The United States of Conspiracies

Why do more than three-quarters of Americans believe JFK was the victim of a conspiracy? Why do a third of Americans believe that aliens have visited the earth and have communicated with the US government?  What leads an American to believe that a missile (not a plane) hit the Pentagon on September 11th, or that the current President is not a US citizen? Award-winning American historian (and Ogden Honors College Dean) Dr. Jonathan Earle discusses the long and vibrant tradition of Americans entertaining visions of vast conspiracies targeting their race, religion, and the nation as a whole. His talk will explore how methodologies of history and archival research can be used to improve our own information literacy, help our fellow countrymen and women think more critically, and encourage us to become more active and energized citizens of our republic. First talk in our Spring Faculty Research Series. Refreshments will be provided.