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When did people begin seeking anonymous advice for their most profound personal dilemmas? What can the answers to their early questions tell us about the emotional lives of people in the past? We're traveling back in time to 1690s England to explore the world's first personal advice column, The Athenian Mercury. This two-sided broadsheet publication invited readers to send in questions about anything–from science and religion to love and marriage– and its creators, a small group of Londoners who dubbed themselves the “Athenian Society,” answered these queries with a surprising blend of wit, morality, and insight. Joining us for this investigation is Mary Beth Norton, the Mary Donlon Alger Professor Emerita at Cornell University and award-winning historian who is a trailblazer in the field of early American women's history. Mary Beth's Bio | Book Show Notes: https://www.benfranklinsworld.com/410 RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODES
In celebration of the 250th anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord, historians Rick Atkinson, author of The British Are Coming: The War for America, Lexington to Princeton, 1775-1777; Mary Beth Norton, author of 1774: The Long Year of Revolution; and Rosemarie Zagarri, author of Revolutionary Backlash: Women and Politics in the Early American Republic, explore the events leading to the first shots of the American Revolution, the battles themselves, and the colonists' response to this pivotal moment in history. Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center, moderates. Resources Rick Atkinson, The British Are Coming: The War for America, Lexington to Princeton, 1775-1777, (2019) Rick Atkinson, The Fate of the Day: The War for America, Fort Ticonderoga to Charleston, 1777-1780, (2025) Mary Beth Norton, 1774: The Long Year of Revolution, (2020) Mary Beth Norton, Liberty's daughters: The Revolutionary experience of American women, 1750-1800, (1980) Rosemarie Zagarri, Revolutionary Backlash: Women and Politics in the Early American Republic, (2008) Rosemarie Zagarri, A Woman's Dilemma: Mercy Otis Warren and the American Revolution (2nd ed. 2014) Townshend Act (1767) The Tea Act and the Boston Tea Party (Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation) The Intolerable Acts (Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation) Joseph Warren, “Our Country Is In Danger but Not To Be Despaired Of,” (March 6, 1775) Stay Connected and Learn More Questions or comments about the show? Email us at podcast@constitutioncenter.org Continue the conversation by following us on social media @ConstitutionCtr. Sign up to receive Constitution Weekly, our email roundup of constitutional news and debate. Follow, rate, and review wherever you listen. Join us for an upcoming live program or watch recordings on YouTube. Support our important work. Donate
In celebration of the 250th anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord, historians Rick Atkinson, author of The British Are Coming: The War for America, Lexington to Princeton, 1775-1777; Mary Beth Norton, author of 1774: The Long Year of Revolution; and Rosemarie Zagarri, author of Revolutionary Backlash: Women and Politics in the Early American Republic, join Jeffrey Rosen to explore the events leading to the first shots of the American Revolution, the battles themselves, and the colonists' response to this pivotal moment in history. Resources Rick Atkinson, The British Are Coming: The War for America, Lexington to Princeton, 1775-1777 (2019) Mary Beth Norton, 1774: The Long Year of Revolution (2020) Rosemarie Zagarri, Revolutionary Backlash: Women and Politics in the Early American Republic (2008) Stay Connected and Learn More Questions or comments about the show? Email us at podcast@constitutioncenter.org Continue the conversation by following us on social media @ConstitutionCtr. Sign up to receive Constitution Weekly, our email roundup of constitutional news and debate. Follow, rate, and review wherever you listen. Join us for an upcoming live program or watch recordings on YouTube. Support our important work. Donate
In the winter of 1692, the village of Salem, Massachusetts found itself embroiled in a vicious witch hunt. A total of 185 people would ultimately be accused of witchcraft, resulting in the deaths of 14 women and 5 men. To commemorate the 333 anniversary of the Salem Witch Trials, Scary Stories for the Soul is releasing one episode a week in the month of February, following 10 of the accused. This week will be focusing on Martha and Giles Corey. Resources used are Wikipedia, “Martha Corey -Salem Witch Trials in History & Literature” by Jillian Smith and Eliza Pollack, “Giles Corey -Salem Witch Trials in History & Literature” by Heather Snyder, Encyclopedia Brittanica, “Salem Possessed” by Paul Boyer & Stephan Nissenbaum, “In the Devils Snare” by Mary Beth Norton, records from the Court of Oyer & Terminer,
In Episode 401, we'll be exploring the Tea Crisis and how it led to the non-importation/non-exportation movement of 1774-1776. Our guest historian, James Fichter, references the work of Mary Beth Norton and her “The Seventh Tea Ship” article from The William and Mary Quarterly. In this BFW Revisited episode, we'll travel back to December 2016, when we spoke with Mary Beth Norton about her article and the Tea Crisis of 1773. Show Notes: https://www.benfranklinsworld.com/112 Sponsor Links Colonial Williamsburg Foundation Complementary Episodes Episode 135: Moral Commerce: The Transatlantic Boycott of the Slave Labor Economy Episode 160: The Politics of Tea Episode 228: The Boston Massacre Episode 229: The Townshend Moment Episode 337: Early America's Trade with China Listen! Apple Podcasts Spotify Google Podcasts Amazon Music Ben Franklin's World iOS App Ben Franklin's World Android App Helpful Links Join the Ben Franklin's World Facebook Group Ben Franklin's World Twitter: @BFWorldPodcast Ben Franklin's World Facebook Page Sign-up for the Franklin Gazette Newsletter
OA1079 - An OA Spooktacular! But also a normal episode. We continue our ongoing series on fascism and the law with a fresh perspective on a familiar American legal horror story. Matt explains the terrifying legal context surrounding the 1692 Court of Oyer and Terminar which sentenced dozens of innocent Massachusetts colonists to hang for the extremely real felony of practicing witchcraft--and an unexpected defense strategy which could have spared them. What can the most terrifying run of wrongful executions in US history teach us about the dangers of governance by rumor, paranoia, and conspiracy theories 332 years later? SOURCES: In the Devil's Snare: The Salem Witchcraft Crisis of 1692, Mary Beth Norton (2003) “Salem Witchcraft Trials Research Guide,” Congregational Library (2024)(links to primary sources) 18 USC 611 (voting by aliens) Order granting preliminary injunction against Oklahoma's anti-Sharia law amendment in Awad v. Ziriax et al, W.Dist. of OK (2010)(later upheld by 10th Circuit Check out the OA Linktree for all the places to go and things to do! If you'd like to support the show (and lose the ads!), please pledge at patreon.com/law!
What took the US from the Boston Tea Party to Lexington and Concord? Where was the turning point for the creation of the republic?Mary Beth Norton joins Don in this episode to take us through the causes of the Revolutionary War, and why the year 1774 is so important in this history.Edited by Aidan Lonergan. Produced by Sophie Gee. Senior Producer was Charlotte Long.Enjoy unlimited access to award-winning original documentaries that are released weekly and AD-FREE podcasts. Sign up for 50% for 3 months using code AMERICANHISTORY at https://www.historyhit.com/subscription/You can take part in our listener survey here.American History Hit is a History Hit podcast
Welcome back! This week, we're doing something a bit different. Join Lauren, Krystal, and David as they discuss the book 1774 by Mary Beth Norton. Have you read this book? Let us know what you think! Are you Mary Beth Norton? Hi!Don't forget to review and follow us wherever you embrace OpHist's shenanigans.
In this episode of "Witch Hunt," we are privileged to share the expert insights of Mary Beth Norton, a distinguished historian specializing in early American history. Mary Beth shares her profound research on the impact of frontier warfare on the dynamics of the Salem Witch Trials, offering a unique perspective that centers on the accusers. Mary Beth gives insights from her experiences teaching this intriguing topic of history at Cornell University, alongside the compelling witch trial research her students undertook. Join us as we discuss key takeaways from her groundbreaking book, In the Devil's Snare, and hear firsthand about the innovative research conducted by her students. Don't miss this deep dive into one of the most mysterious chapters of American history. Buy: In the Devil's Snare: The Salem Witchcraft Crisis of 1692 by Mary Beth Norton Buy: Records of the Salem Witch-Hunt by Bernard Rosenthal, editor The Cornell University Witchcraft Collection commonplace.online Salem Witchcraft In The Classroom Support Us! Buy Book Titles Mentioned in this Episode from our Book Shop Petition to recognize those accused of witchcraft in MassachusettsList of those accused of witchcraft in Massachusetts Come Visit Us On Youtube Athenian Mercury --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/witchhunt/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/witchhunt/support
As English settlers began moving into the northern frontier of New England in the mid-17th century, clashes with the native population there often had brutal results. Years later, a surprising number of those who lived though this tumultuous period in the region known as the ‘Eastward Frontier' played central roles in the Salem witch hysteria. We're joined by Professor Mary Beth Norton, whose groundbreaking work on this startling connection helped to change how we think about the Salem Witch Trials. Mary Beth Norton is the author of numerous books, including In the Devil's Snare: The Salem Witchcraft Crisis of 1692.
