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Dr. Denver Brunsman returns to the podcast to discuss teaching about George Washington and the new nation.  Denver is the History Department Chair at George Washington University and he has published and edited numerous books on the time period including his newest book, George Washington and His World:  Enslaver, Revolutionary, President, is an accessible and short text on this topic.  Denver begins by noting that the Federalist Era was a moment when the United States was determining its political identity. He explains that George Washington was central to establishing the new government and successfully unifying the country.  To that end, he visited every state in the nation during his presidency.  Denver discusses that it is also important to remember that Washington was able to engage in politics because of the wealth and status that he accrued through the enslavement of others.  To address the complexity of Washington’s legacy, he shares Mount Vernon’s approach of teaching “and” history, that Washington both accomplished great things and participated in unjust practices.  He advises teachers to use primary sources to tell the truth about this complex history.  For instance, Mount Vernon has George Washington’s copy of the constitution that includes his notes regarding how he should act as president to balance power and liberty within that framework.  He also points to a letter that Washington sent Tobias Lear instructing him to rotate the enslaved members of his household in Philadelphia so that they would not be freed by Pennsylvania’s Gradual Abolition Act.  He shares that teachers can discuss Washington’s ability to evolve in his thoughts about slavery, and that he became increasingly opposed to the institution after seeing the bravery of Black soldiers during the Revolutionary War.  However, he notes that it is disappointing that the most influential person of his era did not make more of a public stand about slavery and only freed the enslaved community  at Mount Vernon in his will.

Lesson Plans and resources:

The “George Washington This AND That” lesson can be downloaded at https://bit.ly/4zjsWHy

The “Letter to Tobias Lear” lesson can be downloaded at https://bit.ly/4zWBsfT

Other Resources

Information about Dr. Burnsman’s newest book, George Washington and His World:  Enslaver, Revolutionary, President, can be found at:  https://global.oup.com/academic/product/george-washington-and-his-world-9780197858820?cc=us&lang=en&

Founders Online can be accessed at https://founders.archives.gov/

Credits

Opening theme music, “Bossa Bossa,” created by Clare Howard www.clarehoward.com  Music supported by the National Council for History Education www.ncheteach.org

Transition theme music, “The Clock is Ticking,” created by Emily Hahn.

Logo artwork created by Jessica Goldman.

Shit I Have to Teach in 20 Minutes is produced by Eric Hahn and Rob Good.  Audio and video editing by Sebastian Rosales.

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