Empire

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148. America: The Empire of Liberty

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May 13, 2024

Guest

Camilla Townsend

Camilla Townsend, an expert on indigenous American history, brings her insight into the complex narrative of America's imperial identity. She delves into the original colonial interactions between British settlers and the Powhatan Native Americans. Townsend reveals the true story of Pocahontas, contrasting it with the Disney mythology. She also discusses the significance of female figures in indigenous tribes, highlighting their roles and societal contributions, providing a rich tapestry of early American history that often goes untold.

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ANECDOTE

National Anthem Origins

The American national anthem uses a British tune composed by John Stafford Smith.
Francis Scott Key, a slave owner, wrote the lyrics during the War of 1812.

insights

INSIGHT

American Empire and Colonialism

America's history involves colonization, conquering Native American lands, and disease spread.
Historians debate America's status as an empire, with differing views from Niall Ferguson and Daniel Immerwahr.

insights

INSIGHT

Corporate Colonization

The Virginia Company, a corporation, played a key role in colonizing America, not solely religious groups.
Corporations like the East India Company sought profit, and early American colonization had strong financial motives.

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Unraveling America's Imperial Identity

03:47 • 23min

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The True Story of Pocahontas

26:51 • 4min

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Exploring Female Status and Identity in Indigenous Tribes

31:01 • 2min

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Pocahontas: History and Heritage

33:07 • 6min

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Exploring Algonquian Beliefs and Pocahontas's Coming Journey

In 'Empire, Incorporated', Philip J. Stern argues that corporations were central to British colonialism, conceiving, promoting, financing, and governing overseas expansion. The book challenges traditional views by placing corporations at the forefront of imperial activities, highlighting their complex roles in shaping global power dynamics. It explores how these corporate ventures continue to influence contemporary questions about corporate power and state-private distinctions.

Pocahontas and the Powhatan dilemma

Camilla Townsend

In 'Pocahontas and the Powhatan Dilemma', Camilla Townsend provides a detailed and nuanced account of Pocahontas's life, challenging common myths and offering insights into the strategies of resistance and diplomacy employed by Native Americans during the early colonial period. The book explores Pocahontas's role as a mediator between her people and the English settlers, highlighting her intelligence and adaptability in the face of overwhelming odds.

Colossus

The Rise and Fall of the American Empire

Niall Ferguson

In 'Colossus,' Niall Ferguson argues that the United States is the most powerful empire the world has ever seen, both militarily and economically. He compares the U.S. to the British Empire, noting that both aspire to globalize free markets, the rule of law, and representative government. However, Ferguson contends that Americans shy away from the long-term commitments of manpower and money necessary to effectively manage and transform rogue regimes and failed states. He describes the U.S. as an empire with an attention deficit disorder, imposing unrealistic timescales on its overseas interventions and refusing to acknowledge its global responsibilities. The book warns of the negative consequences of this chronic myopia, both domestically and internationally, and suggests that the eventual collapse of this empire may come from within due to its internal weaknesses.

How to Hide an Empire

A History of the Greater United States

Daniel Immerwahr

María Luisa Rodriguez Tapia

This book delves into the history of the United States' expansion beyond its contiguous territories, including its governance of islands, atolls, and archipelagos. It explores how the U.S. transitioned from colonialism to a new form of influence leveraging technology, culture, and military presence. The book covers topics such as the U.S. occupation of the Philippines, the role of English as a global language, and the impact of U.S. bases worldwide. Immerwahr argues that American empire-building began early and continued through various means, often without significant territorial expansion.

Tacky's Revolt

The Story of an Atlantic Slave War

Vincent Brown

In 'Tacky's Revolt: The Story of an Atlantic Slave War', Vincent Brown provides a comprehensive and nuanced history of the 1760-1761 slave revolt in Jamaica. The book frames the revolt not just as a local insurrection but as part of a larger global conflict, including wars on the African continent, the Seven Years’ War, and internal struggles among enslaved people. Brown’s work highlights the African military roots of the enslaved leaders and how their experiences shaped their resistance against slavery. The book also explores the 'martial geography' of Atlantic slavery, demonstrating how warfare influenced every aspect of bondage and how enslaved people formed alliances and strategies based on their prior experiences in Africa and the Americas.

Fifth Son

Barbara Fradkin

In 'Fifth Son', Inspector Michael Green probes the death of a vagrant who falls from an abandoned church tower in a rural village. As he delves deeper, he discovers the victim is a long-lost son of a local farm family plagued by tragedy and secrets. The novel explores themes of family dynamics, fundamentalism, and the emotional cost of crime.

The Dawn of Everything

A New History of Humanity

David Wengrow

David Graeber

This book offers a dramatically new understanding of human history, challenging fundamental assumptions about social evolution, the development of agriculture, cities, the state, democracy, and inequality. Graeber and Wengrow argue that traditional theories of human history, such as those posited by Hobbes and Rousseau, are not supported by anthropological or archaeological evidence. Instead, they show that humans have lived in large, complex, but decentralized societies for millennia, often without ruling elites or hierarchical systems. The authors draw on extensive research in archaeology and anthropology to reveal a history that is more varied and hopeful than previously assumed, emphasizing human experimentation with different social arrangements and the potential for new forms of freedom and societal organization.

The Empire that dare not speak its name. America was born through an explicit rejection of empire as it forced the British from the continent and indeed many of its citizens would baulk at the suggestion their nation is an empire. Yet, over its lifetime the empire of liberty, as Thomas Jefferson himself once called it, has continually flexed its imperial muscles. In our newest series, William and Anita will take you from the great plains of North America to the shores of the Philippines and explore the history of the American Empire. In today’s episode, William and Anita look at the first colonial interactions on the North American continent as the British land in Virginia and establish contact with the Powhatan Native Americans.

Twitter: @Empirepoduk

Email: empirepoduk@gmail.com

Goalhangerpodcasts.com

Assistant Producer: Anouska Lewis

Producer: Callum Hill

Exec Producer: Neil Fearn

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