Peter Kastor shares his expertise on American political and presidential history through several recent articles, interviews, and podcast appearances, spanning 2025-2026.
In a feature for The Source, Kastor examines the different motivations that led American colonists to declare independence from Great Britain. He explains how colonists with different political and social interests found common ground in the pursuit of liberty while having different ideas about what freedom meant.
Read more: WashU Expert: Why Did the Colonies Declare Independence?
In an article for The Conversation, Kastor explores how Air Force One has shaped the modern presidency. The presidential aircraft serves as a mobile command center and symbol of American power. He considers how advances in aviation have changed the ways presidents govern and respond to national emergencies.
Kastor joined the Ben Franklin's World podcast for an episode examining the creation of the U.S. federal government between 1789 and 1829. Drawing on his digital history project, Creating a Federal Government, 1789–1829, he discusses how the early government developed.
Read more: Episode 420: Peter Kastor, Creating the U.S. Federal Government
