Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness: 250 Years of the Declaration of Independence

The phrase, ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL, is complicated when viewed from the perspective of an enslaved person. So for our Black History Month episode, we are exploring the wide variety of Black perspectives about the Declaration of Independence.

Topics include the following:

-a history of Juneteenth, the alternative Independence Day for Black Americans

-the different life situations of Black Americans in 1776 and their different responses to the Declaration of Independence

-the story of James Forten, free Black, Patriot volunteer, and early abolitionist, and Jeffrey Brace, an enslaved soldier in the Continental Army, who was re-enslaved after the war...

"He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people."

In this episode, we explore Grievance #24 in the Declaration of Independence, which condemns the British practice of privateering amongst other things.

Topics include the following:

-the destruction of Norfolk and Falmouth--the towns alluded to in Grievance #24

-the legal differences between official action by navies and semi-official actions by privateers

-the massacre of enslaved people on the Zong (aka the Zorg)

-the diversity of seafarers in the 18th century

-the Continental Association of 1774, signed by all of the original 13...

"He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands."

Today we explore Grievance #26 in the Declaration of Independence, which protested against the Royal Navy practice of impressment, the forced conscription of sailors into naval service.

Topics include the following:

-a description of the life of seafarers in the 18th century

-a detailed overview of the British practice of impressment

-strategies for avoiding impressment both on land and at sea

-reasons men chose to be...

"He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures."

In today's episode, we explore Grievance #11 in the Declaration of Independence, which condemns the deployment of British regular troops in American towns and cities during peacetime.

Topics include:

-the long British tradition disapproving of standing armies on British soil

-the long British tradition of allowing for political protest and dissent without fear of punishment by a standing army

-the cooperation between the British Army and Colonial militias during the 7 Years' War

-the reasons why King George deemed it necessary to station...