The three suspected witches are now in custody in Salem Village and are publicly examined by colonial magistrates at the Meeting House. The first two suspects, local beggar woman Sarah Good and the scandalous but frail Sarah Osborn, deny being witches and blame others. The third suspect, Rev. Parris' Native American slave Tituba, begins like the others by denying the charges. However she soon changes her story and weaves a kaleidoscopic narrative full of fantastic characters that enthralls the village. Everyone is amazed with wonder but also struck with fear at the potential size of the witch conspiracy, which now seems much larger than the usual small handful of suspects that New Englanders are used to. The actual 1692 written accounts of these three examinations are used as the primary source for the script of this episode. All music written by Brian O'Connell - www.brianvoconnell.comEpisode 5 Parts: Part I - Gathering StormPart II - Witches Teats, Magistrates Arrive, Meeting HousePart III - Examination of Sarah GoodPart IV - Examination of Sarah OsbornPart V - Examination of Sarah TitubaPart VI - The FamiliarsPart VII - The storm begins to spread (Gathering Storm Reprise)Brian O'Connell - voice, guitar, 12-string acoustic guitar, bass guitar, upright bass, keyboards, synthesizersMilo - screamsRecorded at Studio Vinniechops Mixed, Edited, Mastered by Brian O'ConnellHistory Sources“The Salem Witch Trials – A Day-By-Day Chronicle of a Community Under Siege” by Marilynne K. Roach, Taylor Trade Publishing, 2002 "A Storm of Witchcraft - The Salem Witch Trials and the American Experience“ by Emerson W. Baker, Oxford University Press, 2015 "In the Devil's Snare - The Salem Witchcraft Crisis" by Mary Beth Norton, Vintage Books, 2002Salem Witch Trials - Documentary Archive and Transcription Project - University of Virginia - https://salem.lib.virginia.edu/n125.htmlSupport the show
This episode is a recognition of the Culleoka Girls Soccer Team's accomplishment of getting to the "Final Four" of the the TSSAA State Soccer Tournament this fall. Special guests representing the team were Matti Norton, Mary Beth Norton, Anna Belle Demastus, and Assistant Coach Derrick Atkisson.
The hysterical and violent fits of the young girls in Salem Village spreads from the family of Minister Samuel Parris to that of Thomas Putnam, the head household of one of the most powerful families in the village. When Elizabeth Hubbard, niece of the local doctor, begins to have fits the door is opened for legal action, as the other girls were too young to be witnesses in court. It is widely assumed that malefic witchcraft is taking place. Putnam goes with some supporters to Salem Town to make official accusations against local suspects. The accused are: Tituba, a native-American household slave of minister Parris; Sarah Good, a local beggar woman who is an embarrassment and a nuisance to the village, and Sarah Osborne, a scandalous figure who had gone against the Putnam family in court. The three women, all likely suspects for witchcraft are rounded up and brought into custody. All the while the Puritans of Massachusetts Bay colony live in constant terror of encroaching warfare in Maine and New Hampshire. All music written by Brian O'Connell except:“Long Cold Nights” from the collection of traditional fiddle tunes called “Apollo's Banquet” compiled by Henry Playford, 1690. “Second Meter – Psalm 119” adapted from the Bay Psalm Book, 1698.Recorded at Studio Vinniechops, 2021-2022Episode IV Parts: Part I - “Long Cold Nights”Part II - Sarah Good, Mary Sibley's witch cake (music – “Long Cold Nights” & “Second Meter”)Part III - “A Perfect Storm” Part IV – “The Accused”Brian O'Connell – nylon and steel string acoustic guitars, electric 12-string guitar, bass guitar, piccolo bass guitar, acoustic and electric upright basses, piano, moog synthesizer, acoustic guitar w/ glass slide & ebow, cymbal, percussion, voiceRachel Koppelman – accordionA Perfect StormLong cold dark nightsGrowing shorter with each dayThe rains of MarchWinter washed awayTempest driving on the fieldsRoads turn into mudTo the west the river has overflowedAnd drowned the cowsFrom London comes a new charterNew government and lawsBlasphemers are welcome now In the land of puritansNew masters come to rule us allThe city on the hill will fallWar is coming from the EastBringing refugeesTelling tales of burning homesAnd mutilationsHow many have already turnedSigned their names into his bookIf we need someone to blameWe can provide a list of namesOur complaint we swore before the courtWe gave the names of the accusedMuch mischief done on our poor girlsThe constables have been sent out To bring them before the MagistratesSources “The Salem Witch Trials – A Day-By-Day Chronicle of a Community Under Siege” by Marilynne K. Roach, Taylor Trade Publishing, 2002 "A Storm of Witchcraft - The Salem Witch Trials and the American Experience“ by Emerson W. Baker, Oxford University Press, 2015 "In the Devil's Snare - The Salem Witchcraft Crisis" by Mary Beth Norton, Vintage Books, 2002https://www.brianvoconnell.com/Support the show
In this episode, Angie discusses Samhain. She talks about the energy behind this time of year and some traditions/practices that fit well with this energy. She also discuss witches. She talks about what the word means to her, what it traditionally has meant, and the history of the witch trials.
What made trade with China so important to the new United States that one of Americans' first acts after securing the United States' independence was to establish a trade with China and other Southeast Asian countries? Deal Norwood, an Assistant Professor of History at the University of Delaware, joins us to explore the lure of trade with China with details from his book, Trading Freedom: How Trade with China Defined Early America. Show Notes: https://www.benfranklinsworld.com/337 Join Ben Franklin's World! Subscribe and help us bring history right to your ears! Sponsor Links Omohundro Institute Colonial Williamsburg Foundation The Ben Franklin's World Shop Complementary Episodes Episode 098: Gautham Rao, Birth of the American Tax Man Episode 111: Jonathan Eacott, India in the Making of Britain & America Episode 112: Mary Beth Norton, The Tea Crisis of 1773 Episode 160: The Politics of Tea Episode 298: Lindsay Schakenbach Regele, Origins of American Manufacturing Listen! Apple Podcasts Spotify Google Podcasts Amazon Music Ben Franklin's World iOS App Ben Franklin's World Android App Helpful Links Join the Ben Franklin's World Facebook Group Ben Franklin's World Twitter: @BFWorldPodcast Ben Franklin's World Facebook Page Sign-up for the Franklin Gazette Newsletter
It's the third and final chapter of the Fear Street trilogy! Join us as we discuss why the title really should have been Fear Street 1694, Puritan attitudes toward homosexuality, the good old days when gossip was a crime, and more! Sources: Rachel Black, Alcohol in Popular Culture: An Encyclopedia: https://books.google.com/books?id=mb0SZIYCXREC&pg=PA10#v=onepage&q&f=false https://nerfpedialegacy.fandom.com/wiki/Super_Soaker_50 Associated Press, "Doused Police Chief Hits Crowd with Pepper Spray," Chicago Tribune (25 July 1993): 16. "Kids Turn in 100 Toy Weapons," Dayton Daily News (11 November 1994): 5B. Sally Deneen, "In Play: A Consumer's Guide to Toys," Sun Sentinel, Fort Lauderdale, Florida (28 November 1991): 1E. Christine Eisel, "Several Unhandsome Words": The Politics of Gossip in Early Virginia, dissertation (May 2012), https://etd.ohiolink.edu/apexprod/rws_etd/send_file/send?accession=bgsu1332788117&disposition=inline Francis T. McAndrew, "How "The Gossip" Became a Woman and How "Gossip" Became Her Weapon of Choice," The Oxford Handbook of Women and Competition, ed. Maryanne L. Fisher (2014). https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Frank-Mcandrew/publication/261063555_How_The_Gossip_became_a_woman_and_how_Gossip_became_her_weapon_of_choice/links/5a0604e7a6fdcc65eab17a53/How-The-Gossip-became-a-woman-and-how-Gossip-became-her-weapon-of-choice.pdf Susan Ratcliffe (ed.), "Gossip," in Oxford Essential Quotations, 6 ed. (Oxford University Press, 2018). Gyles Brandreth (ed.), "Gossip," in Oxford Dictionary of Humorous Quotations, 5 ed. (Oxford University Press, 2014). Mary Beth Norton, "Witchcraft