History of North America

In 1608, Pocahontas (1596–1617) befriended the daring English explorer and adventurer John Smith (1580–1631) and later converted to Christianity. She married the Virginia tobacco planter John Rolfe (1585-1622) in 1614 and bore their son. Pocahontas has entered the pantheon of modern popular culture is a subject of art, literature, and film. Numerous places, landmarks, and products in t...

The growing Iroquois frustration with the increased French incursions into their territory was encouraged by the settlers of New England as a way to leverage power against New France. Jacques-René de Brisay, Marquis de Denonville (1637-1710) was the Governor General of New France from 1685 to 1689 and was an important figure during the intermittent conflict between New France and the Iroquo...

"Give me liberty, or give me death!" is a quotation attributed to Patrick Henry (1736-99) from a speech he made to the Virginia Convention in 1775, at St. John's Church in Richmond, Virginia, he is credited with having swung the balance in convincing the Virginia House of Burgesses to pass a resolution delivering the Virginia troops to the Revolutionary War. Among the delegates to the convention w...

Captain John Smith (1580–1631) was an English soldier, explorer, colonial governor, admiral of New England, and author. He played an important role in the establishment of the colony at Jamestown, Virginia, the first permanent English settlement in North America, in the early 17th century. Enjoy this ENCORE Presentation! Check out the YouTube version of this episode at https://youtu.be/PbDr1...

Epic STORY of the fascinating background events to the American Civil War (1861-65) as seen from a North American perspective. Enjoy this History of North America PLUS episode! Canada and the American Civil War: PRELUDE TO WAR by Mark Vinet (non-fiction history paper book, audio book, eBook) is available at https://amzn.to/4mQeilx ENJOY Ad-Free content, Bonus episodes, and Extra materials when joi...

Denary Novels, Book Five — Continuing saga of the 10-volume international historical mystery and suspense thriller series titled Denary Novels by Mark Vinet, which are heavily immersed in World history with connections to North America. Get FREE access to this novel’s accompanying visuals, including maps, charts, timelines, photos, illustrations, and diagrams at https://patreon.com/mar...

Deadly germs annihilated populations throughout the seventeenth century in both the Old and New Worlds. Dutch scientist and entrepreneur Antonie van Leeuwenhoek (1632–1723) was the first to discover and describe microorganisms (protists, bacteria) in the 1670s. Check out the YouTube version of this episode at https://youtu.be/FSVLqhTRfLE which has accompanying visuals including maps, charts,...

Discovery that Virginia was the perfect environment to cultivate tobacco led to Jamestown's success… and to a great deal of conflict between the English and the natives. Relations between the local natives and colonists became increasingly uncomfortable as more white settlers arrived in Virginia. The natives moved farther inland to distance themselves from the English, but more Europeans ke...

The long history of indoor and outdoor plumbing is fascinating. The first water system on the continent was pioneered during the late 1600s in Boston, followed by the creation of a piping system for New York City firefighters. Inventor, plumber, and businessman Thomas Crapper improved the toilette system with his many plumbing innovations championing the need for improved sanitation throughout Eur...

The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) written in the form of an extended letter to his son, William Franklin (1730-1813). Ben kept good records of his life and travels, and although he was never President, he still played a crucial part in American history.   The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin at https://amzn.to/43cp6CV   Benjamin Franklin Books available at  https:...

Indentures are agreements between two parties about long-term work. The length of servitude might be a specified number of years or until the servant reached a certain age. Some people indentured themselves in order to gain passage to North America or to escape debt and poverty. Enjoy this ENCORE Presentation! Check out the YouTube version of this episode at https://youtu.be/cLgzFHz4SIY which has...

Before the group of Puritan colonists left England for the New World in 1630, John Winthrop (1588-1649) delivered an inspirational final message filled with the hope for what America could become. The sermon is titled, ‘The Model Of Christian Charity,’ but is famous for the line, "City on a Hill." This line would go on to become popular in political discussions of the United States of...

John Winthrop (1588-1649) was an English Puritan lawyer and one of the leading figures in founding the Massachusetts Bay Colony, the second major settlement in New England following Plymouth Colony. Winthrop delivered a sermon before he led the first large wave of colonists across the Atlantic ocean from England in 1630. The sermon is famous largely for its use of the phrase “a city on a hil...

