Highlights &amp; Topics Covered</strong></p><ul><li><strong>The Founding Myth:</strong> Unpacking how Thomas Jefferson blamed King George III to mask elite power grabs during the <strong>American Revolution</strong>. </li><li><strong>Elitism and the Electoral College:</strong> Why the architects of the Constitution feared direct democracy and how early presidential choices sidelined everyday citizens. </li><li><strong>Wartime Powers &amp; Expansion:</strong> Examining executive overreach, civil liberties, and authoritarian measures from the Civil War to Woodrow Wilson and FDR. </li><li><strong>Homegrown Tyrants &amp; Watergate:</strong> Looking at domestic demagogues like Huey Long and the legacy of <strong>Richard Nixon and Watergate</strong>. </li></ul><p><br></p><p><strong>Recommended Episodes Referenced in This Transcript</strong></p><ul><li><strong>Episode 262:</strong> <em>It&#39;s Time to Stop Glorifying Henry VIII</em> </li><li><strong>Episode 129:</strong> <em>Totalitarianism is a 20th Century Phenomenon</em> </li></ul><p><br></p><p><strong>Guest Information &amp; Links</strong></p><ul><li><strong>Guest:</strong> Jackson Van Uden (Historian of authoritarianism, curator of the Katherine of Aragon Festival, and host of History with Jackson) </li><li><strong>History with Jackson Podcast:</strong> Available on all major podcast platforms </li><li><a href=\"https://historywithjackson.co.uk/podcast\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">https://historywithjackson.co.uk/podcast</a></li><li><strong>Katherine of Aragon Festival:</strong> Keep an eye out for the festival coming to Peterborough in January 2027 </li></ul><p><br></p><p><strong>How to Follow, Contact, and Support History Rage</strong></p><ul><li><strong>Support the Show on Patreon:</strong> Join as a History Rager at <a href=\"https://www.patreon.com/historyrage\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">patreon.com/historyrage</a> to get early ad-free episodes, monthly live streams, and the coveted History Rage mug (tiers starting at £3 to £5 per month). </li><li><strong>Apple Podcasts:</strong> Subscribe for early, ad-free episodes directly through Apple Podcasts. </li><li><strong>Spread the Word:</strong> Tell a friend and help grow the community—stay angry! </li></ul>","author_name":"Paul Bavill"}