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American History Mondays with Dr. Richard Bell: Canals, Rails, and the Dawn of the Electronic Age

American History Mondays with Dr. Richard Bell: Canals, Rails, and the Dawn of the Electronic Age


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Can't make this time? A video recording will be sent to all participants after the seminar.

The thirty years between 1815 and 1845 witnessed the greatest transformation in American infrastructure and information technology before the internet. Investment and experimentation in those fields helped to facilitate the creation of a single, national American economy – an economy capable of challenging European countries for economic supremacy. 

Prior to 1815, the most advanced industrial technology most Americans had ever seen was a windmill. But all that was about to change and, by 1845 America had begun to look more like an industrialized, developed nation than an agricultural, developing nation. We’ll examine five of the most important new technologies that seeded that change: canals, roads, rails, post offices, and the telegraph.

Dr. Richard Bell is Professor of History at the University of Maryland. He holds a PhD from Harvard University and has won more than a dozen teaching awards, including the University System of Maryland Board of Regents Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching. He has held major research fellowships at Yale, Cambridge, the Library of Congress and is the recipient of the Andrew Carnegie Fellowship and the National Endowment of the Humanities Public Scholar Award. Professor Bell is author of the new book "Stolen: Five Free Boys Kidnapped into Slavery and their Astonishing Odyssey Home," which was shortlisted for the George Washington Prize and the Harriet Tubman Prize.

This conversation is suitable for all ages.

90 minutes, including a 30 minute Q&A.

Customer Reviews

Based on 6 reviews
83%
(5)
0%
(0)
17%
(1)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
L
Linda Baum (Sherman Oaks, US)

Bell is a terrific teacher with a deep understanding of his material, who finds new ways to frame historical events. He is engaging and engages the audience, and the lively conversations are a great part of the experience.

K
Kelly Loeffler (Gilbert, US)
American History Mondays with Dr. Richard Bell: Canals, Rails, and the Dawn of the Electronic Age

Awesome presentation. I love all of Richard Bell's classes!! He is amazing! I learned so much in this class --- very interesting.

S
Sandra S -- Boston (Saugus, US)
Well-Presented and Fascinating Look at Innovations of 1800s in America

This was my first seminar delivered by Dr. Bell and I absolutely loved it: the content, the delivery, his sense of humor, his active involvement with the listeners. This discussion of how the building of canals, roads, rails, and then the initial modes of communication in our USA past enhanced industrialization was so informative. I learned so much about the details but also how all these actions worked together to advance our progress.

S
Sue (Minneapolis, US)
Excellent Program

Another lively and informative program by Dr. Bell. His series really raises questions for the audience to research for themselves.

M
M. Kuroiwa (Havre de Grace, US)

Guest did not leave comment

Customer Reviews

Based on 6 reviews
83%
(5)
0%
(0)
17%
(1)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
L
Linda Baum (Sherman Oaks, US)

Bell is a terrific teacher with a deep understanding of his material, who finds new ways to frame historical events. He is engaging and engages the audience, and the lively conversations are a great part of the experience.

K
Kelly Loeffler (Gilbert, US)
American History Mondays with Dr. Richard Bell: Canals, Rails, and the Dawn of the Electronic Age

Awesome presentation. I love all of Richard Bell's classes!! He is amazing! I learned so much in this class --- very interesting.

S
Sandra S -- Boston (Saugus, US)
Well-Presented and Fascinating Look at Innovations of 1800s in America

This was my first seminar delivered by Dr. Bell and I absolutely loved it: the content, the delivery, his sense of humor, his active involvement with the listeners. This discussion of how the building of canals, roads, rails, and then the initial modes of communication in our USA past enhanced industrialization was so informative. I learned so much about the details but also how all these actions worked together to advance our progress.

S
Sue (Minneapolis, US)
Excellent Program

Another lively and informative program by Dr. Bell. His series really raises questions for the audience to research for themselves.

M
M. Kuroiwa (Havre de Grace, US)

Guest did not leave comment