Missing Pages

Welcome to the third era of Missing Pages: the Revolution. In this 250th anniversary I will be exploring the events, people, and ideas—both well-known and more hidden—to provide a comprehensive picture of America’s founding. This first episode deals with the frontier wars and the acts that started the slide towards war.While the war with France in North America was over by 1760, war in the west between the English and the Natives was just beginning. Starting in South Carolina, before moving north to the Ohio Valley, this conflict pulled the attention of the colonial and—once peace was signed—British governments alike. The conflicts marked the beginning of the conflict of visions between the two sides of the Atlantic. Once the wars subsided, that philosophical conflict stole the focus. Britain was dealing with economic and political crises at home. There was hope that the colonies would help alleviate some of that woe since a war had just been fought on their behalf. For their part, the American colonists were hoping to get a seat at the table of the now-expanded empire. These goals, while seemingly harmonious, caused a rift to form. It is this rift that would continue to grow from 1765 until the connection between Britain and America was severed entirely. Even after the events of this episode, war was not inevitable, but the mutual digging of trenches in this conflict made the no man’s land more impossible to cross by the day.Note: This season will include shorter episodes diving into the writings and speeches of both the Rebels and the Redcoats. These are exclusive to subscribers on Substack.Join me on my journey through American History. Help fill in those missing pagesMusicIntro: Fractured Timeline - SémøOutro: Letting Go - Sun TailorSourcesCrucible of War - Fred AndersonThe Glorious Cause - Robert MiddlekauffBefore the Revolution: America’s Ancient Pasts - Daniel K. RichterAmerican Colonies - Alan Taylor This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit missingpages.substack.com

Just like last season—and from here on out—this episode acts as a recap and reflection of this era. I provide a brief summary of the episodes released this season, explore some of the themes that stuck out to me, discuss some of my previously held misconceptions, and explore how well the AP notes hold up to scrutiny. Finally, I provide a short preview into the next era: the American Revolution.As this late colonial era concludes, I would like to thank all of you that have supported me on this continued journey through history. I have been looking forward to getting to actual American history (I say in jest), so I hope to make next season my very best so far. The lining up of the the Revolutionary era with the Semiquincentennial is serendipitous, but fortunate. Because of the anniversary, I am going to be trying something slightly different next season to fully dive into the Revolution.Next season will debut May 1, 2026. All extra content in the interim—and throughout next season—will be posted to Substack only. So, if you want all the extra stuff, to read all of the essays I have written, or comment on any of the episodes, please head to missingpages.substack.com.Thanks for listening to Missing Pages! Subscribe for free to receive every new episode right in your inbox.MusicIntro: Fractured Timeline - SémøOutro: Talk - Con Davidson This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit missingpages.substack.com

After the first two wars for empire dominated the attention of the colonies throughout North America, both the English and French were able to focus on growth. For the English colonists, this respite allowed their financial position to rival, and even surpass, Great Britain. In New France, the fort and trading post network continued to expand, allowing them to encircle the British.However, the diverging populations by the French and British would eventually be too much for New France to handle. While the tenacious military action by France endured, their place in North America was secured Eventually, though, the sheer weight of numbers would prove too much to bear for the French. But, that doesn't mean it would be easy for the English. They would be forced to throw everything they could muster at Canada, including more active participation from the colonies. This combined force drove a wedge between British and American leadership. But, it also reinforced the rising colonial stature within the British Empire. By war end, it could be anyone's guess whether this would start a golden age, or slide to rebellion.While the second of this set of conflicts is heavily covered in the notes, the first is barely mentioned. So let's fill in those missing pages…Thanks for listening to Missing Pages! Subscribe for free to receive every new episode right in your inbox.MusicIntro: Fractured Timeline - SémøOutro: River of Doubt - Sean SoloSourcesThe War of Jenkins’ Ear - Robert GaudiCrucible of War - Fred AndersonBefore the Revolution: America’s Ancient Pasts - Daniel K. RichterAmerican Colonies - Alan Taylor This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit missingpages.substack.com

