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The Culture Question: How Hot-Button Issues Divide Us

Culture wars have a long and divisive history in American politics, with gender, race and religion continuing to inflame public opinion.

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Culture wars have a long and divisive history in American politics, with gender, race and religion continuing to inflame public opinion.

To trace the roots of America’s culture wars, we look back at the 1856 election, where issues of slavery, gender, and religion fueled political conflict. John Frémont, famed for his role in the westward expansion of the United States, was the first presidential candidate nominated by the newly-formed Republican Party. As the campaign unfolded, he and his wife became lightning rods for cultural debate. Explore how the aftershocks from that period continue to shape modern American politics.

View transcript here.

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