HERITAGE OF THE BRANDYWINE VALLEY

    The Brandywine Valley outside Philadelphia is a region of rolling hills, dairies, equestrian ranches and amber-leafed maples in the Fall. It was also an important part of our nation's heritage. When 
William Penn was granted title to roughly 45,000 square miles of territory in what would become the colony of Pennsylvania on March 4, 1681, he had no idea it would be the template for creating the nation we know today. In so many respects, Pennsylvania was a crucible which helped form the society, the economy and the government we have now more than 300 years later.

    A new book "Heritage of the Brandywine Valley" highlights this rich heritage, delving into the fascinating details of the Lenni-Lenape Indians, early settlers, conflicts, grist and powder mills, the Underground Railroad and world-changing events which occurred there over the last three centuries. William Penn named the first three counties- Chester, Bucks and Philadelphia- as the blueprint of his "Holy experiment" and his framework for the government of Pennsylvania in many ways laid the groundwork for principles enshrined in the U.S. Constitution more than a century later. 

    The Brandywine Valley was home to so many patriots, soldiers, statesmen, authors, inventors and scientists who all

participated in creating the framework for the American economic and banking systems, our governmental structure and discoveries in science, medicine, technology and business which literally changed the world. Learning of the achievements of just some of the early players in this drama, you come to understand just how important men like E.I. du Pont, Thomas McKean, John Morton, Humphry Marshall, Samuel Barber, Bayard Taylor, William Darlington and others were in shaping the country we all know today.

This series will delve into the fascinating history of this region in the coming weeks and provide readers with interesting and useful information for better understanding our rich heritage. By understanding the past, we are better prepared for the future...

 WHO WAS WILLIAM PENN? Many people in this area know the name William Penn (1644- 1718), but few know much about him. Did you know that the reason he was granted land in the New World was because his father- an Admiral in the British Navy- was owed money by King Charles II of England? Did you know he was a devout Quaker who was jailed at least four times for his beliefs? Or that he only spent a total of four years (1682- 1684; 1699- 1701) in his colony of Pennsylvania, returned to England and died there penniless because a trusted advisor had cheated him out of huge sums of money? It seems many people- even historians- don't know much about the man who created one of England's most prosperous colonies and introduced numerous legal reforms that were in some ways a model for our Constitution. William Penn wrote dozens of books and pamphlets on religious freedom and was a beacon for thousands of others who followed him to his colony for a chance to live their lives in peace, without fear of persecution. He also made Pennsylvania a place where individuals could pursue their dreams, run their businesses and enjoy the liberties which we have today.

PART II: The du Ponts, the Founding Fathers and the creation

of the American economy

by Gene Pisasale

       When he wrote a letter to Alexander Hamilton in 1801 asking about an investment in property along the Brandywine for the site of a mill, E.I. du Pont was building a relationship with the man considered by many historians as the architect of the American financial system. Hamilton had long been a proponent of diversifying the colonial economy away from a strong dependence on agriculture and imported goods, toward greater domestic capabilities in manufacturing. As the nation’s first Secretary of the Treasury, Hamilton wrote about the importance of domestically produced goods (including gunpowder) in his “Report on the Subject of Manufactures” presented to Congress on December 5, 1791, saying “There seems to be a moral certainty, that the trade of a country which is both manufacturing and Agricultural will be more lucrative and prosperous, than that of a Country which is merely Agricultural.” Du Pont shared Hamilton’s views on manufacturing and its importance to the economic stability of the nation. The Du Pont powder works would help the young country through many crises- and set in motion a revolution in technology that continues today.

       Gunpowder and its many variations, including blasting powder (mixtures of charcoal, sulfur and potassium nitrate or sodium nitrate) allowed colonists to protect themselves against Indians and hostile elements, as well as blast through rocks and tree stumps while clearing fields for cultivation. As the republic expanded westward, the demand for gunpowder increased exponentially. President Thomas Jefferson recognized the strategic importance of the du Pont powder mills, meeting with E.I. du Pont and the Marquis de Lafayette to requisition supplies for the U.S. government, the scene depicted in a painting by artist Stanley Arthurs. Well-known artists captured the importance of Du Pont products. Howard Pyle showed Du Pont powder wagons delivering gunpowder to Commodore Perry before the critical Battle of Lake Erie during the War of 1812.

       As the nation grew, so too did demand for gunpowder and other specialized products. Du Pont management fatefully declined to sell gunpowder to any southern states which had seceded during the Civil War, instead providing critical supplies for the North, helping the Union to prevail. By the dawn of the 20^th century, demand for a wide array of items for industry and consumers prompted Du Pont management to diversify into new lines, including coatings and other chemical derivatives. Du Pont created the Experimental Station near Wilmington, Delaware to broaden its repertoire to meet an expanding array of needs, including the newly formed automotive industry, as well as applications in construction, mining, manufacturing, aerospace and consumer products. Du Pont supplied crucial materials to the United States government throughout World War I and II, its nylon allowing the creation of parachutes for the liberation of Europe. Consumers benefited in many ways: women gained a new item of apparel (nylon stockings), as well as numerous products for the home and personal use.