in the Anglo-American Colonies," OAH Magazine of History 17, no.4 (2003): 5-10. https://www.jstor.org/stable/25163614 Mary Beth Norton, "Gender and Defamation in Seventeenth-Century Maryland," The William and Mary Quarterly 44, no.1 (1987): 3-39. https://www.jstor.org/stable/1939717 Walter W. Woodward, "New England's Other Witch-hunt: The Hartford Witch-hunt of the 1660s and Changing Patterns in Witchcraft Prosecution," OAH Magazine of History, 17, no.4 (2003): 16-20. https://www.jstor.org/stable/25163616 Elizabeth Reis, "Confess or Deny? What's a "Witch" to Do?" OAH Magazine of History, 17, no.4 (2003):11-13. https://www.jstor.org/stable/25163615 Rotten Tomatoes: https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/fear_street_part_three_1666 Nick Allen, "Fear Street Part Three: 1666" Rogerebert.com (16 July 2021). https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/fear-street-part-three-1666-2021 Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fear_Street_Part_Three:_1666 "Kiana Madeira & Olivia Scott Welch Discuss 'Fear Street' Movies | Entertainment Weekly" Entertainment Weekly YouTube (28 July 2021). https://youtu.be/dJR6EktKk-E Kayla Kumari Upadhyaya, ""Fear Street: 1666" Brings the Trilogy to a Very Gay Close," Autostraddle (19 July 2021). https://www.autostraddle.com/fear-street-1666-gay/ "Fear Street Cast Play MTV Yearbook & Reveal Creepy On Set Moment | MTV Movies" MTV UK YouTube (7 July 2021). https://youtu.be/_GxtoJ1uznY Richard Godbeer, "The Cry of Sodom: Discourse, Intercourse, and Desire in Colonial New England," William and Mary Quarterly 52, 2 (1995) Roger Thompson, "Attitudes Towards Homosexuality in Seventeenth-Century New England Colonies," Journal of American Studies 23, 1 (1989)
What do we know about the American Revolution? Why is it important that we see the Revolution as a political event, a war, a time of social and economic reform, and as a time of violence and upheaval? Woody Holton, a Professor of History at the University of South Carolina and the author of Liberty is Sweet: The Hidden History of the American Revolution, joins us to explore and discuss answers to these questions so that we can better see and understand the American Revolution as a whole event. Show Notes: https://www.benfranklinsworld.com/325 Join Ben Franklin's World! Subscribe and help us bring history right to your ears! Sponsor Links Omohundro Institute Colonial Williamsburg Foundation The Ben Franklin's World Shop Complementary Episodes Episode 060: David Preston, Braddock's Defeat Episode 128: Alan Taylor: American Revolutions: A Continental History Episode 144: Rob Parkinson, The Common Cause Episode 150: Woody Holton, Abigail Adams: Revolutionary Speculator Episode 152: Bernard Bailyn, Ideological Origins of the American Revolution Episode 181: Max Edelson, The New Map of the British Empire Episode 294: Mary Beth Norton, 1774: The Long Year of Revolution Episode 296: Serena Zabin, The Boston Massacre Listen! Apple Podcasts Spotify Google Podcasts Amazon Music Ben Franklin's World iOS App Ben Franklin's World Android App Helpful Links Join the Ben Franklin's World Facebook Group Ben Franklin's World Twitter: @BFWorldPodcast Ben Franklin's World Facebook Page Sign-up for the Franklin Gazette Newsletter
With Halloween next week, WGN Radio’s Karen Conti was joined by Mary Beth Norton, an American Historian and Professor at Cornell University, to discuss the history of the Salem Witch Trials and why they are still important today.
Horror fans rejoice, because this week we're talking about The Witch! Join us to learn more about what you had to do to get expelled from Puritan communities, ritual uses of baby blood, apples, the Song of Songs, and more! Content warning: Infanticide Sources: Film Background: Stephen Saito, "Persistence of Vision: Inside the Making of the Witch, a Horror Classic for the Ages," MovieMaker, available at https://www.moviemaker.com/persistence-of-vision-the-witch-robert-eggers/ Kevin Fallon, "The Witch: The Making of the Year's Scariest Movie," Daily Beast, available at https://www.thedailybeast.com/the-witch-the-making-of-the-years-scariest-movie Simon Abrams, "The Witch," Rogerebert.com, available at https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-witch-2016 Song of Songs: NIV Study Bible William Phipps, "The Plight of the Song of Songs," Journal of the American Academy of Religion 42, 1 (1974) Belden C. Lane, "Two Schools of Desire: Nature and Marriage in Seventeenth-Century Puritanism," Church History 69, 2 (2000) Julie Sievers, "Refiguring the Song of Songs: John Cotton's 1655 Sermon and the Antinomian Controversy," New England Quarterly 76, 1 (2003) Expulsion from Puritan Communities: Transcript of the Trial of Anne Hutchinson, 1637: http://bcs.bedfordstmartins.com/WebPub/history/mckayunderstanding1e/0312668872/Primary_Documents/US_History/Transcript%20of%20the%20Trial%20of%20Anne%20Hutchinson.pdf Nan Goodman, "Banishment, Jurisdiction, and Identity in Seventeenth-Century New England: The Case of Roger Williams," Early American Studies 7, 1 (2009) Ben Barker-Benfield, "Anne Hutchinson and the Puritan Attitude Toward Women," Feminist Studies 1, 2 (1972) James F. Cooper Jr. "Anne Hutchinson and the 'Lay Rebellion' Against Clergy," New England Quarterly 61, 3 (1988) Richard J. Ross, "The Career of Puritan Jurisprudence," Law and History Review 26, 2 (2008) Witchcraft and Baby Blood: Lyndal Roper, Witch Craze Lindemann, Anti-Semitism Before the Holocaust Bucholz and Key, Early Modern England David D. Hall, Witch-Hunting in Seventeenth-Century New England: A Documentary History 1638-1693, second edition (Duke University Press, 1999). https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctv11hph70.6 Lyndal Roper, "'Evil Imaginings and Fantasies': Child-Witches and the End of the Witch Craze," Past & Present 167 (May 2000): 107-139. https://www.jstor.org/stable/651255 Robert Blair St. George (ed.), Possible Pasts: Becoming Colonial in Early America (Cornell University Press, 2000). https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.7591/j.ctv1fxmmf.11 Deborah Kelly Kloepfer, "Cotton Mather's "Dora": The Case History of Mercy Short," Early American Literature 44:1 (2009): 3-38. https://www.jstor.org/stable/27750112 Aviva Briefel, "Devil in the Details: The Uncanny History of The Witch (2015)," Film & History: An Interdisciplinary Journal 49:1 (Summer 2019). Mary Beth Norton, "Witchcraft in the Anglo-American Colonies," OAH Magazine of History 17:4 (July 2003): 5-10. https://www.jstor.org/stable/25163614 Apples: "9 Things You Didn't Know About New England's Favorite Autumn Fruit," NPR (19 September 2014). https://www.wbur.org/radioboston/2014/09/18/apples-boston Rowan Jacobsen, "Apples: A New England History," Harvard Museum of Natural History, YouTube (16 January 2019). https://youtu.be/9C4yTA_hUmE https://www.beaconhillhousehistories.org/blog/blacksstone David Shulman, "Apples in America," American Speech 29:1 (1954): 77-79. https://www.jstor.org/stable/453602 https://www.newportthisweek.com/articles/a-century-of-bountiful-fruit/
Welcome to the inaugural episode of History: Fact and Fiction! Each episode will tackle a theme, and instead of debating what is fact and fiction in a historical event or person's life, I'll be reviewing various adult fiction and nonfiction history books available in NC Cardinal, particularly bestsellers paired with not-so-well-known titles, to see if they live up to the hype, and if so, what's so cool about them. In honor of July 4th and the American Revolution, I'll be reviewing the following books: Alexis Coe's You Never Forget Your First: a biography of George Washington (2020) Jill Lepore's These Truths: a history of the United States (2018) Rick Atkinson's The British Are Coming: Vol 1: The War for America, Lexington to Princeton, 1775-1777 (2019) Mary Beth Norton's 1774: the Long Year of Revolution (2020) Erica Armstrong Dunbar's Never Caught: The Washington's Relentless Pursuit of Their Runaway Slave, Ona Judge (2017) David Liss' The Whiskey Rebels: a novel (2008) John Ripin Miller's The Man Who Could Be King: a novel (2017) If you've got a historical topic or person you'd like me to look into in a future episode, just post it in the comments in our social media post on Facebook or Twitter!