There are many events in history that remain controversial far after there happening. But most revolves around the causes and effects. In this case, though, the controversy is over its existence at all. The Great Awakening was a period of religious revival that swept throughout the colonies between 1730 and 1750. It was ignited during a period of spiritual malaise in the aftermath of imperial wars, and during the upending of religion during the Enlightenment. Or…the “Great” Awakening was an amalgamation of a few small-scale revivals in Connecticut and New Jersey that were connected by force by those who would most benefit. It was merely invented by a few preachers trying to sow chaos and create a new religious order.Needless to say, the notes do not go into the details of this fight for the truth, so join me to try to fill in those missing pages…Thanks for listening to Missing Pages! Subscribe for free to receive every new episode right in your inbox.MusicIntro: Fractured Timeline - SémøOutro: Carried Away - HoneysuckleSourcesInventing the “Great” Awakening - Frank LambertScotland and Its First American Colony - Ned C. LandsmanBefore the Revolution: America’s Ancient Pasts - Daniel K. RichterAmerican Colonies - Alan Taylor This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit missingpages.substack.com

While this is not an episode strictly following a historical event, it is still vital to the story of the American colonies, and America itself. I only scratch the surface in this episode, and focus mostly on the aspects that carried over to the Americans, but this era was filled with growth in the sciences, political theory, and economics, but also the arts, interpersonal relationships, education, and community. If there is an aspect of life that existed prior to the Enlightenment, it was challenged or promoted during it.In America, the Enlightenment was key to the growth of ideals like liberty, and natural rights, which became vital to the revolutionary effort. Beyond that, the colonies became more literate, more connected via mass printing, thus allowing for the great awakening (the topic for the next episode) to take hold. The colonial elites followed along with the work of their European peers, and even expand upon the work across the Atlantic. By the middle of the 18th century, there was a strong roster of American enlighteners. My AP notes cover this era with some good depth, but there is always more to say. So grab your quills and paper, and let’s fill in those missing pages…Thanks for listening to Missing Pages! Subscribe for free to receive every new episode right in your inbox.MusicIntro: Fractured Timeline - SémøOutro: Revolution - Willow McKennaSourcesThe Enlightenment - Ritchie RobertsonThe Enlightenment in America - Henry F. MayCrucible of War - Fred AndersonAmerican Colonies - Alan Taylor This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit missingpages.substack.com

As we continue on through the late colonial period, it has become glaringly obvious that this era is largely overlooked. Between Bacon’s Rebellion, and the French and Indian War, is nearly 100 hundred years of colonial progress, and colonial struggle. The latter is where the lack shows up most clearly. The American story is largely a British story. To deny that would require substantial evidence to the contrary, or immense bias. However, the other empires involved, the tapestry of Native nations, and of course the slaves, add important complexity, and nuance, to that narrative. The conflicts involving all of these people are as important to the colonial story as the founding of Pennsylvania. We discussed the slave conflicts earlier in the season, so now we must discuss the inter-empire wars. In this episode, I will be covering the first two (at least that touch the colonies in a meaningful way): King William’s War and Queen Anne’s War.These are mentioned in the notes, though only briefly. So I had a lot of work to do to detail the significance of these conflicts. So grab your muskets and cannons, and let’s fill in those missing pages…Thanks for listening to Missing Pages! Subscribe for free to receive every new episode right in your inbox.MusicIntro: Fractured Timeline - SémøOutro: Rise Fall - Eldar KedemSourcesKing William’s War - Michael G. LaramieQueen Anne’s War - Michael G. LaramieAmerican Colonies - Alan Taylor This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit missingpages.substack.com

This is Part Two of this short series on piracy in the American colonies. If you would like to learn more about the origins of piracy and the average life of a pirate, please check out Episode 18.Piracy arose quickly in the American colonies as a menace to polite society. From plantation raids, to ships taken at sea, and even a blockade of a whole colony, the pirates had their way. This rise came after the chaos of the two early wars left thousands of sailors adrift. With nothing to offer the economy, they turned to what they knew best: the sea.Under the tutelage of Benjamin Hornigold, a whole cadre of pirates—Charles Vane, John Rackham, Sam Bellamy, and even Blackbeard himself—began to prowl the seas. They took what they wanted and never looked back. That is, until the English crown realized the damage they had wrought. There are stories abound throughout the Caribbean during this golden age of piracy.Now hoist your sails, grab your muskets, and raise your colors and join me as we fill in those missing pages…Thanks for reading Missing Pages! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.MusicIntro: Fractured Timeline - SémøOutro: Spanish Ladies - HillTopTrioSourcesUnder the Black Flag - David CordinglyBlack Flags, Blue Waters - Eric Jay DolinThe Republic of Pirates - Colin WoodardAmerican Colonies - Alan Taylor This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit missingpages.substack.com

