American Symbols: From the Liberty Bell to Lady Liberty
Edward O’Donnell is a professor of history at College of the Holy Cross. He is the author of several books, including Henry George and the Crisis of Inequality: Progress and Poverty in the Gilded Age. He frequently contributes op-eds to publications like Newsweek and The Huffington Post, and has been featured on PBS, the History Channel, the Discovery Channel, and C-SPAN. O’Donnell also has curated several major museum exhibits on American history and appeared in several historical documentaries. He currently hosts a history podcast, “In the Past Lane.”
Overview
Symbols Of American Culture
Throughout the history of the United States, Americans have developed symbols to express their most cherished values, hopes and institutions. These include familiar ones like the American flag, Statue of Liberty, the Liberty Bell, Uncle Sam, the White House, and the bald eagle. They also include symbols that challenge the establishment to promote social change. Consider the peace sign or the clenched fist of the Black Power movement. And what about all of those now forgotten symbols that once carried so much significance—like the pineapple (hospitality), beehive (hard work), and the ballot box (democracy)? In this presentation, Professor O’Donnell will explore the role of symbols in American history and discuss these key questions: Where do these symbols come from? How have they functioned in society? How and why does their meaning change over time?
Learn More ABout The Symbols That Represent American Culture & Other Famous American Symbols
Learn more about symbols of American culture by checking out other great videos at OneDayU, including ‘Famous Military Strategists, ‘The Seven Wonders Of The Ancient World’ & ‘The History Of American Fast Food’ all on-demand now.