(Note: This interview first aired in February of 202.) Very early in her career, the well-regarded American colonial historian Mary Beth Norton came to believe that the critical year in American independence was not 1776, but rather, 1774. Yet her academic focus on women's colonial history sidelined her interest in fleshing out this theory. Now, the author of such critical women's histories as "In the Devil's Snare" and "Separated by Their Sex" has returned to this initial thesis with her latest book, "1774: The Long Year of Revolution." In this pivotal 17-months period, from the Boston Tea Party, in December 1773, to the first shots at Lexington and Concord, in April 1775, Norton argues, an evolution in thinking occurred throughout the 13 colonies -- a shift from a prevailing loyalty to Great Britain to an emerging viewpoint that British rule must change, or else war would be inevitable.
1774 was the critical, and often overlooked, period when colonists traditionally loyal to King George III began their discordant “discussions” that led them to their acceptance of the inevitability of war against the British Empire. Late in the year, conservatives mounted a vigorous campaign criticizing the First Continental Congress. But by then it was too late. In early 1775, colonial governors informed officials in London that they were unable to thwart the increasing power of local committees and their allied provincial congresses. Although the Declaration of Independence would not be formally adopted until July 1776, Americans had in effect “declared independence ” even before the outbreak of war in April 1775 .To help explain we interview Dr. Mary Beth Norton who is an American historian, specializing in American colonial history and well known for her work on women's history and the Salem witch trials. She is the Mary Donlon Professor Emeritus of American History at Cornell University. She was elected as president-elect of the American Historical Association in summer 2016. She served as president-elect during calendar 2017 and as president in 2018. Her book Founding Mothers and Fathers was a finalist for the 1997 Pulitzer Prize. She recently wrote 1774: The Long Year of Revolution, which was A WALL STREET JOURNAL BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR
During the extremely cold winter of 1692 an intense frustration has been building in Salem Village, a small farming community up the road from the more prosperous and worldly port city of Salem Town. Many factors are coalescing into a perfect storm: the repressive nature of the Calvinistic Puritan church, the limited prospects for girls and young women, the village resistance to the conservative and overbearing minister Samuel Parris, and a terrifying new war that is breaking out with the French in Canada and their Native allies. During the months of January and February several young girls in the households of Minister Parris and his close ally Thomas Putnam begin to exhibit extremely wild and disturbing behavior. They contort their bodies, go mute and stiff, run about the house wildly, and scream obscenities. The girls are not the first to act in this way, just a few years before in nearby Boston the children of the Goodwin household acted in the same manner, resulting in a neighboring Irish servant woman being put to death as an accused witch. The fits of the girls in Salem Village are determined to be the results of witchcraft and three women are accused, including Minister Parris's slave Tituba. All music written by Brian O'Connell except "Cambridge Short Tune - Psalm 70" adapted from the Bay Psalm Book, 1698.Episode 3 Parts: Part I - Village and TownPart II - Fear of God (Cambridge Short Tune - Psalm 70)Part III - King William's WarPart IV - The FitsPart V - (Cambridge Short Tune reprise)Brian O'Connell - voice, piano, upright bass, acoustic 12-string guitar, bri-lo, percussionRachel Koppelman - accordionMilo Koppelman-Lauria - screamingRecorded at Studio VinniechopsSources "Diares of Samuel Sewall" by Samuel Sewall, 1672-1729"More Wonders of the Invisible World: or the Wonders of the Invisible World Displayed in Five Parts" by Robert Calef, 1700 "A brief and true narrative of some remarkable passages relating to sundry persons afflicted by witchcraft, in Salem Village: which happened from the nineteenth of March, to the fifth of April, 1692" by Deodat Lawson, 1692"A Modest Inquiry Into The Nature Of Witchcraft" by John Hale, 1702"Memorable Providences, Relating To Witchcrafts And Possessions" by Cotton Mather, 1689"A Storm of Witchcraft - The Salem Witch Trials and the American Experience“ by Emerson W. Baker, Oxford University Press, 2015"In the Devil's Snare - The Salem Witchcraft Crisis" by Mary Beth Norton, Vintage Books, 2002Support the show (https://venmo.com/Brian-OConnell-74537)
Is there anything more we can know about well-researched and reported events like the Boston Massacre? Are there new ways of looking at oft-taught events that can help us see new details about them, even 250 years after they happened? Serena Zabin, a Professor of History at Carleton College in Minnesota and the author of the award-winning book, The Boston Massacre: A Family History, joins us to discuss the Boston Massacre and how she found a new lens through which to view this famous event that reveals new details and insights. Show Notes: https://www.benfranklinsworld.com/296 Join Ben Franklin's World! Subscribe and help us bring history right to your ears! Sponsor Links Omohundro Institute The Ben Franklin's World Shop Seizing Freedom podcast Complementary Episodes Episode 159: Serena Zabin, The Revolutionary Economy Episode 228: Eric Hinderaker, The Boston Massacre Episode 229: Patrick Griffin, The Townshend Moment Episode 230: Mitch Kachun, The First Martyr of Liberty Episode 294: Mary Beth Norton, 1774: The Long Year of Revolution Listen! Apple Podcasts Spotify Google Podcasts Amazon Music Ben Franklin's World iOS App Ben Franklin's World Android App Helpful Links Join the Ben Franklin's World Facebook Group Ben Franklin’s World Twitter: @BFWorldPodcast Ben Franklin's World Facebook Page Sign-up for the Franklin Gazette Newsletter
The 16 months from the Boston Tea Party to the Battles of Lexington and Concord changed the course of American history. In this lecture, recorded on February 4, 2021, Mary Beth Norton explores what is known as the "long year" of the American Revolution, a time when once-loyal colonists began their discordant "discussions," leading to the acceptance of the inevitability of a war against the British Empire.
When we think of important years in the history of the American Revolution, we might think of years like 1765 and the Stamp Act Crisis, 1773 and the Tea Crisis, 1775 and the start of what would become the War for American Independence, or 1776, the year the United States declared independence. Award-winning historian Mary Beth Norton, the Mary Donlan Alger Professor Emerita at Cornell University and the author of 1774: The Long Year of Revolution, joins us to discuss another year that she would like us to pay attention to as we think about the American Revolution: the year 1774. Show Notes: https://www.benfranklinsworld.com/294 Join Ben Franklin's World! Subscribe and help us bring history right to your ears! Sponsor Links Omohundro Institute Seizing Freedom podcast The Ben Franklin's World Shop Complementary Episodes Bonus: The Boston Stamp Act Riots Episode 112: Mary Beth Norton, The Tea Crisis of 1773 Episode 144: Robert Parkinson, The Common Cause of the American Revolution Episode 160: The Politics of Tea Episode 161: Smuggling and the American Revolution Episode 229: Patrick Griffin, The Townshend Moment Episode 243: Joseph Adelman, Revolutionary Networks Listen! Apple Podcasts Spotify Google Podcasts Amazon Music Ben Franklin's World iOS App Ben Franklin's World Android App Helpful Links Join the Ben Franklin's World Facebook Group Ben Franklin’s World Twitter: @BFWorldPodcast Ben Franklin's World Facebook Page Sign-up for the Franklin Gazette Newsletter
Mary Beth Norton, the Mary Donlon Alger Professor of History emerita at Cornell, joins us to talk about her new book, 1774: Long Year of Revolution. We learn about the response to the destruction of the tea, about the cargo of tea that wound up on Cape Cod, and how Charleston, South Carolina had its own response to the tea--and the unfortunate end of the Peggy Stewart in Annapolis. This was the critical year--and also the year the terms "loyalist" and "unconstitutional" entered the vocabulary--and no one knew how it would end. Find out more!
