I love this series, and this episode. I also loved the Paul Revere sidebar from The History of the Americans podcast. Last year I listened to it with my kids and I let them stay up late to attend the reenactment in Lexington.
An interesting part of Revere's life story that they didn't discuss here is that—frustrated by his low status as an artisan—Revere built himself up during and after the war into a manufacturing engineer, factory owner, and merchant. During the war he was commissioned to build a new gunpowder factory. The Continental Congress sent him to the one existing such factory in the US, and the owner gave him a brief tour but wouldn't give him any technical information. So Revere acquired plans elsewhere and built the factory in Canton, Massachusetts. After the war, he progressed up the technology stack from rolled silver to rolled copper to cast bells and even cannons. This was crucial to the new nation, whose manufacturing industry was basically nonexistent at the time. (In order to develop some of the technical knowledge needed, he sent his son over as an industrial spy in England). He manufactured the copper sheathing used to protect the hull of the USS Constitution. And his copper company still exists today (though it sounds like it's in a bit of trouble).
Anyway, Revere was always a hero to me as an American but thanks to the rabbit hole of Revere-ism Jack sent me down last year, he is a hero to me as an engineer and technologist as well.
As a kid, I was always fascinated by the story of the "Turtle" the first submarine in history, that some crazy American tinkerer invented and built. The stones on the first guy to pilot it...
This was fantastic! The conversation about presentism and using history for political purposes is really important with so many eyes (and ears) being taken by the likes of the 1619 Project and MartyrMade. Using history as a warning can be useful, but it needs to come with extensive context.
Since I started my own history reading project, I've been trying to fight against the endless revisionism and deconstruction in history. There has always been a seesaw of perspective, but it seems to be amplifying to the point that we have basically bifurcated understanding of our own history.
America, more than most countries, is held together by our history as a nation. If we continue obfuscate the central story, or only have divisive narrative, I worry that we'll just be headed towards our demise.
Matt, regarding your wish for a Cabeza de Vaca film: one actually exists. There’s a 1991 Mexican film titled Cabeza de Vaca, directed by Nicolás Echevarría, and it’s available free on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JncyRf5dUdI. If you don’t trust links, you can just search “Cabeza de Vaca (1991)” on YouTube.
Matt, loving this series. I love the notion of regionalizing history depending on where you grew up. I grew up in San Diego and while I didn't enjoy history class, I do remember hearing about Balboa and Cabrillo, both of whom relate locally. Later on as an adult, I recall flying to Boston for work and while driving my rental car, passing a sign entering one of the small towns surrounding Boston, that stated "Settled 16xx or 17xx", now don't remember exactly, just that it was a LONG TIME AGO. Eventually, visiting places on the east coast that I'd only read about in history class started to bring it home for me.
Great episode. Thanks for having Mr. Henneman on to discuss all of this. I just found his podcast a few months ago, so I have a long way to go before I am caught up, but I listen to his while I am waiting for a new Fifth Column to drop. I tell people all the time they need to see more of America, thank you for nugget.
I’m enjoying this series. I met Jack Henneman while waiting to enter the Comedy Cellar in NYC for the Fifth’s live show in 2022. He’d just finished chatting with Nick Gillespie. I still have the business card he gave me for the History of the Americans podcast, which is excellent. A very nice guy.
I’m loving this series Matt. Listening to this episode was great, especially since I walked the Liberty Trail in Boston a few years ago. Anyone who hasn’t, needs to go and do it.
Hey matt, love this but I don't have time to listen to the entire contents of another podcast... but that doesn't mean I wont try and just deleted my whole queue and replaced it with the first couple episodes of Jack's podcast. The fifth column moves product
Not sure about the "don't judge the past" discussion. Sure, don't be precious about it; don't reduce GW or TJ to their slavery or AL to his less than enlightened views on race, but don't turn off your moral sense completely.
I am perfectly comfortable judging behavior, if not people, at least internally so my morals and ethics don't atrophy.
Every year, when teaching the odyssey I can't help but mention that the whole kill, rape, and pillage, just because you can is not cool IMO; and hardly heroic.
I love this series, and this episode. I also loved the Paul Revere sidebar from The History of the Americans podcast. Last year I listened to it with my kids and I let them stay up late to attend the reenactment in Lexington.
