Edward J. Larson

Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Edward J. Larson discusses the founding of America, the attitudes of the Founding Fathers towards slavery, and the justification of slavery. They also delve into the U.S. Constitution, the Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Amendments, the Atlantic slave trade, and the push for abolition. The conversation explores the Three-fifths Compromise, the Dread Scott Decision, Abraham Lincoln's reasoning for ending slavery, and the future of race relations in America.

In this engaging discussion, Edward Larson, a Pepperdine professor and Pulitzer Prize-winning author of 'Summer for the Gods', unpacks the complexities of the Scopes Monkey Trial. He explores how a small Tennessee town orchestrated the trial as a publicity stunt, attracting national attention and pitting science against biblical teachings. Larson reveals the true motivations of key players like Scopes, Bryan, and Darrow while examining the trial's long-lasting impacts on American culture and fundamentalism. This conversation sheds light on the evolving relationship between faith and science.

Edward J. Larson, a Pulitzer Prize-winning historian and law professor at Pepperdine University, dives into the significance of 1776 and how it redefined American identity. He discusses how the British bombardment of Norfolk swayed colonial opinion and the impact of Thomas Paine's "Common Sense" in altering perceptions of monarchy. Larson reveals early patriots’ initial aim of defending rights as subjects before evolving towards full independence. He also highlights the emergence of state constitutions and the revolutionary motives surrounding slavery and expansion.