In many ways, the Enlightenment gave birth to the United States. Enlightened ideas informed protests over imperial governance and taxation and over whether there should be an American bishop.
If we want to understand early America, we need to understand the Enlightenment.
Caroline Winterer, a Professor of History at Stanford University and author of American Enlightenments: Pursuing Happiness in the Age of Reason, takes us through her ideas about the Enlightenment and how it influenced early America.
About the Show
Ben Franklin’s World is a podcast about early American history.
It is a show for people who love history and for those who want to know more about the historical people and events that have impacted and shaped our present-day world.
Each episode features a conversation with a historian who helps us shed light on important people and events in early American history.
Episode Summary
Caroline Winterer, a Professor of History at Stanford University and author of American Enlightenments: Pursuing Happiness in the Age of Reason, takes us through her ideas about the Enlightenment and how it influenced early America.
During our conversation, Caroline reveals what the Enlightenment was and when it took place; The Republic of Letters and Americans’ participation in it; And, details about the different enlightened fields of study that Americans helped develop and participated in.
What You’ll Discover
- The enlightenment, what it was and when it took place
- How definitions for the enlightenment became complex
- The Republic of Letters and Americans’ participation in it
- How the Republic of Letters worked
- Who Americans traded ideas with
- The birth of geology and why it attracted the interest of 18th-century men and women
- The enlightenment and 18th-century religion
- The enlightenment and Native Americans
- 18th-century archives
- Native American demographics
- Slavery and the enlightenment
- The enlightenment and monarchy
- The enlightenment and the American Revolution
Links to People, Places, and Publications
- Caroline Winterer
- Caroline’s Stanford Webpage
- American Enlightenments: Pursuing Happiness in the Age of Reason
- The Mirror of Antiquity: American Women and the Classical Tradition, 1750-1900
- “Doing History: How Historians Work” series
Sponsor Links
Complementary Episodes
- Bonus: Why Historians Study History
- Episode 085: George Goodwin, Benjamin Franklin in London
- Episode 088: Michael McDonnell: The History of History Writing
- Episode 096: Nicholas Guyatt, The Origins of Racial Segregation in the United States
- Episode 109: John Dixon, The American Enlightenment & Cadwallader Colden
- Episode 117: Annette Gordon-Reed, The Life & Ideas of Thomas Jefferson
Time Warp Question
In your opinion, what might have happened if the United States had not achieved its independence from Great Britain? How would the lack of an independent United States have changed the Enlightenment and its American counterparts?
Questions, Comments, Suggestions
Do you have a question, comment, or suggestion?
Get in Touch! Send me an e-mail, tweet, or leave a comment.
Subscribe!
Enjoy the Podcast?
Why Not Subscribe?
Ratings & Reviews
If you enjoy this podcast, please give it a rating and review.
Positive ratings and reviews help bring Ben Franklin's World to the attention of other history lovers who may not be aware of our show
Click here to rate & review on iTunes | Click here to rate & review on Stitcher