Sex scandals have been a part of the fabric of American society and politics from the very beginning. More than just salacious stories from the past or morality tales for the present age, these clandestine relationships and infamous affairs provide a fascinating glimpse into the interplay of politics, power, and human nature. They also show us that no matter how strange the past may seem to us now, it’s not so different from today as we might think.

From the founding of the United States to the aftermath of the Civil War, sex scandals made headlines and influenced politics across the country. In the six lectures of Early American Sex Scandals, Dr. Cassandra Good of Marymount University will take you on a revealing journey through some of the most influential and notorious scandals of America’s first century. Along the way, you’ll see why sex scandals are never just about sex. These stories from the past shed light on myriad complex issues—politics, religion, gender roles, emotional norms, social expectations, and so much more.

As you explore the notorious affair of Alexander Hamilton, the many loves of Aaron Burr, the long history of infidelity in the White House, and other libidinous tales of the past, you’ll better understand an essential fact of any time and place: The personal is always political.