About this episode

The episode explores the origins of the United States, examining the contradictions of liberty and slavery in its founding narrative.

How did a collection of desperate survivors, religious outcasts, and petty criminals become the architects of the world's most powerful nation? What does it mean to build a society on the language of liberty when that society is entirely dependent on enslaved labour? And are Americans still reckoning with a founding story that was never quite what it seemed? Peter and Afua go back to the very beginning — from the disaster of Roanoke and the brutal early years at Jamestown, to the transatlantic slave economy that quietly powered the rise of New York, Boston, and Philadelphia. 00:00 Introduction — what America actually means 03:00 Roanoke and Jamestown — England's catastrophic first attempts 08:00 The colonial economy — slavery, sugar, and the triangle trade 14:00 New York's hidden history — one in five New Yorkers were enslaved 19:00 The contradiction at America's heart — liberty built on unfreedom 25:00 Who were the Founding Fathers — and who was left out? 32:00 Preview — Franklin and Madison up next Join Legacy Plus for bonus episodes, early access, Q&A's, fewer adverts and more. legacy.supportingcast.fm Stay connected with Legacy: Instagram: @originallegacypodcast TikTok…

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