Summer has arrived and with it the end of Season 4 of Conversations at the Washington Library. But don't despair! While we're busy recording new episodes for Season 5, we'll keep the conversation going by bringing you the audio version of recent and upcoming Washington Library Live Stream Digital Book Talks. In fact, for today's episode, we bring you Dr. Kevin Butterfield's recent chat with Dr. Mary Beth Norton about her new book, 1774: The Long Year of Revolution. Norton is Mary Donlon Alger Professor Emerita at Cornell University. For over 40 years, she has been one of the leading scholars of the Revolutionary era, with books on American Loyalists, women and gender, and witchcraft. As with all live streams, you might hear an audio glitch here and there. If you'd rather watch the video version, complete with the images Norton and Butterfield discuss, check it out at www.mountvernon.org/gwdigitaltalks Season 5 of Conversations will begin rolling out in mid-August. In the meantime, we hope you enjoy this program. About Our Guest: Mary Beth Norton is an historian, specializing in America before 1800. She is a recipient of the Ambassador Book Award in American Studies for In the Devil's Snare: The Salem Witchcraft Crisis of 1692, Guggenheim Fellowship for Humanities, US & Canada and was a nominee for the Pulitzer Prize for History (1997). She has received four honorary degrees and has held fellowships from the Rockefeller, Guggenheim, Mellon, and Starr Foundations, as well as from Princeton University and the Huntington Library. She has been elected a member of both the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the American Philosophical Society. She served as Pitt Professor of American History and Institutions in the University of Cambridge in 2005-06. She is Mary Donlon Alger Professor of American History emerita at the Department of History at Cornell University. Norton is a former president of the American Historical Association. About Our Guest Host: Kevin C. Butterfield is the Executive Director of the Washington Library. He comes to Mount Vernon from the University of Oklahoma, where he served as the Director of the Institute for the American Constitutional Heritage and Constitutional Studies Program, holding an appointment as the Wick Cary Professor and Associate Professor of Classics and Letters. He is the author of The Making of Tocqueville's America: Law and Association in the Early United States (Chicago, 2015).
Summer has arrived and with it the end of Season 4 of Conversations at the Washington Library. But don't despair! While we're busy recording new episodes for Season 5, we'll keep the conversation going by bringing you the audio version of recent and upcoming Washington Library Live Stream Digital Book Talks. In fact, for today’s episode, we bring you Dr. Kevin Butterfield’s recent chat with Dr. Mary Beth Norton about her new book, 1774: The Long Year of Revolution. Norton is Mary Donlon Alger Professor Emerita at Cornell University. For over 40 years, she has been one of the leading scholars of the Revolutionary era, with books on American Loyalists, women and gender, and witchcraft. As with all live streams, you might hear an audio glitch here and there. If you’d rather watch the video version, complete with the images Norton and Butterfield discuss, check it out at www.mountvernon.org/gwdigitaltalks Season 5 of Conversations will begin rolling out in mid-August. In the meantime, we hope you enjoy this program. About Our Guest: Mary Beth Norton is an historian, specializing in America before 1800. She is a recipient of the Ambassador Book Award in American Studies for In the Devil’s Snare: The Salem Witchcraft Crisis of 1692, Guggenheim Fellowship for Humanities, US & Canada and was a nominee for the Pulitzer Prize for History (1997). She has received four honorary degrees and has held fellowships from the Rockefeller, Guggenheim, Mellon, and Starr Foundations, as well as from Princeton University and the Huntington Library. She has been elected a member of both the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the American Philosophical Society. She served as Pitt Professor of American History and Institutions in the University of Cambridge in 2005-06. She is Mary Donlon Alger Professor of American History emerita at the Department of History at Cornell University. Norton is a former president of the American Historical Association. About Our Guest Host: Kevin C. Butterfield is the Executive Director of the Washington Library. He comes to Mount Vernon from the University of Oklahoma, where he served as the Director of the Institute for the American Constitutional Heritage and Constitutional Studies Program, holding an appointment as the Wick Cary Professor and Associate Professor of Classics and Letters. He is the author of The Making of Tocqueville's America: Law and Association in the Early United States (Chicago, 2015). --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mountvernon/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/mountvernon/support
This special bonus episode introduces the Ben Franklin's World Subscription program and a new monthly Listener Question & Answer feature for subscribers to that program. In this preview, award-winning historian Nick Bunker answers your questions about the life of young Benjamin Franklin. Show Notes: https://www.benfranklinsworld.com/207 Join Ben Franklin's World! Subscribe and help us bring history right to your ears! Sponsor Links Omohundro Institute The Ben Franklin's World Shop Complementary Episodes Episode 086: George Goodwin, Benjamin Franklin in London Episode 112: Mary Beth Norton, The Tea Crisis of 1773 Episode 160: The Politics of Tea Episode 169: Thomas Kidd, The Religious Life of Benjamin Franklin Episode 175: Daniel Mark Epstein, House Divided: The Revolution in Ben Franklin's House Episode 207: Nick Bunker: Young Benjamin Franklin Listen! Apple Podcasts Spotify Google Podcasts Ben Franklin's World iOS App Ben Franklin's World Android App Helpful Links Join the Ben Franklin's World Facebook Group Ben Franklin’s World Twitter: @BFWorldPodcast Ben Franklin's World Facebook Page Sign-up for the Franklin Gazette Newsletter
Who gets to be a founding father? “Founding Father” status goes to men who helped found the United States. That means the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence, those who led the Continental Army, and the 36 delegates who signed the Constitution. We’re talking about more than 100 men and yet, we don’t really talk about more than a handful of these “founders” as Founders. Stephen Fried, an award-winning journalist and author of Rush: Revolution, Madness, and Benjamin Rush, the Visionary Doctor Who Became a Founding Father, joins us to explore the life and deeds of one founder we don’t always talk about, Benjamin Rush. Show Notes: https://www.benfranklinsworld.com/276 Sponsor Links Omohundro Institute The Ben Franklin's World Shop The Ben Franklin's World Reading Group Complementary Episodes Episode 112: Mary Beth Norton, The Tea Crisis of 1773 Episode 169: Thomas Kidd, The Religious Life of Benjamin Franklin Episode 193: Partisans: The Friendship & Rivalry of Adams and Jefferson Episode 209: Considering Biography Episode 263: Sari Altschuler, The Medical Imagination Episode 273: Victoria Johnson, David Hosack, Botany, and Medicine in the Early Republic Listen! Apple Podcasts Spotify Google Podcasts Ben Franklin's World iOS App Ben Franklin's World Android App Helpful Links Join the Ben Franklin's World Facebook Group Ben Franklin’s World Twitter: @BFWorldPodcast Ben Franklin's World Facebook Page Sign-up for the Franklin Gazette Newsletter
At a time when our nation's leadership is being critically tested, the very notion of how the United States came to be is as important as ever. To frame our understanding of the news media, women's rights, and words like "unconstitutional," we have to look at the years leading up to the American Revolution. Justin and Lance are joined by Mary Beth Norton, a professor of American history at Cornell University, to discuss what we can learn from the revolutionists today. tags: revolutionary war, 1774, american history, britian, colonies, journalism, declaration of independence, tsou, mary beth norton, news, media, womens rights, politics, power, justin weller, lance jackson
In this episode, we examine the most notorious witch hunt in American history, in Salem, Massachusetts. Hundreds of women and men were accused of witchcraft by young, "afflicted" girls, and many were executed. My guest is Mary Beth Norton, award-winning historian and professor of American history at Cornell University. She joins me to talk about her book, "In the Devil's Snare: The Salem Witchcraft Crisis of 1692". Besides explaining the details on how the crisis unfolded, she dispels some of the common myths surrounding this infamous historical event. Thanks, The RealReal! Sign up for an account to receive $25 off your first purchase within one week and then get 20% off select items at therealreal.com with promo code REAL. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
On April 18, 1775, Paul Revere rode to Lexington, Massachusetts to spread the alarm that the Regulars were marching. Revere made several important rides between 1774 and 1775, including one in September 1774 that brought the Suffolk Resolves to the First Continental Congress in Philadelphia. So why is it that we remember Paul Revere’s ride to Lexington and not any of his other rides? Why is it that we remember Paul Revere on the night of April 18, 1775 and nothing about his life either before or after that famous ride? Why is it that Paul Revere seems to ride quickly into history and then just as quickly out of it? In this episode we speak with four scholars to explore Paul Revere’s ride through history. This episode originally posted as Episode 130. Show Notes: https://www.benfranklinsworld.com/271 Sponsor Links Omohundro Institute The Ben Franklin's World Shop Complementary Episodes Episode 075: Peter Drummey, How Archives Work (History of Paul Revere’s Accounts of his Ride) Episode 106: Jane Kamensky, The World of John Singleton Copley Episode 112: Mary Beth Norton, The Tea Crisis of 1773 Episode 128: Alan Taylor, American Revolutions: A Continental History Episode 129: John Bell, The Road to Concord, 1775 Episode 245: Celebrating the Fourth of July Listen! Apple Podcasts Spotify Google Podcasts Ben Franklin's World iOS App Ben Franklin's World Android App Helpful Links Join the Ben Franklin's World Facebook Group Ben Franklin’s World Twitter: @BFWorldPodcast Ben Franklin's World Facebook Page Sign-up for the Franklin Gazette Newsletter
History is an important tool when it comes to understanding American law. History is what the justices of the United States Supreme Court use when they want to ascertain what the framers meant when they drafted the Constitution of 1787 and its first ten amendments in 1789. History is also the tool we use when we want to know how and why the Supreme Court’s interpretation of the Constitution and its amendments have changed over time. Sarah Seo, an Associate Professor of Law at the University of Iowa, Fourth Amendment expert, and the author of Policing the Open Road: How Cars Transformed American Freedom, joins us to investigate how and why the Supreme Court’s interpretation of the Fourth Amendment has changed over time and how that change has impacted the way the Fourth Amendment protects us from unreasonable search and seizures. Show Notes: https://www.benfranklinsworld.com/262 Sponsor Links Omohundro Institute The Ben Franklin's World Shop Complementary Episodes Episode 098: Gautham Rao, Birth of the American Tax Man Episode 112: Mary Beth Norton, The Tea Crisis of 1773 Episode 160: The Politics of Tea Episode 161: Smuggling and the American Revolution Episode 259: The Bill of Rights & How Legal Historians Work Episode 260: Creating the First Ten Amendments Episode 261: Creating the Fourth Amendment Listen! Apple Podcasts Spotify Google Podcasts Ben Franklin's World iOS App Ben Franklin's World Android App Helpful Links Join the Ben Franklin's World Facebook Group Ben Franklin’s World Twitter: @BFWorldPodcast Ben Franklin's World Facebook Page Sign-up for the Franklin Gazette Newsletter *Books purchased through the links on this post will help support the production of Ben Franklin's World.
