United States

Elizabeth Seton, An Early American Life

October 2, 2019 by Liz Covart Leave a Comment

What was it like to live as a woman of faith in early republic America? What was it like to live as a Catholic in the early United States?

In this episode of Ben Franklin’s World, Catherine O’Donnell, an Associate Professor of History at Arizona State University and author of Elizabeth Seton: American Saint (Cornell University Press, 2018), helps us investigate answers to these questions by taking us through the life of the United States’ first saint: Elizabeth Ann Seton [Read more…] about Elizabeth Seton, An Early American Life

BFW Road Trip: Charlottesville, VA, James Monroe’s Highland

August 7, 2019 by Liz Covart Leave a Comment

Between 1789 and 1825, five men would serve as President of the United States. Four of them hailed from Virginia.

Many of us know details about the lives and presidencies of Washington, Jefferson, and Madison. But what do we know about the life and presidency of the fourth Virginia president, James Monroe?

In this episode of Ben Franklin’s World, Sara Bon-Harper, Executive Director of James Monroe’s Highland, joins us to explore the public and private life of James Monroe. [Read more…] about BFW Road Trip: Charlottesville, VA, James Monroe’s Highland

Copyright & Fair Use in Early America

March 6, 2019 by Liz Covart Leave a Comment

In the 21st century, we are all creators and users of content. We take original photos with our smartphones, generate blog posts, digital videos, and podcasts. Some of us write books and articles. And nearly everyone contributes content to social media.

Given all of the information and content we generate and use, it’s really important for us to understand the principles of copyright and fair use, principles that have an early American past. [Read more…] about Copyright & Fair Use in Early America

Making the State of South Carolina

February 27, 2019 by Liz Covart Leave a Comment

What do we mean by “the state?”

How is a “state” produced?

Is “the state” something everyone can participate in producing?

In this episode of Ben Franklin’s World: A Podcast About Early American History Ryan Quintana, an Associate Professor of History at Wellesley College and the author of Making a Slave State: Political Development in Early South Carolina (University of North Carolina Press, 2018), joins us to answer these questions with a look at the creation and development of the State of South Carolina. [Read more…] about Making the State of South Carolina

The Early History of Washington, D.C.

January 30, 2019 by Liz Covart Leave a Comment

Have you ever wondered how the capital of the United States came to be situated at Washington, D.C.?

The banks of the Potomac River represent an odd place to build a national city, a place that would not only serve as the seat of government for the nation, but also as an economic, cultural, and intellectual hub. Still in 1790, the United States Congress passed the Residence Act and mandated that it would establish a new, permanent capital along the banks of the Potomac River. Why?

In this episode of Ben Franklin’s World: A Podcast About Early American History Adam Costanzo, a Professional Assistant Professor of History at Texas A&M University, Corpus Christi and author of George Washington’s Washington: Visions for the National Capital in the Early American Republic (University of Georgia Press, 2018), joins us to consider questions of the National capital’s location and construction. [Read more…] about The Early History of Washington, D.C.