This is part one of a two-part series on the rise and fall of piracy. This episode covers the rise.It’s not often that the myths and stories we tell ourselves about history are accurate (more or less). This is one of those times.The collective imagination surrounding piracy, though far more brutal and dangerous than how it is portrayed in movies, especially in the Pirates of the Caribbean series, is accurate to history. There were drunken, stumbling, grimy, treasure loving men scouring the West Indies in search of prizes at sea and on shore. They flew the black flag, boarded and raided ships, and engaged in naval battles. Everything we see pirates do in the movies, they did in real life.It is a wonder, then, that this topic is completely overlooked in my AP history notes. Not a single mention. So, grab your swords and lower your sails as we have a lot of ground to cover to fill in those missing pages…Thanks for reading Missing Pages! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.MusicIntro: Fractured Timeline - SémøOutro: Water - ARYEHSourcesUnder the Black Flag - David CordinglyBlack Flags, Blue Waters - Eric Jay DolinThe Republic of Pirates - Colin WoodardAmerican Colonies - Alan Taylor This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit missingpages.substack.com

As we saw last month, the slavery story was not static. Nor were the victims passive. They pressed every advantage they could. However, this was not enough. The miniscule freedoms granted did not offer much of an escape from the drudgery they faced. This was especially true of many of the new arrivals, who saw the horrors of slavery in the English colonies and were quick to protest.This episode, I will be covering three slave revolts and their aftermath in detail. One along the Stono River in South Carolina, and two others in New York City. These revolts played off the threat of war with the Spanish, and a general mistrust between rivals, and, of course, the ever-present fear among the European settlers of slave revolt.The reaction often far outpaced the actual revolt, and for one of them, conspiracies were alleged implicating every corner of society.The notes do not touch on these revolts much, so grab your weapon of choice—or your gavel, if you’d prefer—and let’s fill in these missing pages…Thanks for listening to the Missing Pages Podcast! Subscribe for free to receive new episodes every month.MusicIntro: Fractured Timeline - SémøOutro: Smoke - Michael WittSourcesStono - ed. Mark M. SmithNew York Burning - Jill LeporeWhen I Die, I Shall Return to My Own Land - Ben HughesMany Thousand Gone - Ira BerlinGotham - Edwin G. Burrows, Mike WallaceAmerican Colonies - Alan TaylorBefore the Revolution - Daniel K. Richter This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit missingpages.substack.com

The image of slavery that is pervasive in media—the black man in raggedy clothes, with a scarred back, hunched over low-lying plants in a field—is a correct version of the life of a slave. But it’s only a version. There is also the rope maker that works alongside a white servant and master artisan. Or the woman tending to her chickens then sewing linen clothes for her husband. Or even the man in a powdered wig, his silver buttons on his newly purchased jacket, walking the streets on a Sunday morning.Slavery as an institution was horrendous and vile. But that did not mean the slaves were going to accept their position without protest. This protest was most often not violent, but rather a silent protest of seeking the best life possible despite the consequences. The story of this episode covers the more nuanced version of slavery than is typically described in popular discourse. No doubt, the story of the tortured man in the fields is an important one, but so is the story of the man who understands he has agency and acts on it in any way he can.The notes are relatively sparse for this one (kind of…) so there is quite a bit of work to do to fill in the missing pages…Thanks for listening to Missing Pages! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.MusicIntro: Fractured Timeline - SémøOutro: Rise Again - EV!SourcesMany Thousand Gone - Ira BerlinGotham - Edwin G. Burrows, Mike WallaceAmerican Colonies - Alan TaylorBefore the Revolution - Daniel K. RichterAmerican Slavery, American Freedom - Edmund S. MorganColonial South Carolina, A History - Robert M. Weir This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit missingpages.substack.com