       By the 1950s, Du Pont was at the forefront of research into a myriad of applications derived from research in its laboratories, providing literally hundreds of new products for business, industrial, personal and leisure use. ‘Better living through chemistry’ became an often-quoted dogma of the new capabilities of science which allowed people to live better lives, be more comfortable and safer in their homes and workers throughout all industries to function more effectively. Teflon, Rayon, Lycra, Kevlar, Corian and many other creations improved how people lived while altering the landscape of society. As the company celebrated its 200^th anniversary in 2002, CEO Chad Holliday’s letter to shareholders stated it well: “Our heritage of science and discovery has delivered products and technologies that have helped feed, clothe, shelter and heal people for generations… we set in motion the materials revolution that has transformed the look, feel and structure of the world we live in.”

       

       Take a look around. The things you see today- in your home, your office, your car, at the country club, the gym, the concert hall and many other venues- exist largely because a young man named du Pont 216 years ago had an idea and put it into motion, changing the course of history.

Gene Pisasale is an historian, author and lecturer based in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. His nine books focus on American history. His newest work, titled Hemingway, Cuba and the Great Blue River explores the people, places and things the Nobel Prize winning author loved about the island and nearby Gulf Stream. Gene can be contacted by e-mail at Gene@GenePisasale.com. His website is www.GenePisasale.com.

The Value of Labor and Ideas

       As we approach Labor Day 2018, this author is looking back 40 years to 1978, when a new adventure began- graduate school at The University of Texas at Austin. Training to become a petroleum geologist, my graduate education was not only the most arduous, laborious effort I'd experienced to that time- it was a transforming event in my life. Very few worthwhile accomplishments occur from chance; most are the result of hard work and dedication. On this Labor Day weekend, a look at the nature of work- and the inspiration that creates great achievements- is in order.

The University of Texas at Austin

       Work can be physical, mental or a combination of both. "Pure" physical labor like digging ditches or stacking boxes still requires a degree of mental exercise. Mental work- efforts of the imagination, thorough analysis and creativity can produce startling results like cures for serious diseases, great works of art and music, technologies which see inside the atom and explore the realms of the universe. Labor- both physical and mental- has led the ascent of mankind from its earliest humble origins to modern society in the 21st century. From the wheel to the international space station, the transcontinental railroad to the internet- the toil of labor has led to the ongoing progression of mankind.

The completion of the Transcontinental Railroad, meeting at Promontory Point, Utah, 1869

The International Space Station

       So on this Labor Day, take a look around. Examine your own labors over the years and the projects you have accomplished, as well as those of family, friends, inventors, statesmen, artists, musicians, engineers, doctors, physicists, researchers and everyone from the man who collects your trash to the physician who protects your health. It is all possible because they each put forth the labor to achieve something worthwhile in building a better world...

The History of America in One Family

       As an historian, I'm continually fascinated by the people and events which have shaped our heritage. America was begun as an idea for self-government, a place where people, rich and poor, liberal and conservative, could start a new life and make something for themselves, create a 'new life' much better than what they had known before. The du Pont family is perhaps the greatest example of this, Pierre Samuel du Pont arriving in America on January 1, 1800 seeking shelter from the tyranny he had known in France. His descendants- notably E.I. du Pont and his heirs- started a gunpowder business which literally changed the world.

Pierre Samuel du Pont, the patriarch of the du Pont family

       The history of the du Pont family is a subject which could easily encompass dozens of volumes, yet the most important thing to know is that they were entrepreneurs hoping to build a better life and succeed in a new land, shielded from the obstructions and violence of Europe. Turning a hunting trip into the kernel of an idea- a plan to make higher quality gunpowder- E.I. du Pont started his manufacturing complex on the banks of the Brandywine River outside Wilmington, Delaware in 1802. From humble beginnings, an enterprise that would become one of the largest corporations in the world began- and succeeded- for more than two centuries, spanning the globe with its products and innovations.

E.I. du Pont, the founder of the Du Pont Company

       The story of du Pont really is in many ways the story of America. Not many people know that the du Ponts were instrumental in the creation of our republic- helping to bring about the Treaty of Paris ending the Revolutionary War. Later members of the du Pont family befriended several of the Founding Fathers- Jefferson, Franklin and Alexander Hamilton among them. Hamilton became the du Pont family attorney- a fact somewhat unrecognized in the literature and in many academic circles. The du Ponts had a hand in crafting the Louisiana Purchase, which doubled the size of the United States. Later the Du Pont Company supplied crucial gunpowder used in every conflict from the War of 1812 up through World War II. Their many innovative products, including nylon used in parachutes for Allied soldiers fighting the Nazis allowed western democracies to triumph over evil, securing a safer and better world.

