Clarissa Explains
Have you ever sat in a history class and wondered, “So what?” Hosted by Clarissa Sanders, Clarissa Explains asks exactly that. This is a history podcast that explores a new corner of history each season and why it’s matters. Season 1 will take a deep dive into the history of disasters and how they have impact the past and the present.
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Episodes
6 days ago
6 days ago
In this episode of Clarissa Explains, host Clarissa Sanders dives into two deadly steamboat disasters in American history: the wreck of the Home in 1837 and the explosion of the Pulaski in 1838. These maritime tragedies shocked the nation, claimed over 200 lives, and exposed the dangers of unregulated steam travel.
Through survivor accounts, newspaper reactions, and historical analysis, Clarissa uncovers how public outrage and mounting loss of life pressured Congress to act, ultimately leading to the 1838 Steamboat Act, the first federal law to regulate private industry for public safety.
From tales of heroism and negligence to the political tension between free enterprise and government oversight, this episode tells the story of how two steamboats changed the course of American consumer protection laws.
The music from this episode is "Felicity" by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au
Sunday May 11, 2025
Sunday May 11, 2025
Welcome to Clarissa Explains, a history podcast that explores historical events and why they matter. Join host Clarissa Sanders this season as we take a deep dive into the history of disasters in the United States and how they have left an impact on communities, places, and laws.
This is history with context. This is history with meaning. This is: explaining history, one story at a time.
”Felicity” by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au