Ben Franklin's World

In 1492, Christopher Columbus sailed the ocean blue as part of the great European quest to find new routes and shortcuts to the spice islands and territories of Asia.

Spain and Portugal led this quest during the 15th and 16th centuries and their race to access the Asian spice trade caused Columbus to sail unwittingly into the Caribbean and North America. 

Columbus’ “discovery” caused European peoples to colonize North and South America. It also encouraged Europeans to keep up their search for new ways to access Asia via water routes through or around these continents.

Joyce E. Chaplin, the James Duncan Phillips Professor of Early American History at Harvard University and author of Round About the Earth: Circumnavigation from Magellan to Orbit, leads us on an exploration of the early history of around-the-world voyages and the impact those voyages had on the peoples and places of the Americas, the Pacific Islands, Asia, and Europe.

Show Notes: http://www.benfranklinsworld.com/015

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Did you know that Russian activities in North America caused the Spanish to colonize California?

When we think of North America in 1776, our minds take us to the Atlantic seaboard where inhabitants in thirteen colonies fought Great Britain for independence.

However, as the American Revolution and its War for Independence raged, events occurred elsewhere in North America that would have important implications for the development of the later United States.

Claudio Saunt, the Richard B. Russell Professor of History at the University of Georgia and author of West of the Revolution: An Uncommon History of 1776, joins us to explore events that took place west of the American Revolution. 

Show Notes: http://www.benfranklinsworld.com/014

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We tend to view gay marriage as a cultural and legal development of the 21st century. 

But did you know that some early Americans lived openly in same-sex marriages?

Rachel Hope Cleves, an Associate Professor of History at the University of Victoria in British Columbia and author of Charity & Sylvia: A Same-Sex Marriage in Early America, will reveal the story of Charity Bryant and Sylvia Drake, women who lived openly as a married couple in Weybridge, Vermont between 1807 and 1851.

Show Notes: http://www.benfranklinsworld.com/013

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Did you know that Americans undertook their first trade mission to China in February 1784?

In fact, a mercantile partnership led by Robert Morris sent the Empress of China, a 360 ton ship to Canton, China one month and eight days after the Congress of the United States ratified the Treaty of Paris, 1783.

Why did these merchants look so far east to secure a profitable trade? And why did they attempt such a venture not long after the United States secured its independence from Great Britain? 

Dane Morrison, Professor of History at Salem State University and author of True Yankees: The South Seas and the Discovery of American Identity helps us discover the answers to these questions and more as he leads us on an exploration of the early American trade with China.

Show Notes: http://www.benfranklinsworld.com/012

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Philadelphia, Pennsylvania plays host to many historic sites associated with our early American history: Carpenters Hall, Independence Hall, and the Betsy Ross House represent just a few of this city's historic holdings.

But have you ever heard about, or visited, The Woodlands?

The Woodlands and its founder/developer, William Hamilton played an important role in the architectural and botanical development of Philadelphia and the young United States.

Jessica Baumert, Executive Director of The Woodlands historic site in West Philadelphia, guides us through The Woodlands and its significant architectural and botanical history.

Show Notes: http://www.benfranklinsworld.com/011

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What about the British Redcoats?

When we discuss the military history of the American War for Independence, we tend to focus on specific battles or details about the men who served in George Washington’s Continental Army. 

Rarely do we take the opportunity to ask questions about the approximately 50,000 men who served in the British Army that opposed them.

Don N. Hagist, independent scholar and author of British Soldiers, American War: Voices of the American Revolution, leads us on exploration of the “other” men who fought in the American War for Independence, the soldiers in the British Army.

Show Notes: http://www.benfranklinsworld.com/010

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 “’Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house/ Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse./ The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,/ In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.”

Undoubtedly, you have heard, or read, this first stanza of Clement Moore’s famous “A Visit from St. Nicholas” (1822) poem, but have you ever wondered about the traditions and saint contained within its lines?

Where did the Christmas traditions of stockings, presents, and cookies come from? And what about jolly, old Saint Nicholas? Who was he and why do we often call him Santa Claus?

Peter G. Rose, culinary historian of Dutch foodways in North America and author of Delicious December: How the Dutch Brought Us Santa, Presents, and Treats joins us to discuss the origins of Santa Claus and edible goodies such as cookies in the United States.

Show Notes: http://www.benfranklinsworld.com/009

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The Middle Passage forced millions of African men, women, and children to migrate across the Atlantic Ocean, but did you know that there existed an even more deadly voyage for slaves?

For many Africans the journey into slavery did not end with their arrival at a Caribbean entrepôt such as Barbados or Jamaica. 

After their transatlantic journey, many captives had to embark on a second, deadlier voyage to their new homes. 

In this episode we explore this second, deadlier voyage with Gregory O’Malley, author of the new book, Final Passages: The Intercolonial Slave Trade of British America, 1619-1807.

Show Notes: http://www.benfranklinsworld.com/008

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The United States declared independence from Great Britain in July 1776, but the King and Parliament of Great Britain did not recognize this independence until April 9, 1784. 

On June 1, 1785, King George III received his first diplomat from the United States. 

Do you know what happened when His Majesty came face-to-face with John Adams?

The Papers of John Adams reveal much about his meeting with King George III as well as the time he spent as a Revolutionary, Statesmen, President, and retired gentleman farmer. Sara Georgini, Assistant Editor at the Adams Papers Documentary Editing Project joins us to discuss John Adams’ experiences as the first U.S. Minister to Great Britain and what it is like to work with the more than 250,000 documents that Adams and his descendants have generated. 

Show Notes: http://www.benfranklinsworld.com/007

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Arrr, so ye like pirates do ye?

Did ye know that as much as 33% of pirate crews were made up of captured seamen, not pirates?

We’ll be talking about the “Golden Age” of pirates in this here episode of Ben Franklin’s World with historian and pirate expert Gregory N. Flemming, author of the new book At the Point of a Cutlass: The Pirate Capture, Bold Escape, and Lonely Exile of Philip Ashton. 

Show Notes: http://www.benfranklinsworld.com/006

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