On the evening of March 5, 1770, a crowd gathered in Boston’s King Street and confronted a a sentry and his fellow soldiers in front of the custom house. The confrontation led the soldiers to fire their muskets into the crowd, five civilians died. What happened on the night of March 5, 1770 that led the crowd to gather and the soldiers to discharge their weapons? Eric Hinderaker, a distinguished professor of history at the University of Utah and the author of Boston’s Massacre, assists our quest to discover more about the Boston Massacre. Show Notes: https://www.benfranklinsworld.com/228 Sponsor Links Omohundro Institute Omohundro Institute Books (Use Promo Code 01DAH40 to save 40 percent) Complementary Episodes Bonus Episode: J.L. Bell, The Stamp Act of 1765 Episode 106: Jane Kamensky, The World of John Singleton Copley Episode 112: Mary Beth Norton, The Tea Crisis of 1773 Episode 129: J.L. Bell, The Road to Concord, 1775 Episode 130: Paul Revere’s Ride Through History Episode 161: Smuggling and the American Revolution Episode 186: Max Edelson, The New Map of the British Empire Helpful Show Links Ben Franklin's World Facebook Page Ben Franklin’s World Twitter: @BFWorldPodcast Join the Ben Franklin's World Community Sign-up for the Franklin Gazette Newsletter Ben Franklin's World iOS App Ben Franklin's World Android App *Books purchased through this link will help support the production of Ben Franklin's World.
Our interview with Mary Beth Norton, professor of American history at Cornell University and author of In the Devil’s Snare.
On September 17, 1787, a majority of the delegates to the Constitutional Convention approved the new form of government they had spent months drafting and submitted it to the 13 states for their ratification and approval. On June 21, 1788, New Hampshire became the 9th state to ratify the Constitution, which prompted the transition to the government of the United States Constitution. Matt Wasniewski, the Historian of the United States House of Representatives and Terrance Rucker, a Historical Publications Specialist in the Office of the Historian at the United States House of Representatives, lead us on an exploration of why and how the United States Constitution established a bicameral Congress and how and why the House of Representatives took the shape and form that it did during its early meetings. Show Notes: https://www.benfranklinsworld.com/202 Sponsor Links Omohundro Institute The Great Courses Plus (Free Month Unlimited Trial) Complementary Episodes Episode 040: Kata Bartoloni-Tuazon, For Fear of an Elective King Episode 078: Rachel Shelden, Washington Brotherhood: Politics, Social Life, and the Coming of the Civil War Episode 112: Mary Beth Norton, The Tea Crisis of 1773 Episode 153: Committees and Congresses: Governments of the American Revolution Episode 179: George Van Cleve, Governance During the Critical Period Episode 180: Kate Elizabeth Brown, Alexander Hamilton and the Making of American Law Helpful Show Links Ben Franklin's World Facebook Page Join the Ben Franklin's World Community Sign-up for the Franklin Gazette Newsletter Ben Franklin's World iOS App Ben Franklin's World Android App
As part of its mission, the National Park Service seeks to protect and preserve places saved by the American people so that all may experience the heritage of the United States. These places include those with historical significance. Supervisory Park Ranger Garrett Cloer joins us to explore the Longfellow House-Washington’s Headquarters National Historic Site so we can discover more about the Siege of Boston (1775-76) and the birth of the Continental Army and the life and work of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Show Notes: https://www.benfranklinsworld.com/194 Sponsor Links Omohundro Institute Daniel Livesay, Children of Uncertain Fortune Complementary Episodes Episode 026: Robert Middlekauff, George Washington’s Revolution Episode 112: Mary Beth Norton, The Tea Crisis of 1773 Episode 129: John Bell, The Road to Concord Episode 130: Paul Revere’s Ride Through History Episode 157: The Revolution’s African American Soldiers Episode 158: The Revolutionaries’ Army Helpful Show Links Ben Franklin's World Facebook Page Join the Ben Franklin's World Community Sign-up for the Franklin Gazette Newsletter Ben Franklin's World iOS App Ben Franklin's World Android App *Books purchased through this link will help support the production of Ben Franklin's World.
Why did early Americans choose to become patriots or loyalists during the American Revolution? How did they make the decision to either stand with or against their neighbors? Did political beliefs really drive them to support one side of the imperial conflict over the other? In this episode, we explore answers to these questions about how and why Americans chose to support the sides they did during the American Revolution, by looking at the lives of two young soldiers from Connecticut: Moses Dunbar and Nathan Hale. Taking us through the lives, politics, and decisions of these young men is Virginia DeJohn Anderson, a professor of history at the University of Colorado-Boulder and author of The Martyr and the Traitor: Nathan Hale, Moses Dunbar, and the American Revolution. Show Notes: https://www.benfranklinsworld.com/181 Listener Meet ups Sacramento Meet up: Saturday April 14, 4pm, Firestone Public House Las Vegas Meet up: Saturday April 21, 4pm, Wyndham Grand Desert Hotel Lobby Sponsor Links Omohundro Institute Listener Survey Ben Franklin’s World Amazon Alexa Skill Complementary Episodes Bonus: J.L. Bell, The Boston Stamp Act Riots Episode 112: Mary Beth Norton, The Tea Crisis of 1773 Episode 123: Revolutionary Allegiances Episode 129: J.L. Bell, The Road to Concord, 1775 Episode 130: Paul Revere’s Ride Through History Episode 152: Bernard Bailyn, Origins of the American Revolution Episode 172: Kenneth Daigler, American Intelligence in the Revolutionary War Helpful Show Links Ben Franklin's World Facebook Page Join the Ben Franklin's World Community Sign-up for the Franklin Gazette Newsletter Ben Franklin's World iOS App Ben Franklin's World Android App *Books purchased through this link will help support the production of Ben Franklin's World.