Puritan scholar Perry Miller called what occurred in Salem in 1692 a non-event which had “no effect on the ecclesiastical or political situation, [and] does not figure in the institutional development.” The causes of this event are far more important to us now than the effects. However, it has had an effect in our understanding of human psychology. There was no single thinker that revolutionized our understanding of the mind, but we can put ourselves in the shoes of these paranoid people who were beyond terrified that the Devil was loose in their town. It displays the dangers when accepting a child’s word, defending family, and social hierarchies are pushed to their extremes. Furthermore, it reinforced the necessity of presumed innocence and physical evidence. There’s a reason “witch-hunt” is still so common in our lexicon. These events were shameful for those involved, so much so that the governor tried to ban any publication of the events. Scant few recanted their claims or apologized for their conduct that led to the accusation of over 200 people and the death of over 20. And all of this may have started by girls seeking a little attention.There’s much to explore in this story. So let’s unwind this complex, albeit small, knot, and fill in those missing pages…MusicIntro: Fractured Timeline - SémøOutro: Dancing in the Fire - Frank SchlimbachSourcesA Storm of Witchcraft - Emerson W. BakerSix Women of Salem - Marilynne K. Roach This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit missingpages.substack.com

This episode is a bit unorthodox, I will be jumping around a bit through time and space to explore the various facets of the changing American life in the later colonial period. This includes the creation of new social classes and the rise of a distinct culture in the British colonies. These changes are brought about via rapid population expansion, and rapid growth in the economy and trade. This multifaceted growth coincided with a relative independence within the British colonies from meddling from the Crown, Parliament, or the Board of Trade. Thus, the isolated colonists were able to forge their own identity and remake the class structure. In the end, most found themselves much better off than their counterparts across the ocean.I also discuss the similar, though much less rapid, growth in the French and Spanish colonies in order to set the stage for the rest of this era. The sparce nature of these colonies gives far less to discuss, so I go into less depth here, but they will return when the three empires in North America spar throughout the century.With all of that said, I have some work to do to dive more into depth than the notes do, so let’s fill in those missing pages…Thanks for listening to Missing Pages! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.MusicIntro: Fractured Timeline - SémøOutro: Crooked Dream - Jamison DewlenSourcesWilliam Penn, Politics and Conscience - Mary Maples DunnScotland and Its First American Colony - Ned C. LandsmanThe French in North America - W. J. EcclesColonial Maryland, A History - Aubrey C. LandColonial South Carolina, A History - Robert M. WeirAlbion’s Seed - David Hackett FischerEl Norte - Carrie GibsonGotham: A History of New York City to 1898 - Edwin G. Burrows & Mike WallaceAmerican Colonies: The Settling of North America - Alan TaylorBefore the Revolution: America’s Ancient Pasts - Daniel K. Richter This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit missingpages.substack.com

Welcome to Era 2! To kick off this season, I will be completing the list of the thirteen British colonies that will rebel in 1775. This includes showing the aftermath of the events of 1676, the merging and unmerging of various colonies, as well as the creation of completely new colonies. This is just the first episode, so this acts as more of a bird’s-eye view. But don’t worry, each of these colonies will be explored more in depth in later episodes as I dive into local events and the far-reaching, era-spanning phenomena. I will not be neglecting the non-British colonies, as those are pivotal to the history of America, and have their own side of the story to tell.This era of history is largely overlooked in the AP notes, though it dives deeply into certain aspects of it, but it was vital in the formation of new identities that lead to conflict between the mother countries and the colonies.So, I have my work cut out for me to fill in those missing pages…Subscribe below to be notified of every new episode release!MusicIntro: Fractured Timeline - SémøOutro: Join the Ride - Magnetic BuzzSourcesWilliam Penn, Politics and Conscience - Mary Maples DunnScotland and Its First American Colony - Ned C. LandsmanThe French in North America - W. J. EcclesColonial Maryland, A History - Aubrey C. LandColonial South Carolina, A History - Robert M. WeirAlbion’s Seed - David Hackett FischerEl Norte - Carrie GibsonGotham: A History of New York City to 1898 - Edwin G. Burrows & Mike WallaceAmerican Colonies: The Settling of North America - Alan TaylorBefore the Revolution: America’s Ancient Pasts - Daniel K. Richter This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit missingpages.substack.com

