The Nashville Sit-ins of 1960, a significant moment in the Civil Rights Movement, emerged amid pervasive racial segregation in the South. Led by activists like James Lawson and supported by the Nashville Christian Leadership Council, students organized a series of nonviolent protests at lunch counters.

The escalating demonstrations faced hostility but garnered public sympathy. Their resilience led to the desegregation of downtown lunch counters in Nashville, setting a precedent for similar actions across the South and reaffirming the power of disciplined nonviolence in enacting social change.

In 1733, James Oglethorpe and a band of settlers arrived on the banks of the Savannah River, laying the foundation for what would become the Colony of Georgia. Unlike its neighbors, Georgia was founded with a unique mission—a blend of philanthropy, military strategy, and economic ambition. Oglethorpe, a British MP and military officer, envisioned a colony that would offer debtors and the impoverished a fresh start while serving as a buffer between Spanish Florida and the prosperous Carolinas. The colony's early days were marked by strict regulations—no slavery, no large landholdings, and no rum—designed to create a society of hardworking, independent farmers. Savannah, Georgia’s first settlement, was meticulously planned and quickly became a vital hub of commerce and culture. But as the years passed, economic pressures forced Georgia to evolve beyond its idealistic beginnings, setting the stage for a complex and often contradictory history that still shapes the state today.

On this episode ofBill Mick Live, it’s Tuesday, which means Dave Does History—and today, we’re taking on one of the most infamous political tricks in American history: gerrymandering. The term was coined on February 11, 1812, when Massachusetts Governor Elbridge Gerry signed off on a redistricting plan that reshaped voting districts to benefit his party. A satirical cartoonist noticed that one district looked like a salamander, and just like that—the “Gerry-mander” was born.

But there’s more to Gerry than just a political scandal. He was a Founding Father, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, and even served as Vice President. So how did his name get tied to a practice both sides love to hate? And more importantly—is gerrymandering actually the problem, or is low voter engagement the real issue?

Join Dave Bowman and Bill Mick as they break down the history, controversy, and lasting impact of gerrymandering—past, present, and future. Listen now!

At the dawn of the 20th century, the world’s great powers were locked in an arms race, each vying for dominance on the high seas. The British Royal Navy, long the master of the oceans, faced a new challenge as rival nations built bigger and more powerful fleets.

Enter Admiral Sir Jackie Fisher, a man who didn’t just anticipate change—he demanded it. Fisher’s vision was bold: a new kind of battleship, faster, deadlier, and more powerful than anything before. The result was HMSDreadnought, launched on February 10, 1906, a ship so advanced that it made every other battleship in the world obsolete overnight.Dreadnought didn’t just change naval warfare; she defined it.

But despite her revolutionary design, she had a surprisingly quiet career, remembered more for a bizarre prank and sinking a submarine than for battle.

Today, we explore the legacy of the ship that rewrote the rules of naval power.

The Election of 1824 wasn’t just another presidential contest—it was a political brawl that exposed the fractures in the so-called “Era of Good Feelings.”

Four candidates, all claiming the banner of the Democratic-Republican Party, fought for control of the White House, but none secured an electoral majority. Enter the House of Representatives, where backroom deals and personal vendettas determined the outcome. Andrew Jackson won the popular vote, but John Quincy Adams took the presidency, thanks to what Jackson’s supporters called a “corrupt bargain.”

Today, we break down the election that changed everything—and set the stage for modern American politics.

In the final months of World War II, Soviet pilot Mikhail Devyataev pulled off one of the most daring escapes in history.

Captured by the Nazis and imprisoned in a brutal labor camp on the island of Usedom, he faced near-certain death. But instead of waiting for fate to take its course, he did the unthinkable—he and a group of fellow prisoners hijacked a Heinkel He 111 bomber and flew to freedom.

This is the incredible true story of how one man turned the enemy’s own war machine against them, outwitting the Nazis and changing the course of history.

11th Amendment, Chisholm v. Georgia, state sovereignty, U.S. Constitution, Supreme Court cases, federalism, judicial power.

This episode ofDave Does History dives into the legal and political firestorm ignited byChisholm v. Georgia, a case that dared to question state immunity and ended up forcing the first major amendment after the Bill of Rights. When the Supreme Court ruled that states could be dragged into federal court by private citizens, the reaction was swift—Congress and the states wasted no time in slamming that door shut. We break down the case, the crisis, and how the 11th Amendment reshaped American law.

Aaron Burr was one of the most controversial figures in early American history—a war hero, politician, and vice president whose ambition led to both greatness and infamy.

Best known for killing Alexander Hamilton in a duel, Burr’s story didn’t end there. His life was marked by political intrigue, a treason trial, and a failed scheme that still sparks debate. Was he a traitor or a visionary ahead of his time?

This episode of Dave Does History explores Burr’s rise, his conflicts with Hamilton and Jefferson, the infamous duel, and his dramatic downfall, revealing a man who shaped—and was ultimately undone by—his own relentless ambition.

The Immigration Act of 1917 was one of the most sweeping and controversial immigration laws in American history. Passed over President Woodrow Wilson’s veto, it imposed a literacy test, expanded the list of “undesirable” immigrants, and created the Asiatic Barred Zone, effectively shutting out most of Asia from immigration to the U.S.

This episode looks at the political battles, the rising tide of nativism, and the long-term impact of the law on American immigration policy. How did fear, war, and shifting national identity shape this legislation?

And what lessons does it hold for today?

Step back into Gold Rush-era San Francisco, a city teeming with fortune seekers, rogues, and visionaries. In this episode of Dave Does History on Bill Mick Live, we explore one of the most fascinating figures in American history—Emperor Norton I, the self-proclaimed Emperor of the United States and Protector of Mexico.

Once a wealthy businessman, Joshua Norton’s fortunes crumbled after a disastrous investment in the rice market. But instead of fading into obscurity, he reinvented himself as a monarch, issuing proclamations that abolished Congress, defended civil rights, and even envisioned the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge—a project completed decades later.

For twenty years, San Francisco embraced him, treating their eccentric ruler with affection and respect. Today, activists still fight to name the Bay Bridge in his honor. Was he mad, a visionary, or both? Join us as we unravel the legend of Emperor Norton—America’s most beloved self-made sovereign.