Dartmouth and the World

This book examines the founding of Dartmouth College in 1769, exploring the political, economic, and religious contexts of the time through diverse scholarly perspectives, highlighting the unique circumstances surrounding its establishment.

Dartmouth and the World delves into the founding of Dartmouth College in 1769, exploring its significance within the broader contexts of religious, political, and economic history in Britain, colonial America, and beyond. This scholarly work, created in honor of the college's 250th anniversary, features contributions from a diverse group of both junior and senior scholars, each offering unique perspectives on the systemic conditions that influenced the establishment of a new educational institution in that era.

The book examines the political, economic, and religious landscapes of the Atlantic world during the time of Dartmouth's founding. It poses critical questions about the religious environment that shaped the interactions between key figures such as the Rev. Samson Occom from the Mohegan nation and the Rev. Eleazar Wheelock from Connecticut. Their partnership, formed during the Great Awakening of the early 1740s, set the stage for the creation of a college in the northern wilderness, highlighting the complexities of their differing backgrounds and shared goals.

Furthermore, Dartmouth and the World challenges traditional commemorative narratives by addressing how the agendas of individuals were influenced by their religious beliefs and the emerging ideas of political economy. This multifaceted exploration provides readers with a deeper understanding of the historical forces at play during the college's inception, making it a significant contribution to the study of higher education and its roots in a transformative period of history.