This episode will be a little bit different than all of the previous episodes this season. This is a recap and reflection episode. I will provide a brief summary of all of the previous episodes, explore some of the themes that I found, correct some of the misconceptions that I had, and explore how well the AP notes hold up to scrutiny. At the end I also provide a preview for what to expect for the next season. As this era concludes, I would like to thank all of you that have supported me on this journey on Substack and all other platforms. I hope that as I get better at this podcasting thing that I can continue to provide more and more value to you as listeners. This is a personal project, but seeing the support has definitely made it easier to keep going. I appreciate it, truly.Next season is slated for January 3, 2025. All extra content in the interim will be posted to Substack only. So, if you want extra content, to read all of the essays I have written, or comment on any of the episodes, please head to missingpages.substack.com.Thanks for reading Missing Pages! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.MusicIntro: Fractured Timeline - SémøOutro: Talk - Con Davison This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit missingpages.substack.com

In this episode we reach the end of the era. In 1675 and 1676, two major wars overtook nearly all of the English colonies. In Virginia, Nathaniel Bacon created chaos in order to attack nearby Native tribes. What started out as a personal grievance became a full blown rebellion that outlived the origianal leader. In New England, Metacom, also known as Philip, started forging alliances with the surrounding Native tribes to try to put an end to the English menace. This conflict outgrew the original leader as well and led to the bloodiest war on American soil. After these colonial wars conclude, the colonies are left in ruins, and the English crown is forced to intervene.The end of these wars marks the end of the early colonial period. It is not a clear turning point, though the outcomes of the conflicts start the ball rolling to a new era in colonial life. The AP notes cover these topics fairly well, though, as always, there are always details to bring in. Join me in filling in the missing pages…MusicIntro: Fractured Timeline - SémøOutro: After the War - Ben WagnerSourcesTales from a Revolution - James D. RiceKing Philip’s War - Eric B. Schultz and Michael J. TougiasMayflower: Voyage, Community, War - Nathaniel PhilbrickAmerican Colonies: The Settling of North America - Alan TaylorBefore the Revolution: America’s Ancient Pasts - Daniel K. Richter This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit missingpages.substack.com

This episode rounds out the series of overview style episodes with an exploration of the violence that permeated this era, especially the 17th century. Religious turmoil led to changing laws, even for the most devout colonies. Wars were perpetrated by and affected everyone the world over. The level of violence is higher than anyone living in America has seen on their shores for over 80 years. The mere act of survival was not guaranteed for a large portion of the populaion. Therefore, it is necessary to use this context to understand the decisions of those in the past.The AP notes are lacking for most of these conflicts, though that is to be expected. To cover all of these would surely double the amount of curriculum necessary. So I’ll do my part and fill in those missing pages…MusicIntro: Fractured Timeline - SémøOutro: You Kill Me - The PolaritySourcesThe Barbarous Years - Bernard BailynCrisis and Catastrophe: The Global Crisis of the Seventeenth Century Reconsidered - Geoffrey Parker“The Battle of Weyanoke Creek”: A Story of the Third Anglo-Powhatan War in Early Carolina - Lars C. AdamsWar and Politics: Powhatan Expansionism and the Problem of Native American Warfare - James D. RiceTales from a Revolution: Bacon’s Rebellion and the Transformation of Early America - James D. RiceBefore the Revolution: America’s Ancient Pasts - Daniel K. RichterAmerican Colonies: The Settling of North America - Alan Taylor This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit missingpages.substack.com

This episode covers the most difficult topic to date: slavery. This is a topic that still rouses lots of debate to this day, so I was extra careful to ensure that the facts were straight. I draw the thread of slavery from before Columbus’s journey to slightly after this era charting the transition from servant labor to slave labor. Along the way I discuss how the views of these two types of labor shifted over time and the laws that were enacted to ingrain the practice in society. The AP notes did not cover this topic very thoroughly, so I had my work cut out for me. Regardless, I think I was able to portray the facts justly and tried to get into the heads of those involved. Join me in this effort to fill in the missing pages…MusicIntro: Fractured Timeline - SémøOutro: Wild Sea - Maya IsacowitzSourcesThe Origins of American Slavery - Betty WoodAmerican Slavery, American Freedom - Edmund S. MorganNew England Bound - Wendy Warren The Barbarous Years - Bernard BailynAmerican Colonies: The Settling of North America - Alan TaylorBefore the Revolution: America’s Ancient Pasts - Daniel K. Richter This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit missingpages.substack.com