How did early Americans go from hosting social tea parties to hosting protests like the Boston Tea Party? Tea played a central role in the economic, cultural, and political lives of early Americans. As such, tea came to serve as a powerful symbol of both early American culture and of the American Revolution. In this episode of the Doing History: To the Revolution series, Jane Merritt, Jennifer Anderson, and David Shields take us on an exploration of the politics of tea during the era of the American Revolution. Show Notes: https://www.benfranklinsworld.com/160 Sponsor Links Omohundro Institute William and Mary Quarterly-Journal of the Early Republic joint issue on the American Revolution $10 promotion The Great Courses Plus (1 Free Month) Complementary Blog Posts John Fea, "The Greenwich Tea Burning: The Political and Religious Roots of Local Revolutionary Resistance" Complementary Episodes Episode 043: Matthew Osborn, Rum Maniacs: Alcoholic Insanity in the Early American Republic Episode 106: Jane Kamensky, The World of John Singleton Copley Episode 111: Jonathan Eacott, India in the Making of Britain and America, 1700-1830 Episode 112: Mary Beth Norton, The Tea Crisis of 1773 Episode 135: Julie Holcomb, Moral Commerce: The Transatlantic Boycott of the Slave Labor Economy Episode 156: The Power of the Press in the American Revolution Helpful Show Links Ben Franklin's World Facebook Page Join the Ben Franklin's World Community Sign-up for the Franklin Gazette Newsletter Ben Franklin's World iOS App Ben Franklin's World Android App
How much merit do the economic factors behind the cry “No Taxation Without Representation” have when we consider the origins of the American Revolution? In this episode of the Doing History: To the Revolution series we begin a 3-episode exploration of different aspects of the early American economy and what roles these economic aspects played in causing the American Revolution. Serena Zabin, a Professor of History at Carleton College and author of Dangerous Economies: Status and Commerce in Imperial New York, helps us survey the economic scene by guiding us through the British North American economy on the eve of the American Revolution. Show Notes: https://www.benfranklinsworld.com/159 Sponsor Links Omohundro Institute OI Reader App The Great Courses Plus (1 Free Month of Unlimited Courses) Complementary Episodes Episode 109: John Dixon, The American Enlightenment and Cadwallader Colden Episode 111: Jonathan Eacott, India and the Making of Britain and America, 1700-1830 Episode 112: Mary Beth Norton, The Tea Crisis of 1773 Episode 127: Caroline Winterer, American Enlightenments Episode 150: Abigail Adams, Revolutionary Speculator Bonus: The Stamp Act of 1765 Helpful Show Links Ben Franklin's World Facebook Page Join the Ben Franklin's World Community Sign-up for the Franklin Gazette Newsletter Ben Franklin's World iOS App Ben Franklin's World Android App *Books purchased through this link will help support the production of Ben Franklin's World.
How much can the work of one historian impact how we view and study the American Revolution? We investigate the answer to this question by exploring the life and work of Pauline Maier, a historian who spent her life researching and investigating the American Revolution. Over the course of her lifetime, Maier wrote four important books about the American Revolution: From Resistance to Revolution, The Old Revolutionaries, American Scripture, and Ratification. Mary Beth Norton, Joanne Freeman, Todd Estes, and Lindsay Chervinsky join us as we journey through Maier’s body of work to better understand the American Revolution and how one historian can impact how we view and study history. Show Notes: https://www.benfranklinsworld.com/155 Sponsor Links Omohundro Institute William and Mary Quarterly OI Reader App William and Mary Quarterly-Journal of the Early Republic joint issue on the American Revolution special discount Complementary Episodes Episode 007: Sara Georgini, John Adams and the Adams Papers Editorial Project Episode 031: Benjamin Franklin and the Papers of Benjamin Franklin Editorial Project Episode 074: Mary Wigge, Martha Washington Episode 098: Gautham Rao, Birth of the American Tax Man Episode 112: Mary Beth North, The Tea Crisis of 1773 Episode 123: Revolutionary Allegiances Episode 141: A Declaration in Draft Episode 143: Michael Klarman, The making of the United States Constitution Episode 152: Bernard Bailyn, Origins of the American Revolution Helpful Show Links Ben Franklin's World Facebook Page Join the Ben Franklin's World Community Sign-up for the Franklin Gazette Newsletter Ben Franklin's World iOS App Ben Franklin's World Android App *Books purchased through this link will help support the production of Ben Franklin's World.
How did the American revolutionaries organize and coordinate local, provincial, and intercolonial action? How did the revolutionaries form governments? In this episode of the Doing History: To the Revolution series we explore governance and governments of the American Revolution with three scholars: Mark Boonshoft, Benjamin Irvin, and Jane Calvert. Show Notes: https://www.benfranklinsworld.com/153 Sponsor Links Omohundro Institute of Early American History and Culture Doing History: To the Revolution! series OI Reader App Care.com Senior Services Complementary Blog Post William Huntting Howell, "The Committee of Correspondence and the War at Home" Complementary Episodes Episode 112: Mary Beth Norton, The Tea Crisis of 1773 Episode 123: Revolutionary Allegiances Episode 129: J.L. Bell, The Road to Concord Episode 130: Paul Revere’s Ride Through History Episode 134: Spencer McBride, Pulpit and Nation Episode 141: A Declaration in Draft Episode 143: Michael Klarman, The Making of the United States Constitution Episode 144: Robert Parkinson, The Common Cause of the American Revolution Episode 152: Bernard Bailyn, Origins of the American Revolution Helpful Show Links Ben Franklin's World Facebook Page Join the Ben Franklin's World Community Sign-up for the Franklin Gazette Newsletter Ben Franklin's World iOS App Ben Franklin's World Android App *Books purchased through this link will help support the production of Ben Franklin's World.
What do we mean by the American Revolution? How do we define it? Was it a war? Was it a movement? Was it a series of movements? The Doing History: To the Revolution! Series seeks to explore not just the history of the American Revolution, but the histories of the American Revolution. In this episode, we undertake the difficult task of trying to define the American Revolution by going behind-the-scenes of the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia Show Notes: https://www.benfranklinsworld.com/151 Sponsor Links Omohundro Institute of Early American History and Culture Doing History: To the Revolution! OI Reader app Complementary Episodes Episode 112: Mary Beth Norton, The Tea Crisis of 1773 Episode 123: Revolutionary Allegiances Episode 130: Paul Revere’s Ride Through History Episode 141: A Declaration in Draft Bonus: Why Historians Study History Bonus: History and Historians in the Public Helpful Show Links Ben Franklin's World Facebook Page Join the Ben Franklin's World Community Sign-up for the Franklin Gazette Newsletter Ben Franklin's World iOS App Ben Franklin's World Android App *Books purchased through this link will help support the production of Ben Franklin's World.
In Colonial America, clergymen stood as thought leaders in their local communities. They stood at the head of their congregations and many community members looked to them for knowledge and insight about the world around them. So what happened to these trusted, educated men during the American Revolution? How did they choose their political allegiances? And what work did they undertake to aid or hinder the revolutionary cause? Spencer McBride, an editor at the Joseph Smith Papers documentary editing project, joins us to explore some of the ways politics and religion intersected during the American Revolution with details from his book, Pulpit and Nation: Clergymen and the Politics of Revolutionary America. Show Notes: https://www.benfranklinsworld.com/134 Sponsor Links Omohundro Institute of Early American History and Culture William and Mary Quarterly Episode 105: Josh Piker, How Historians Publish History (Behind-the-Scenes of the WMQ) Complementary Episodes Episode 045: Spencer McBride, Joseph Smith and the Founding of Mormonism Episode 112: Mary Beth Norton, The Tea Crisis of 1773 Episode 117: Annette Gordon-Reed, The Life & Ideas of Thomas Jefferson Episode 123: Revolutionary Allegiances Episode 129: John Bell, The Road to Concord Episode 130: Paul Revere’s Ride Through History Helpful Show Links Ben Franklin's World Facebook Page Join the Ben Franklin's World Community Sign-up for the Franklin Gazette Newsletter Ben Franklin's World iOS App Ben Franklin's World Android App *Books purchased through this link will help support the production of Ben Franklin's World.