Second major English settlement in New England following Plymouth Colony was the Massachusetts Bay Colony (1628–1691). E285: Massachusetts Bay Colony 1630 Check out the YouTube version of this episode at https://youtu.be/3VtGNDDqdwA  which has accompanying visuals including maps, charts, timelines, photos, illustrations, and diagrams.  Massachusetts Bay Colony books at https://amzn...

English Puritans were Protestants who wished to reform England’s state religion of Catholic influences. Their efforts met with stiff resistance. Escaping religious persecution, they sailed across the Atlantic Ocean to make a new life in the New World. E284. Check out the YouTube version of this episode at https://youtu.be/KruDo99XKfw which has accompanying visuals including maps, charts, tim...

The Pilgrims were reform-minded Protestants Puritans who sought to purify the Church of England of Roman Catholic practices. Who were these Pilgrims and why did they cross the Atlantic Ocean to come to America starting in 1620? Were they really escaping religious persecution to establish a new life in North America? E283.  Check out the YouTube version of this episode at https://youtu.be/eUCg...

What are the unique set of Traditions and History of the Thanksgiving holiday? celebrated each year by Americans on the fourth Thursday in November. E368.  Check out the YouTube version of this episode at https://youtu.be/zTFrdqY4GPI  which has accompanying visuals including maps, charts, timelines, photos, illustrations, and diagrams. Everything Everywhere Daily podcast at https://amzn....

On the fourth Thursday in November every year, American’s celebrate the holiday of Thanksgiving. It is a holiday that originated in the Americas but has subsequently spread to many countries around the world. Richard C. Lyons books available at https://amzn.to/4fHcFlX History of Thanksgiving books at https://amzn.to/40Y2t4d Pilgrim books available at https://amzn.to/3RmFkTE    Mayf...

In 1649, an English act of parliament had a significant impact on the spread of the gospel in New England along with the execution of King Charles I in 1649, which led to the establishment of the Commonwealth of England, that Puritan Oliver Cromwell ruled as Lord Protector from 1653 until his death in 1658. E352. Check out the YouTube version of this episode at https://youtu.be/6WQQ5HUvLIk  w...

The titanic battle between Capitalism and Socialism on American soil goes way back to the roots of colonialism when the settlers arrived at Jamestown and Plymouth in the early 17th century. E268.  Check out the YouTube version of this episode at https://youtu.be/FCG4tGD6MY8 which has accompanying visuals including maps, charts, timelines, photos, illustrations, and diagrams.  Jamestown p...

The settlers who arrived at Plymouth and Jamestown in the early 1600s experimented with socialist communes. E267. Check out the YouTube version of this episode at https://youtu.be/QZNKk0FVZLE  which has accompanying visuals including maps, charts, timelines, photos, illustrations, and diagrams.  Jamestown products available at https://amzn.to/3RW5kEm  Plymouth Colony books available...

An English Puritan separatist originally from Yorkshire in Northern England, William Bradford moved to Holland with other Pilgrims in order to escape religious persecution from King James of England, and then emigrated to northeastern North America on the ship Mayflower in 1620. He was a signatory to the Mayflower Compact agreement between the settlers and went on to serve as Governor of the Plymo...

Who were the Pilgrims and why did they cross the Atlantic Ocean to come to America in 1620? E265.  Check out the YouTube version of this episode at https://youtu.be/82MXN_ErnRM which has accompanying visuals including maps, charts, timelines, photos, illustrations, and diagrams.  Everything Everywhere Daily podcast at https://amzn.to/3XHj20A Pilgrim books available at https://amzn.to/3Rm...

Symbol of holidays such as Halloween and Thanksgiving, Pumpkins, which are technically a fruit, not a vegetable, are one of the oldest domesticated plants in the world and have been used for centuries in various ways. Gourds and pumpkins are closely related fruits from the Cucurbitaceae (cucumber) family, but they are generally distinguished by their intended use: gourds are primarily for decorati...

During the special Thanksgiving holiday season, I will be presenting a series of episodes dealing with the cherished holiday itself, as well as it's origins, customs, traditions, and the original participants, the Pilgrims and Natives. History of Thanksgiving books at https://amzn.to/40Y2t4d The Pilgrim's Progress books available at  https://amzn.to/3XIvq18   Pilgrim books available at&n...