When More Democracy Means Less Freedom

Washington, DC. There's an old saying that everyone learns by experience. It's just a lot easier when it's someone else's. In one sense, that's all that history is, being proactive about learning from other people's mistakes, rather than waiting to make those mistakes yourself. Those of you who have listened to my podcasts over the past few years will know how I feel about the discipline of history. TIMELINE 1860: just before the Civil War, the county's population was about 22,000 people. 1861: Abraham and Mary kept this as a rental, with plans of returning after serving in Washington. 1865: she refused to come back, and the house was later donated to the state of Illinois. 1877: and 1950, more than 4,400 racial terror lynchings occurred in the American South. WHY THIS MATTERS The story of Washington is a reminder that the events that shaped America didn't always happen in the biggest cities. What unfolded here left marks on the community that are still visible today. The full story is more complicated, and more human, than the version most people know. Episode 15 | Hometown History | Hosted by Shane Waters Hometown History explores forgotten stories from small-town America. The overlooked events, hidden triumphs, and buried tragedies that shaped the country we live in. New episodes every Tuesday. Find every episode at mythsandmalice.com/hometown-historyAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy