| Last week’s curation at RealClear’s American Civics portal features two noted American historians reviewing new works by two renowned historians of American history. At City Journal, Allen C. Guelzo reviews David Hackett Fischer’s new book, “African Founders: How Enslaved People Expanded American Ideals.” Guelzo notes that Fischer examines the distinct cultures found among “the 400,000 Africans who were victims of the North American slave trade between 1501 and 1867.” “They blended with the regional cultures of the colonists who enslaved them,” Guelzo writes, “leaving indelible marks on each of these regions and on American notions of freedom and liberty.” Overall, Guelzo argues that Fischer’s main contention – “that liberty is the story of our African founders” – is very much needed in a culture awash in ideological indoctrination. He concludes by heartily approving of Fischer’s new book: “His encyclopedic understanding of slavery in American regions from Texas to Massachusetts will make ‘African Founders’ a book to reckon with and to reference for years to come.” At Public Discourse, Daniel Dreisbach reviews Thomas Kidd’s recent biography of a key American founder: “Thomas Jefferson: A Biography of Spirit and Flesh.” Dreisbach writes that Kidd leaves readers with “a portrait of a brilliant, morally flawed, and often contradictory, overindulgent, and undisciplined man – a combination not uncommon in great men.” Kidd especially focuses on Jefferson’s thoughts on religion, finding that he embraced a Christianity that was “nonsectarian, nondogmatic, privatized (i.e., solely between him and his god), and rooted in reason.” In regard to slavery, Dreisbach notes that though Jefferson failed “to act on the implications” of the principle that “all men are created equal” in his private life, that claim nonetheless “compelled Americans (and people around the world) to consider its implications for enslaved peoples and the institution of slavery” and “unleashed movements that would ultimately undercut slavery and affirm the dignity of all humanity.” As Dreisbach concludes, “The biography is careful and balanced in its presentation of the evidence, revealing a man of monumental achievements and profound failings.” In the News Kerry J. Byrne, Fox News Caroline Gerhart, News4 Eric London, World Socialist Website Elaine Mallon, Inside Sources Iain Bernhoft & Bruno V. Manno, Public Discourse Eric Mlyn, Inside Higher Ed Nadia Romero, CNN Eleanor Shaw, The Breeze Taylor Penley, Fox News Heather C. McGhee & Victor Ray, New York Times Gilbert T. Sewall, Spectator World Steven Lubet, The Hill Dylan M. Palmer & Will Flanders, RealClearEducation H. Lee Cheek & Sean Busick, Savannah Morning News Mary Grabar, The Federalist Retro Report This 10-minute video provides a case study on the importance of midterm elections by examining the 1994 midterms using... Paul Carrese & H.R. McMaster, Battleground In this episode of Battlegrounds, H.R. McMaster and Paul Carrese discuss the need for civics and history education and opportunities to foster an understanding of our nation’s history... Gordon Lloyd & Chris Burkett, American Idea In this episode of The American Idea, Jeff is joined by Dr. Gordon Lloyd, Dockson Emeritus Professor of Public Policy at Pepperdine... Walter Stahr & Peter Robinson, Uncommon Knowledge Historical biographer Walter Stahr has given us definitive biographies of William H. Seward and Edwin Stanton, two of the ablest... Mike Sabo & Garrett Snedeker, Anthoring Truths In this episode, Mike Sabo, editor for RealClear American Civics, sits down with Garrett Snedeker to discuss RealClear... Carl Cannon's Great American Stories Good morning, it's Tuesday, the day after Labor Day. If they weren't already, most students are back in school. In ... It's the day of the week when I pass along a quotation intended to be enlightening. Twenty-four hours before President Biden ... It's Friday, the day of the week when I pass along a quotation intended to be uplifting or enlightening. Today's ... | 