Welcome to Ben Franklin's World,

Podcast about Early American History with Liz Covert.

The study of history is key to understanding who we are

and how we can affect a better future.

Van Franklin's world will introduce you to historical people and events that have impacted and shaped our present day world.

And now, here's your host, Liz Colarn.

Hello and welcome to episode 80 of Ben Franklin's world.

The podcast dedicated to helping you

learn more about how the people and events of our early American past

have shaped the present day world we live in.

American prisons are overcrowded.

The United States has the highest incarceration rate of any nation in the world. Nearly 2.5 million Americans

are serving prison sentences and approximately 20% of the American population

has a criminal record. Nearly all politicians agree that we need to reform the prison

system in the United States, but they disagree on what reforms to implement. Today, we

attempt to gain historical perspective on this present-day problem by exploring

American prisons and prisoners during the early republic period.

Jen Manion, an assistant professor of history at Connecticut College, and author of

Liberty's Prisoners,

Carsural Culture in Early America,

will help us investigate the Early American Prison System

and whether a better understanding of it

...