>> join us each saturday evening at 8:00 p.m. and midnight eastern for classroom lectures from across the country. on different topics e andras -- topics and eras of american history. the lectures are also available as podcasts. download them from itunes or visit c-span.org/history/pod casts. >> each week, american history tv's real america brings you archival film that tells the story of the 20th century. ? ♪

>> the american farmer has fed us for 200 years. war, peace, oppression or prosperity. it's been a hard, plodding job, butt the former has kept us alive. not only that, but made is the best fed nation in the world. hundred 30 million people ask a lot of us farmers. a lot of us take it for granted. but in the 10 years before the war, he's been having a hard time making both ends meet. sometimes he wonders if he could make it good. yes, he wondered why he was working. that's thunder yo'ure hearing,

farmer. that is hitler. he wants power. will be given to him, or will be lightning strike? because if this does, it's going farmer. you have a job to do. while it is not your war, not yet, you never can tell. 1940 tomatoes. 900 million bushels. eggs, 37 billion. hogs, 16 billion pounds. milk, 107 billion pounds. that thunder you heard is falling on london and plymouth and coventry. >> hungry, hungry. >> she's talking to you. never heard of before, huh? she is enlighs, she's hungry and she needs you. dig, farmer, dig. so you dug.

and when you start eating your own food again, you turn around. but come on, farmer, you haven't time to think. things are going on in yugoslavia, greece too. that's a russian soldier, farmer, feed him! he's fighting for you. russia, china. [falling bomb] why, that's us. hey, farmer, that going, i'm hungry. >> that's an american marine farmer. this is our war now, farmer. we are all depending on you. yeah, i know you're tired. your hired mans quit you. you're all alone. you can get your work done. you don't have the time, you don't let it bother you. don't stop working. maybe you'd like to see what happens every time you stop. ok, farmer, every time i count to three, you stop.

1, 2, 3-- >> i'm hungry. >> it stopped because you stop. only 6% of american food goes abroad. you stop for 10 million american men and women who are hungry. you've stopped when a hundred 30 americans are hungry, new realtors, no work anywhere. it is up to you farmer. farmers save democracy. >> more corn! >> farmers save the world. >> more rubarb! >> more! >> more grapefruit! >> more spinach! >> more grains of bread, grains for life. >> this is me again, the marine, when do i eat? >> how about me, farmer? >> more food! >> quiet, quiet! this is as fast as i can go. i'm shorthanded. using all this machinery.

all the available acres under coverage. seems to me if i was one of those big fellas in washington i'd just set me down and do a bit of thinking. i'd find out some system to spread the food so that it will cover more. see what i mean? because i am warning you, that's all you're going to get. that's all i can give you. no more, do you hear me? no more. from now on, it's up to you. >> they heard him in washington. to make sure everyone gets a share. that plan is called rationing. ♪ >> for here's a plan that's square and fair, everyone gets

their share. no more fighting anywhere get the points mrs. brown one for you and one for me share alike for victory get the points, mrs. brown that's what i rationing plan is for, mrs. brown, mrs. jones the rosary man or the butcher store equal service in stores she gets hers and you get yours ♪ >> and so mrs. brown and most people want to make rationing work. but there are still a few who get what they want anyway they can. who will pay any price in the

black market. wait a minute, what's going on here? >> give me a nice small sirloin. about that thick. >> that thick? >> you heard me. that thick. >> madam, we are here to serve you, but that would run about three pounds. you haven't enough russian stance for that. but i could give you what happened size. >> half that size? what do you think i am? a peasant? >> holdup ma'am. maybe i can fix you up after all. but it will cost you eight he sense a pound. -- $0.80 a pound. >> all this talk about price ceilings. while the government do anything about it? i guess you have to pay for what you want these days. >> i have to go downstairs.

♪ >> do you know who i am? i'm your conscience. there's no use running. you can't get away from me. that is right, barbara. come back. come on. >> what do you want? >> tell me, my dear. what are you doing in this black market? >> i only wanted a little piece of red meat. you know how pekid i get when i don't eat for a while. [laughter] >> don't make me laugh. and what if you do get a bit faint? >> that's it, faint. i feel it coming on every

afternoon about 4:00. >> you feel it coming on? how about the tens of millions of american soldiers and marines? would you rather have been feeling faint? now maggie, you know all the answers. the real answers, don't you? then tell them to me. come clean. before it is too late. >> i knew it was a black market. i know why we have shortages and where the food is going. and what's more, i know how the black market operates. >> you are doing well margaret. >> i'm showing this honest butcher i will pay anything to get my want. >> you want to know some thing else? >> certainly. >> i never feel faint at 4:00 in the afternoon.

i like to say, you're a good girl margaret gibbs. a good girl. >> even rationing isn't any good if we don't make it work. it's still up to us. and there are a lot of people in the world depending on us. people in iceland and tunisia. to fight, they need twice as much food as they needed it when they were civilians. so get that steak or don't, because it's a very simple proposition. if we do, they don't. remember what the farmer said -- it's up to you. ♪ it's up to you what do you say? it's up to you starting today ? you can fix that you and you can

fix that you and you can wear it and you can touch that food and you can share it it's up to you it's up to you to spread it and make it go around yes, it's up to you to do what needs to be it's up to you. >> is a marked the first time all five democratic candidates will share the stage. we will be live for the family leadership summit where nine leading republican candidates

are scheduled to speak. she's been road to the white house 2016, we take you there. each week, real america been to archival films that help tell the story of the 20th century. >> a circus parade. this was the commercial and let everyone town and no that the big top was being raised. the everyday humdrum world would soon be filled with other things. that oh so daring young man on the flying trapeze. all because i had the good

notion to start my showbiz career in the circus. unfortunately, there hasn't been one of the circus parades for more years than some of us care to remember. it was natural for the joseph schlitz brewing company to decide to re-create this wonderful bit of americana for milwaukee celebration of the fourth of july. here comes the columbia bandwagon. this is the first circus wagon brought to the museum from outside the state of wisconsin. built in 1903, this was a steam calio wagon. now it carries a sort of

electrically operated telephone will stop our old door friends on the beauty tableau wagon are joined by some lovely live the ones. the girls are from schlitz. as the last passes, and notion of people falls into the line of march. down to the lakefront, our gigantic display. it is a truly special day. our country's birthday. ♪ >> as the last of the rockets red glare fades into the night sky the city looks forward to next year. it celebrates a day and becomes

once again america's fourth of july capital. ♪