Edmund Morgan (historian) facts for kids

Edmund Sears Morgan (born January 17, 1916 – died July 8, 2013) was an American historian. He was a top expert on early American history. He taught history at Yale University from 1955 to 1986.

He focused on the history of America's colonial period. He also studied some English history. People admired his clear and sharp writing style. One historian called him "one of the best academic writers America has ever produced." He wrote about many topics. These included the Puritans, political ideas, the American Revolution, and slavery. He also wrote about famous people like Benjamin Franklin.

Growing Up and School

Edmund Morgan was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota. His father taught law at the University of Minnesota. His sister, Roberta Wohlstetter, also became a historian. She won the Bancroft Prize, just like Edmund did.

In 1925, his family moved to Arlington, Massachusetts. This happened when his father became a professor at Harvard Law School.

Morgan went to Belmont Hill School. Then he went to Harvard College. He first planned to study English history and literature. But he changed his mind after a class in American literature. He decided to study American civilization, which included history and literature. He earned his bachelor's degree from Harvard in 1937. Later, he attended lectures at the London School of Economics.

In 1942, Morgan earned his PhD in American history from Harvard University.

Military Service

Morgan believed in peace. However, after France fell in 1940, he felt that only military force could stop Adolf Hitler. He decided not to be a conscientious objector. During World War II, he trained as a machinist. He made parts for radar systems at the MIT Radiation Laboratory.

Family Life and Passing

In 1939, Edmund Morgan married Helen Theresa Mayer. She passed away in 1982.

Morgan died in New Haven, Connecticut, on July 8, 2013. He was 97 years old. He died from pneumonia. He was survived by his two daughters. He also left behind his second wife, Marie Caskey Morgan, who was also a historian. He had six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

His Work as a Historian

From 1946 to 1955, Morgan taught history at Brown University. Then he became a professor at Yale University. At Yale, he guided about 60 students who were getting their PhDs in colonial history. He retired in 1986.

Morgan was greatly influenced by historian Perry Miller during college. Miller became a lifelong friend. Both men were atheists. Yet, they deeply understood and respected Puritan religion. Morgan learned from Miller to take people's words seriously. He felt that what Americans said about taxation and good government was important.

Morgan wrote many books and articles. They covered topics from the colonial period and the American Revolution. He looked at ideas, social life, biographies, and politics. Two of his early books are The Birth of the Republic (1956) and The Puritan Dilemma (1958). These books have been required reading for many history students for decades.

His book American Slavery, American Freedom (1975) won several awards. Another book, Inventing the People (1988), won the Bancroft Prize. Morgan also wrote a biography of Benjamin Franklin. He also wrote about Ezra Stiles and Roger Williams.

Understanding the Puritans

Morgan's books helped people understand the Puritans better. His books include The Puritan Family (1944), The Puritan Dilemma (1958), and Visible Saints (1963). These works helped bring new interest to Puritan studies.

In Visible Saints, Morgan looked at the Puritan idea of the "Church of the Elect." He argued that the rules for church membership changed after the Puritans arrived in America. They soon made membership only for "tested Saints."

His 1958 book The Puritan Dilemma became very popular. It was often used in U.S. history classes. Morgan described the Puritan as someone "doing right in a world that does wrong." He showed how John Winthrop tried to balance God's Law with people's needs.

The American Revolution

In his books The Stamp Act Crisis (1953) and The Birth of the Republic (1956), Morgan studied the American Revolution. He disagreed with earlier ideas that said the Patriots' talk about freedom was not sincere. Instead, Morgan believed the Patriots were truly committed to liberty.

Historian Mark Egnal noted that Morgan showed how the Patriots' beliefs were a clear and logical process.

Slavery and Freedom

In his 1975 book American Slavery, American Freedom, Morgan explored a big question. He called it "the American paradox." This was the strange link between slavery and freedom.

He wrote that the freedom gained in the American Revolution depended on the enslavement of many people. His book explored how freedom for some came to be supported by slavery for others.

Morgan suggested that large plantation owners in Virginia influenced poorer white Virginians. This influence helped white men become more politically equal. He said that "Aristocrats could more safely preach equality in a slave society than in a free one."

Morgan also discussed how poor white servants and black slaves sometimes worked together in 17th-century Virginia. He used Bacon's Rebellion in 1676 as an example. This rebellion showed a surprising sense of equality among the poor, as black slaves joined the fight.

Morgan explained that black slaves began to replace white servants for economic reasons. By the late 1600s, black slaves became a more affordable investment for planters. He noted that planters feared slave revolts. However, the rise in black slaves and the end of white indentured servants did make Virginia society more stable. Over time, Virginia politicians learned to keep poor whites happy by encouraging a sense of white superiority. Morgan argued that "Racism made it possible for white Virginians to develop a devotion to the equality." This meant white men in Virginia became more politically united because of the low status of black slaves.

Historian Anthony S. Parent said that many historians admire Morgan's book. He felt Morgan showed how black slavery and white freedom were a central puzzle in American history.

In 2002, Morgan wrote a popular book called Benjamin Franklin. This book showed Franklin's true character. Morgan wrote that Franklin knew how to value himself without thinking he was better than others. He believed Franklin's self-respect meant he also honored other people.

His Influence and Awards

Historians praised Edmund Morgan's writings. They said his work was based on deep research. His writing was clear and graceful. This made his books popular with many readers. Students in high school, college, and graduate school all read his work. He also trained about 60 other historians.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor Pauline Maier called him "one of the giants of his generation." She said he could explain complex truths in an easy-to-understand way. Historian Benjamin L. Carp described Morgan as "one of the great historians of early America." He had a big influence on both academic and general readers.

Joseph Ellis said that other historians "revered" Morgan.

Morgan received many awards and honors. He was elected to the American Philosophical Society in 1964. In 1971, he won the William Clyde DeVane Medal for great teaching and scholarship at Yale. He served as president of the Organization of American Historians from 1971 to 1972. In 1986, he received the Distinguished Scholar Award from the American Historical Association.

In 1965, he became a Sterling Professor at Yale, which is a very high honor. In 2000, U.S. President Bill Clinton gave him the National Humanities Medal. This was for his "extraordinary contributions to American cultural life and thought." In 2006, he received a special Pulitzer Prize. This was for his "creative and deeply influential body of work as an American historian." In 2008, he received a gold medal for his lifetime achievements.

Key Books

• The Puritan Family: Religion and Domestic Relations in 17th-Century New England (1944)
• The Stamp Act Crisis: Prologue to Revolution (1953)
• The Birth of the Republic, 1763–89 (1956)
• The Puritan Dilemma: The Story of John Winthrop (1958)
• Visible Saints: The History of a Puritan Idea (1963)
• American Slavery, American Freedom: The Ordeal of Colonial Virginia (1975)
• Inventing the People: The Rise of Popular Sovereignty in England and America (1988)
• Benjamin Franklin (2002)