When News of Independence Travels

Americans today celebrate July 4th as the birthday of the country, but how about in 1776? Monticello Guide Kyle Chattleton reflects on how slowly news of independence spread in 1776.

William Monroe Trotter

Trailblazer. Newspaper publisher. Civil rights titan. In this episode we discuss Trotter’s life, legacy, and determined (but ultimately unsuccessful) effort to stop the release of the notoriously racist 1915 film “Birth of a Nation.”

The Louisiana Purchase and Its Legacies

Monticello guide Justin Bates discusses Jefferson's hopes for an "Empire of Liberty" across the North American continent, and the Louisiana Purchase's lasting legacies for the United States and its indigenous nations.