Category Archives: Radio Show

A casual material history of the United States from Bill, Rachel, and guests. Recorded twice weekly in Newton, Massachusetts.

Dec 18, 2022 – The Thibodaux Massacre of 1887 – Arsenal For Democracy Ep. 453

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In 1887, the Knights of Labor organized a huge strike by Black sugarcane workers in Louisiana, which was suppressed with massive lethal force. (Content warning.) New Orleans-based guest Justin LaGrande returns to discuss the circumstances and recent efforts to bring it to greater light.

Links and notes for ep. 453 (PDF): http://arsenalfordemocracy.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/AFD-Ep-453-Links-and-Notes-Thibodaux-Massacre-of-1887.pdf

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Dec 11, 2022 – The Burlington Railroad Strike of 1888 – Arsenal For Democracy Ep. 452

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Bill and Rachel examine the relatively minor failed Burlington railroad engineers and firemen strike in 1888, which had a profound effect on Eugene V. Debs.

Links and notes for ep. 452 (PDF): http://arsenalfordemocracy.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/AFD-Ep-452-Links-and-Notes-Burlington-railroad-strike-of-1888.pdf

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Dec 3, 2022 – Microwave Ovens – Arsenal For Democracy Ep. 451

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Rachel and Bill discuss the history of the microwave oven since its invention at a defense contractor.

Links and notes for ep. 451 (PDF): http://arsenalfordemocracy.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/AFD-Ep-451-Links-and-Notes-Microwave-Oven.pdf

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Nov 27, 2022 – The Pulaski – Arsenal For Democracy Ep. 450

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In this mini-episode, Rachel explains the invention of Ed Pulaski’s popular firefighting tool, a combination axe and adze, after the infamous Big Burn forest fire in Idaho in August 1910.

Links and notes from ep. 450 (PDF): http://arsenalfordemocracy.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/AFD-Ep-450-Links-and-Notes-The-Pulaski-Tool.pdf

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Nov 20, 2022 – The Great Southwest Railroad Strike of 1886 – Arsenal For Democracy Ep. 449

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Bill and Rachel explore the disappointments of the Great Southwest Railroad strike of 1886 and reflect on potential lessons for present-day railroad labor relations. (Note: After we recorded this episode, the results were released for the 2022 rail worker votes on tentative agreements. The engineers narrowly approved the proposed contract, while the conductors narrowly rejected it.)

Links and notes for ep. 449 (PDF): http://arsenalfordemocracy.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/AFD-Ep-449-Links-and-Notes-Great-Southwest-Railroad-Strike-of-1886.pdf

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Nov 13, 2022 – The Autorack – Arsenal For Democracy Ep. 448

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How the development of the autorack rail car from the 1950s to the 1980s might have contributed to the relocation of US auto industry factories inside the US. (Bill and Rachel.)

Links and notes for ep. 448 (PDF): http://arsenalfordemocracy.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/AFD-Ep-448-Links-and-Notes-The-Autorack.pdf

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Nov 6, 2022 – From Filing Cabinets to Xerox – Arsenal For Democracy Ep. 447

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Bill and Rachel look at the arc of office document management technology from the 1886 filing cabinet to the 1959 Xerox machine and the required underlying developments that made them possible.

Links and notes for ep. 447 (PDF): http://arsenalfordemocracy.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/AFD-Ep-447-Links-and-Notes-From-Filing-Cabinets-to-Xerox.pdf

Theme music by Stunt Bird.

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