On this episode of Missing Pages, I fill out some of the colonies that have been neglected thus far. These are colonies that fall outside the narrative structure of the colonial American story, but are important to that story regardless. These colonies include Maryland, South Carolina, and the entirety of New France. These colonies are mentioned in my high school notes, but the details are incredibly lacking. These colonies spotlight the diversity of the colonial world and act as a segue to a topic that I have been hinting at and shapes the rest of the American story: slavery.So come along with me and let’s fill in those missing pages…MusicIntro: Fractured Timeline - SémøOutro: Falling - GumoSourcesColonial Maryland: A History - Aubrey C. LandColonial South Carolina: A History - Robert M. WeirAmerican Colonies: The Settling of North America - Alan TaylorBefore the Revolution: America’s Ancient Pasts - Daniel K. RichterThe French in North America: 1500-1783 - W. J. Eccles This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit missingpages.substack.com

This episode covers the important, though overlooked, Dutch colony in the New World: New Amsterdam. This colony was squished between Massachusetts and Virginia and was instrumental in forwarding many of the ideals that would be used to justify the American Revolution. The initial ragtag group of settlers would slowly expand gaining more recognition from the Dutch government and the rest of the colonial powers, despite its small size. This led to a power vacuum which led to many an authoritarian trying to control the colony. This led to a growing need for representative government and liberty in religion and person. This debate was held for over a decade before the English colonies cut the process short.There are many missing pages that help flesh out this unique colony. Let’s fill those in…MusicIntro: Fractured Timeline - SémøOutro: The Beach House - Space DovesSourcesThe Island at the Center of the World - Russell ShortoAmerican Jezebel - Eve LaPlanteAmerican Colonies: The Settling of North America - Alan Taylor This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit missingpages.substack.com

This episode covers the story of the two most famous rebels in the early American colonies: Roger Williams and Anne Hutchinson. But they weren’t the only ones. Several, far less known, people were continuously challenging the existing power structure. There is a thread that is beginning to materialize that will only grow as we move forward through history. Along with that, this episode covers the growing call for religious tolerance in a world of increasing persecution. Carrying forward the ideas from previous episodes, the desire for liberty and democracy is bubbling under the surface in the English colonies. So grab your treatises and let’s fill in those missing pages…MusicIntro: Fractured Timeline - SémøOutro: Be Bold, Be Brave - To The ValleySourcesRoger Williams and the Creation of the American Soul - John M. BarryAmerican Jezebel - Eve LaPlanteA Stranger Among Saints: Stephen Hopkins, the Man Who Survived Jamestown and Saved Plymouth - Jonathan Mack This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit missingpages.substack.com

This episode continues to travel over well-trodden ground as we explore the founding and settling of the Massachusetts Bay colony. We cover the colonies before the Massachusetts, the impetus for the massive migration, the regional characteristics of the new arrivals, and the tumultuous first couple decades. There is plenty of intrigue in the courts, religious jockeying, and a bloody and disastrous war to discuss. The expansion of the Puritan colonies in New England is what many generations of Americans have learned as the beginning of American history. This is not so in my AP notes, as we have seen already. However, the Puritans are covered very heavily, more so than their southern counterparts in Virginia. Nevertheless, there are lots of details that are missed in the rapidly paced, and often broad, AP notes. We’ll have to dig deep in this episode to fill in those missing pages.MusicIntro: Fractured Timeline - SémøOutro: We Won’t Survive - Assaf AyalonSourcesRoger Williams and the Creation of the American Soul - John M. BarryAlbion’s Seed: Four British Folkways in America - David Hackett FischerAmerican Jezebel - Eve LaPlanteA Stranger Among Saints: Stephen Hopkins, the Man Who Survived Jamestown and Saved Plymouth - Jonathan MackAmerican Colonies: The Settling of North America - Alan Taylor This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit missingpages.substack.com