An interesting part of Revere's life story that they didn't discuss here is that—frustrated by his low status as an artisan—Revere built himself up during and after the war into a manufacturing engineer, factory owner, and merchant. During the war he was commissioned to build a new gunpowder factory. The Continental Congress sent him to the one existing such factory in the US, and the owner gave him a brief tour but wouldn't give him any technical information. So Revere acquired plans elsewhere and built the factory in Canton, Massachusetts. After the war, he progressed up the technology stack from rolled silver to rolled copper to cast bells and even cannons. This was crucial to the new nation, whose manufacturing industry was basically nonexistent at the time. (In order to develop some of the technical knowledge needed, he sent his son over as an industrial spy in England). He manufactured the copper sheathing used to protect the hull of the USS Constitution. And his copper company still exists today (though it sounds like it's in a bit of trouble).
Anyway, Revere was always a hero to me as an American but thanks to the rabbit hole of Revere-ism Jack sent me down last year, he is a hero to me as an engineer and technologist as well.
Great listen. Next up: David Burge, please! Have him wear the Hawkeye head Corso-style, don’t care.
That's a great idea, and also reminds me I should get someone on just to talk about rifles & weaponry & such.
As a kid, I was always fascinated by the story of the "Turtle" the first submarine in history, that some crazy American tinkerer invented and built. The stones on the first guy to pilot it...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turtle_(submersible)
After that guest, may I suggest an expert notary public and waterbed enthusiast...
Nobody knows more about President Benjamin Franklin.
Or our country's greatest living president and inventor of the automobile, Gerry Ford!
This was fantastic! The conversation about presentism and using history for political purposes is really important with so many eyes (and ears) being taken by the likes of the 1619 Project and MartyrMade. Using history as a warning can be useful, but it needs to come with extensive context.
Since I started my own history reading project, I've been trying to fight against the endless revisionism and deconstruction in history. There has always been a seesaw of perspective, but it seems to be amplifying to the point that we have basically bifurcated understanding of our own history.
America, more than most countries, is held together by our history as a nation. If we continue obfuscate the central story, or only have divisive narrative, I worry that we'll just be headed towards our demise.
Matt, regarding your wish for a Cabeza de Vaca film: one actually exists. There’s a 1991 Mexican film titled Cabeza de Vaca, directed by Nicolás Echevarría, and it’s available free on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JncyRf5dUdI. If you don’t trust links, you can just search “Cabeza de Vaca (1991)” on YouTube.
Great film. When I saw it in SF in 92 it was part of some film or arts festival for the 500th anniversary of Columbus. A different era.
Wow wow wow!!!
It’s got a Aguirre, Wrath of God vibe minus the Kinski chaos.
Excellent, thank you. Stuff like this is why I still listen and give you guys money.
I was just about to say exactly the same thing! :D
Matt I love your patriotism.
That intro really gets me going in the morning
Matt, loving this series. I love the notion of regionalizing history depending on where you grew up. I grew up in San Diego and while I didn't enjoy history class, I do remember hearing about Balboa and Cabrillo, both of whom relate locally. Later on as an adult, I recall flying to Boston for work and while driving my rental car, passing a sign entering one of the small towns surrounding Boston, that stated "Settled 16xx or 17xx", now don't remember exactly, just that it was a LONG TIME AGO. Eventually, visiting places on the east coast that I'd only read about in history class started to bring it home for me.
Great episode. Thanks for having Mr. Henneman on to discuss all of this. I just found his podcast a few months ago, so I have a long way to go before I am caught up, but I listen to his while I am waiting for a new Fifth Column to drop. I tell people all the time they need to see more of America, thank you for nugget.
I too am playing catch up. Verrazzano is about to explore the East Coast.
This series is great!
great... now I have 204 MORE podcasts on my list, ha! another excellent episode
I’m enjoying this series. I met Jack Henneman while waiting to enter the Comedy Cellar in NYC for the Fifth’s live show in 2022. He’d just finished chatting with Nick Gillespie. I still have the business card he gave me for the History of the Americans podcast, which is excellent. A very nice guy.
I’m loving this series Matt. Listening to this episode was great, especially since I walked the Liberty Trail in Boston a few years ago. Anyone who hasn’t, needs to go and do it.
Hey matt, love this but I don't have time to listen to the entire contents of another podcast... but that doesn't mean I wont try and just deleted my whole queue and replaced it with the first couple episodes of Jack's podcast. The fifth column moves product
My fourth grade teacher got a lot of mileage out of translating Cabeza de Vaca’s name for us. Missed opportunity.
Not sure about the "don't judge the past" discussion. Sure, don't be precious about it; don't reduce GW or TJ to their slavery or AL to his less than enlightened views on race, but don't turn off your moral sense completely.
I am perfectly comfortable judging behavior, if not people, at least internally so my morals and ethics don't atrophy.
Every year, when teaching the odyssey I can't help but mention that the whole kill, rape, and pillage, just because you can is not cool IMO; and hardly heroic.