250 years ago, the revolution that would lead to our country’s independence was in its early stages. The Continental Army was facing a major problem, gunpowder shortages. Join the Charles River Musuem for an exploration of how the production of saltpeter, the principal ingredient of this explosive material, changed the course of history.
This talk will explore the different ways saltpeter was manufactured by Americans, the wide variety of instructions that guided their efforts, and the motivations-both lofty and materialist-that drove them forward.
Presented by David Hsiung.
A native of the Chicago area, David C. Hsuing earned his B.A. from Yale, his Ph.D. from the University of Michigan, and ever since has taught history at Juniata College in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania.