This episode details the origins of the Pilgrims, their voyage, and their interactions with the Natives in the first successful New England colony. Along the way I describe the importance of a document signed onboard the ship and how it was a defining moment in American history. Those onboard were not aware of that, though. I also discuss the interactions with the natives, both the ugly and the inspiring, and how it would shape the colonial experience going forward.Again, the AP notes get the broad strokes, but are lacking on the details. So this may be how you remember the story told, but I hope you glean some new information regardless. So, let’s expand on what we think we know already, keep and open mind, and fill in those missing pages.MusicIntro: Fractured Timeline - SémøOutro: This Life of Time - Beò SourcesMayflower: Voyage, Community, War - Nathaniel PhilbrickA Stranger Among Saints: Stephen Hopkins, the Man Who Survived Jamestown and Saved Plymouth - Jonathan MackMourt’s Relation - William Bradford, Edward Winslow, et. al.American Colonies: The Settling of North America - Alan TaylorBefore the Revolution: America’s Ancient Pasts - Daniel K. Richter This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit missingpages.substack.com

This is the usual starting point in American history education. It is logical given that Jamestown is the first successful English colony in the New World. This episode will cover the first few decades of this colony from the inception of the Virginia Company to the end of the Second Anglo-Powhatan War. Because this is more heavily covered in the AP US History notes than previous topics, this episode will fill in the details that may be lost when teaching to high school students. I go into more depth about the relationships between the Natives and the English and how they viewed each other. I dig into some of the more personal stories and changes of opinion with regard to those relationships. I go into the multiple conflicts, continuous death, and the rise of a class struggle. Along with much, much more.So come with me on this journey to go beneath the surface of what was taught in high school and let’s fill in those missing pages.MusicIntro: Fractured Timeline - SémøOutro: Why I Am so Mad - Roni Bar HadasSourcesA Land As God Made It: Jamestown and the Birth of America - James HornA Stranger Among Saints: Stephen Hopkins, the Man Who Survived Jamestown and Saved Plymouth - Jonathan MackAmerican Colonies: The Settling of North America - Alan TaylorBefore the Revolution: America’s Ancient Pasts - Daniel K. Richter This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit missingpages.substack.com

This episode tackles the colliding of the two hemispheres that had been separated for millennia. I start around 1492 when Columbus sailed the ocean blue and end around the turn of the 17th century. There are a lot of people and a lot of dates covered, but I only scratch the surface of the amount of exploring and conquering that occurred in this time period. I discuss the various reasons for these missions and the success and failures for each of the countries present in the continent. Finally, I address whether the Europeans are to blame for the vast amounts of death that occurred during this century.Like last episode, I branch outside of North America before reaching the traditional starting point in American history education. All of this is vital preliminary information, though, so I would be remiss to skip over any of it.The history notes leave a lot to be desired, but that just gives me more to talk about as I fill in the missing pages.MusicIntro: Fractured Timeline - SémøOutro: Blood on My Hands - Michael McQuaidSourcesEl Norte: The Epic and Forgotten Story of Hispanic North America - Carrie GibsonAmerican Colonies: The Settling of North America - Alan TaylorBefore the Revolution: America’s Ancient Pasts - Daniel K. Richter1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus - Charles C. Mann This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit missingpages.substack.com

This episode will cover, by far, the longest span of time that will be covered in the entire Missing Pages podcast. Starting tens of thousands of years ago, I discuss the first people to arrive in the Americas. I explore how the first civilizations grew, how they adapted to their environment, and their major advancements. I continue through history exploring many of the descendants of these first civilizations up until 1492. I explore the foundations of American societies, the growth of civilizations, and the rise and fall of empires. I discuss how they were similar and different from Europe. I lay out how they succeeded, where they failed, and what makes them just as human as the rest of us.I do my best in this episode to bring some stories of individuals to the forefront, though, given the small amount of evidence (from both age and destruction) these are sparse.The high school notes are lacking in this episode, so there’s a lot to cover in order to fill in all those missing pages.MusicIntro: Fractured Timeline - SémøOutro: The Land That Time Forgot - Clair KellySources1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus - Charles C. MannThe First Frontier: The Forgotten History of Struggle, Savagery, and Endurance in Early America - Scott WeidensaulAmerican Colonies: The Settling of North America - Alan Taylor This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit missingpages.substack.com

In the inaugural episode of Missing Pages, I explain some of the reasoning behind this podcast, my research philosophy, and the nuts and bolts of the podcast and the Substack, generally. If you want more content from me besides the podcast, head on over to the Substack. MusicIntro: Fractured Timeline - SémøOutro: Give Me the Truth - The RalliesSourcesMy Brain - Me This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit missingpages.substack.com