New London and the Thames River region was once the most important port of trade in all of British North America. At a time when sugar was king and trade with the West Indies island represented the pinnacle of Puritan economics, New London served as a hub for a dizzying array of goods that were collected via an intricate trade network and then shipped south to the Caribbean. Connecticut ships returned with their holds packed with sugar, molasses, and rum. What was the single most valuable item that the colony’s merchants shipped? Exactly how many chickens cackled their way to the islands? You’ll have to join us for the story of “Connecticut’s Sweet Tooth” to find out.
Matt Warshauer is a professor of history at Central Connecticut State University, where he received his bachelors in American Studies. Fascinated by what he calls “the American paradox,” the ever-challenging conundrum between the nation’s founding document and the difficulties of pursuing essential ideas of freedom, Warshauer pursued an MA and Ph.D. at Saint Louis University. He has spent the last 30 years exploring the great American experiment of self-government. The author of five books and countless articles and reviews, Warshauer has written extensively on Andrew Jackson, slavery and the Civil War, and, most recently, 9/11 and how the most important and devastating event of the 21st century has impacted the world in which we live. Creating and Failing the 9/11 Generation: The Real Story of September 11 was just released from Routledge Press. With a unique ability to draw in his audience, Warshauer guides listeners through the complexities of American political and constitutional history so that we can all think more clearly and gain a better understanding of our role as citizens.
This program is co-sponsored by Witness to History: Slavery in Guilford. The initiative seeks to uncover the local history of slavery, examine its legacy and share with town residents what it finds.
This program is free and open to all.
Please register.