Declaring independence from Great Britain required the formation of new governments.
But why did Americans want and need new governments? And how did their interactions and experiences with their old, colonial governments inform their decisions to create new governments?
Barbara Clark Smith, a curator in the division of political history at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History and the author of The Freedoms We Lost: Consent and Resistance in Revolutionary America, leads us on an exploration of how Americans interacted with their government before the American Revolution and how the Revolution changed their interaction and ideas about government.
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?”
The Doing History series explores early American history and how historians work. It’s produced by the Omohundro Institute.
Be sure to check out Doing History season 1, Doing History: How Historians Work.
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.
Ben Franklin’s World is a production of the Omohundro Institute.
Episode Summary
Barbara Clark Smith, a curator in the division of political history at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History and the author of The Freedoms We Lost: Consent and Resistance in Revolutionary America, leads us on an exploration of how Americans interacted with their government before the American Revolution and how the Revolution changed their interaction and ideas about government.
During our exploration, Barbara reveals details about what the British and colonial North American governments were like before the Revolution; How ordinary Americans participated in and interacted with their colonial governments; And, how the Revolution changed American government and ordinary Americans’ relationships with it.
What You’ll Discover
- Structure of British government before the American Revolution
- Governments in British North America
- Voting and elective office in early America
- How ordinary Americans participated in and interacted with colonial governments
- Uniformity in enforcement in the laws across the 13 colonies
- American response to the Stamp Act
- How ordinary Americans defined the course of the American Revolution
- Colonial associations and the economic boycotts of British goods
- Creation of American societies and governments
- How the Revolution changed ordinary Americans’ relationship with government
Links to People, Places, and Publications
- Barbara Clark Smith
- National Museum of American History
- The Freedoms We Lost: Consent and Resistance in Revolutionary America
- Pauline Maier, American Scripture: The Making of the Declaration of Independence
- Smithsonian Exhibition: “American Democracy: A Great Leap of Faith”
- Smithsonian Exhibition: “Many Voices, One Nation”
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 036: Abigail Swingen, Competing Visions of Empire
- Episode 049: Malcolm Gaskill, How the English Became American
- Episode 141: A Declaration in Draft
- Episode 150: Abigail Adams, Revolutionary Speculator
- Episode 152: Origins of the American Revolution
- Episode 153: Governments of the American Revolution
- Bonus: J.L. Bell, The Boston Stamp Act Riots
Time Warp Question
In your opinion, what might have happened if Robert Morris and other leaders of the Revolution had not shifted organization of the Revolution away from the ordinary people who drove the Revolution prior to 1780 and toward the well-to-do and their money after 1780?
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