Logo used by Du Pont for its many innovations

The legacy of the Du Pont Company is based on a simple product- gunpowder

       So while it may seem a bit simplistic to say that one family had a major influence on American history- in the case of the du Ponts, it is true. This story is captured eloquently in many books, notable Du Pont: From the Banks of the Brandywine to Miracles of Science by Adrian Kinnane. This author is about to begin a three-part series of articles on this topic- with the possibility of a future book on this subject, highlighting this fascinating story that every American should know. 

"Du Pont: From the Banks of the Brandywine to Miracles of Science" by Adrian Kinnane

America: The Last Best Hope

"America: The Last Best Hope", Volume I, by William J. Bennett

       For many people, history is boring. It reminds them of that teacher they had in fourth grade who put them to sleep- and convinced them that the subject was about as exciting as watching plants grow. Yet, every so often, an author or historian captures the attention of his (or her) readers with a narrative so well written, so fascinating and filled with critical information, conveyed in an easy-to-read style that people change their minds and say: "That is really interesting!" Such is the case with the two-volume work America: The Last Best Hope by William J. Bennett, the Secretary of Education under President Ronald Reagan.

The Louisiana Purchase, signed by President Thomas Jefferson in 1803

       How do you make history "come alive"? By writing in a conversational style that makes readers feel as if they're sitting around a dinner table, or even a campfire, chatting over a cup of coffee about subjects they never knew, but always had some interest in. You keep readers' attention by filling the narrative with details that illuminate the past, displaying scenes of epic events with clarity- using vital information often overlooked by most historians. William J. Bennett achieves this level of mastery in this two-volume work, which covers America from the early colonial period through President Reagan's second term.

President Ulysses S. Grant on the U.S. $50 bill

       Bennett's narrative should be of interest to anyone seeking a more thorough understanding of this experiment in democracy we call America. From Thomas Jefferson's crowning achievement as President- the Louisiana Purchase- to his utter failure with the Embargo of 1807... to Ulysses S. Grant's unshakable integrity despite being surrounded by self-serving scoundrels... to the fact that Hubert Humphrey's family background was rooted in the pharmacy business (a fact which he used in a complaint against political factions aligned against him), readers will be thrilled to learn that politics and government are often filled with humorous episodes and anecdotes which go unreported.

Senator Hubert Humphrey, whose family was in the pharmacy business

       This author thoroughly enjoyed both volumes of America: The Last Best Hope. Bennett is a learned man, a gifted writer- and a great storyteller- something that should never be overlooked by persons wishing to convey history in a meaningful way. The story he tells- the heritage of this great experiment in freedom- should fascinate any citizen because... it is the story of us all...

President Reagan at the Brandenburg Gate, admonishing Soviet President Gorbachev: "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!"

The Day That Changed the World

       On August 6, 1945 the Enola Gay, an American B-29 bomber dropped the world's first atomic weapon on Hiroshima, Japan on the orders of U.S. President Harry Truman in an attempt to end World War II. The Japanese were relentless during the war, killing and terrorizing hundreds of thousands of Allied soldiers and civilians throughout the Far East, vowing to never surrender. The bomb- the direct result of the top secret Manhattan Project started under President Franklin Roosevelt- immediately killed 80,000 people, injuring 35,000; another 60,000 would die later from the effects of nuclear fallout. Despite the devastation, which included thousands of structures destroyed, Japanese Emperor Hirohito refused to end the war. It would take another horrific bomb dropped three days later on the Japanese city of Nagasaki to prompt the Japanese to give up their fight.

       Historians and geopolitical observers have debated these events for decades, some arguing that nuclear weapons can never be justified under any circumstances, others (mostly military experts) noting that this use of nuclear weapons DID end the war, which had raged for almost six years and taken millions of lives. Some people today, in the year 2018 say that there are no circumstances which could possibly justify their usage, regardless of war. Truman knew that the war would rage on for years, the Japanese never surrendering, unless he did something drastic to cause them to relent. More war would mean tens, possibly hundreds of thousands of American lives being lost- and this was unacceptable to him. It is this historian's view that, while the results of the bombings were horrible and essentially unimaginable to us today, Truman made the right decision. Japan surrendered days later, a ceremony aboard the USS Missouri with General Douglas MacArthur overseeing the historic event.

       The lessons of history are often hard to learn. Sometimes we need to see horror so that we can prevent even greater ones from occurring in the future. It is ironic that today Japan is an ally of the United States. Not many people dwell on the fact that Japan brutally attacked our sailors at Pearl Harbor, killing thousands on that day in December 1941. We have the perspective of history now which allows us to review the past, learn from our mistakes and make a better world. On this historic anniversary, let us say a simple prayer for all those who perished at Hiroshima and Nagasaki and throughout World War II... to let them know we have learned our lessons well...