In 1776, New York became the epicenter of the American Revolution as British and American forces struggled for control of the Hudson River corridor and the strategically vital city at its mouth.

This episode explores the military campaigns, political upheaval, and social divisions that transformed New York during the opening year of the Revolutionary War. From the collapse of royal authority to the arrival of British military power, the conflict exposed deep divisions among Patriots, Loyalists, and communities caught between competing claims of allegiance.

Through contemporary accounts and historical research, New York’s Apocalypse: 1776 examines the destruction, displacement, and uncertainty that accompanied the struggle for New York and reshaped the revolutionary landscape.

During the American Revolution, tea became more than a contested commodity. It became a vehicle for political action. This episode follows nine female-led “tea parties” across New York’s Hudson Valley in 1776 and 1777, where women confronted merchants, seized or demanded access to scarce tea, and enforced community expectations over price and distribution. Connecting these local confrontations to Dutch smuggling networks and St. Eustatius, the episode explores how wartime shortages, the revolutionary moral economy, and older traditions of female collective action expanded women’s political agency beyond the household and into the public marketplace.

Welcome to a special Bonus Episode to mark The Friends of Philipse Manor Hall's support for our Pinkster Festival on May 10th, from 11am-5pm. Discover the unique historical roots and syncretic components of this incredible Hudson Valley Tradition.

Join the Friends of Philipse Manor Hall: https://friendsofphilipsemanorhall.org/membership-levels/

Further Readings:

1. Jeroen Dewulf "The Pinkster King and the King of Kongo"

2. Andrea C. Mosterman "Spaces of Enslavement: A History of Slavery and Resistance in Dutch New York"

3. Nicole Saffold Maskiell "Bound by Bondage: Slavery and The Creation of a Northern Gentry"