On April 18, 1775, Paul Revere rode to Lexington, Massachusetts to spread the alarm that the Regulars were marching. Revere made several important rides between 1774 and 1775, including one in September 1774 that brought the Suffolk Resolves to the First Continental Congress in Philadelphia. So why is it that we remember Paul Revere’s ride to Lexington and not any of his other rides? Why is it that we remember Paul Revere on the night of April 18, 1775 and nothing about his life either before or after that famous ride? Why is it that Paul Revere seems to ride quickly into history and then just as quickly out of it? In this episode we speak with four scholars to explore Paul Revere’s ride through history. Show Notes: http://www.benfranklinsworld.com/130 About the Series The mission of episodes in the Doing History: To the Revolution series is to ask not just “what is the history of the American Revolution?” but “what are the histories of the American Revolution?” Episodes in this series will air beginning in Fall 2017. The Doing History series is part of a partnership between Ben Franklin’s World and the Omohundro Institute of Early American History and Culture. Be sure to check out Doing History season 1: Doing History: How Historians Work. Bonus Content Episode Bibliography Doing History: To the Revolution! OI Reader Complementary Episodes Episode 059: Eric Foner, The Hidden History of the Underground Railroad Episode 075: Peter Drummey, How Archives Work (History of Paul Revere’s Accounts of his Ride) Episode 106: Jane Kamensky, The World of John Singleton Copley Episode 112: Mary Beth Norton, The Tea Crisis of 1773 Episode 123: Revolutionary Allegiances Episode 128: Alan Taylor, American Revolutions: A Continental History Episode 129: John Bell, The Road to Concord, 1775 Helpful Show Links Ben Franklin's World Facebook Page Join the Ben Franklin's World Community Sign-up for the Franklin Gazette Newsletter Ben Franklin's World iOS App Ben Franklin's World Android App
How did the colonists of Massachusetts go from public protests meant to shame government officials and destroy offending property, to armed conflict with British Regulars in Lexington and Concord? John Bell, the prolific blogger behind Boston1775.net and the author of The Road to Concord: How Four Stolen Cannon Ignited the Revolutionary War, leads us on an investigation of what brought colonists and redcoats to the Battles of Lexington and Concord. Show Notes: http://www.benfranklinsworld.com/129 Sponsor Links Omohundro Institute of Early American History and Culture Doing History series Complementary Episodes Episode 039: Eric Nelson, The Royalist Revolution Episode 046: John Ferling, Whirlwind: The American Revolution & the War that Won It Episode 112: Mary Beth Norton, The Tea Crisis of 1773 Bonus: Stamp Act of 1765 Helpful Show Links Ben Franklin's World Facebook Page Join the Ben Franklin's World Community Sign-up for the Franklin Gazette Newsletter Ben Franklin's World iOS App Ben Franklin's World Android App *Books purchased through this link will help support the production of Ben Franklin's World.
In December 1773, the Cape Cod Tea Crisis revealed that the people of “radical” Massachusetts were far from united in their support for the American Revolution. An observation that leads us to wonder: How many Americans supported the Patriot cause? In this episode we speak with four scholars to explore the complexities of political allegiance during the American Revolution. Show Notes: http://www.benfranklinsworld.com/123 About the Series The mission of episodes in the Doing History: To the Revolution series is to ask not just “what is the history of the American Revolution?” but “what are the histories of the American Revolution?” Episodes in this series will air beginning in Fall 2017. The Doing History series is part of a partnership between Ben Franklin’s World and the Omohundro Institute of Early American History and Culture. Be sure to check out Doing History season 1: Doing History: How Historians Work. Bonus Content Episode Bibliography OI Reader Complementary Episodes Episode 007: Sara Georgini, John Adams and the Adams Papers Editorial Project Episode 014: Claudio Saunt, West of the American Revolution Episode 016: Alan Taylor, The Internal Enemy Episode 018: Danielle Allen, Our Declaration Episode 025: Jessica Parr, The Invention of George Whitefield Episode 037: Kathleen DuVal, Independence Lost Episode 085: Bonnie Huskins, American Loyalists in Canada Episode 088: Michael McDonnell, The History of History Writing Episode 112: Mary Beth Norton, The Tea Crisis of 1773 Helpful Show Links Ben Franklin's World Facebook Page Join the Ben Franklin's World Community Sign-up for the Franklin Gazette Newsletter Ben Franklin's World iOS App Ben Franklin's World Android App
Did the Americans win the War for Independence? Or did the British simply lose the war? The history of the American War for Independence is complicated. And history books tell many different versions of the event, which is why we need an expert to guide us through the intricacies of whether we should look at the war as an American victory, a British defeat, or in some other light. Andrew O’Shaughnessy, author of The Men Who Lost America: British Leadership, the American Revolution, and the Fate of the Empire, joins us to explore British viewpoints of the American War for Independence. Show Notes: http://www.benfranklinsworld.com/122 Georgian Papers Programme Georgian Papers Programme Draft of a message of abdication from George III to the Parliament Sponsor Links Cornell University Press Critical Edition of Cadwallader Colden’s The History of Five Indian Nations Episode 109: John Dixon, The Enlightenment of Cadwallader Colden Complementary Episodes Episode 026: Robert Middlekauff, George Washington’s Revolution Episode 046: John Ferling, Whirlwind: The American Revolution & the War That Won It Episode 112: Mary Beth Norton, The Tea Crisis of 1773 Episode 119: Steve Pincus, The Heart of the Declaration Bonus: Stamp Act Helpful Show Links Help Support Ben Franklin's World Crowdfunding Campaign Ben Franklin's World Facebook Page Join the Ben Franklin's World Community Sign-up for the Franklin Gazette Newsletter Ben Franklin's World iOS App Ben Franklin's World Android App *Books purchased through this link will help support the production of Ben Franklin's World.
On December 16, 1773, the colonists of Boston threw 342 chests of English East India Company tea into Boston Harbor, an act we remember as the “Boston Tea Party.” Have you ever wondered what drove the Bostonians to destroy the tea? Or whether they considered any other less destructive options for their protest? Mary Beth Norton, the Mary Donlon Alger Professor of American History at Cornell University, takes us through the Tea Crisis of 1773. About the Series Episodes in the “Doing History: To the Revolution” series explore the American Revolution and how what we know about it and how our view of it has changed over time. Episodes will air in 2017. The “Doing History” series is part of a partnership between Ben Franklin’s World and the Omohundro Institute of Early American History and Culture. Be sure to check out season 1, “Doing History: How Historians Work.” Show Notes: http://www.benfranklinsworld.com/048 Helpful Show Links OI Reader Tablet app for extra "Doing History" articles and guides Ben Franklin's World Facebook Page Join the Ben Franklin's World Community Sign-up for the Franklin Gazette Newsletter Ben Franklin's World iOS App Ben Franklin's World Android App Complementary Episodes Episode 088: Michael McDonnell, The History of History Writing Episode 098: Gautham Rao, Brith of the American Tax Man Episode 105: Joshua Piker, How Historians Publish History Episode 106: Jane Kamensky, The World of John Singleton Copley Episode 111: Jonathan Eacott, India in the Making of Britain and America, 1700-1830
What was it about the villagers of Salem that made them the people most likely to unleash a witchcraft Hysteria? We spoke with Dr. Mary Beth Norton, the country's top historian, for the answer.
Episode 2, September 21, 2015 Show NotesOn this week’s Past Present podcast, Nicole Hemmer, Natalia Mehlman Petrzela, and Neil Young discuss the Planned Parenthood video controversy, the IPO of SoulCycle, and the rise of corporate support for gay rights. Here are some links and references mentioned during this week’s show: The release of undercover videos showing a Planned Parenthood official discussing the organization’s practice of donating fetal tissue have elicited outrage from conservative outlets. The videos stand in a long tradition of anti-abortion activism, but also demonstrate the increasing power of undercover videos as a form of political activism. SoulCycle’s initial public offering has attracted the attention of Wall Street investors, but the cycling brand has received steady criticism from cultural critics since its wheels first started spinning. For those interested in reading more about the history of fitness and wellness, be sure to check out Natalia’s essays on these topics.The Dorito’s Rainbow chips are raising money for the It Gets Better Project. Other recent gay-friendly marketing campaigns have included Chipotle’s “Homo Estas” ads and Ben & Jerry’s “I Dough, I Dough” ice cream. Aside from these marketing efforts, corporations have played a leading role in fighting for gay rights since the 1990s. In our regular closing feature, What’s Making History: Natalia responded to a recent New York Times editorial that parents rather than schools should have the ultimate say in their children’s lunches. While acknowledging the class and cultural dimensions of food, Natalia argued that food and nutrition experts needed to have the same educational authority in the classroom that math and history instructors also hold. Natalia has written about how school wellness programs may be the next frontier in the nation’s culture wars. Neil discussed Stacy Schiff’s New Yorker article, “The Witches of Salem.” (Schiff’s new book on the Salem Witch Trials comes out in late October.) Neil noted the rich historical literature on the Salem Witch Trials has included Paul Boyer and Stephen Nissenbaum’s Salem Possessed and Mary Beth Norton’s In the Devil’s Snare. Niki spoke about Ari Berman’s new book Give Us the Ballot which argues we are in the midst of a counterrevolution in voting rights. If you want to read more about the battle over the ballot while you are waiting for Ari’s book to arrive, Niki has written about the history of voting rights several times in her column at U.S. News. See here, here, and here.