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

"When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for ONE PEOPLE to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another..."

"Whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of THE PEOPLE to alter or to abolish it..."

In this episode, we explore the creation of the legal concept of THE PEOPLE with the right to overthrow their government.

Topics include :

-the tension in the British Empire between Whigs, who valued popular parliamentary power, and the Tories, who valued centralized royal power

-the organic development of the colonial legal system...

This episode explores the complexity of Florida's colonial history, its relationship to African-Americans, and its importance during the War of Independence.

Our expert guest is Prof. Jane Landers (Vanderbilt University), who is also the Director of the Slave Societies Digital Archive.

Topics include:

-The importance of remembering African-American history in Spanish America

-An overview of Spanish colonial history, which is much older than Anglo-American history that began in Jamestown in 1619

-Spain's religious sanctuary policy, which granted African-American slaves freedom in Florida as far back as 1687

-The first Underground Railroad for enslaved Blacks, which led south to Spanish Florida...

In the second of our 2-episode series about Canada and the Declaration of Independence, historian Mark R. Anderson talks us through the invasion of "the neighbouring Province" of Canada as well as the third and final letter from the Continental Congress to the Inhabitants of Canada. Topics include:

-The formation of the Continental Army in June of 1775 and the appointment of General Schuyler to invade (or liberate) Canada

-A description of the explanations offered by the Americans to the Canadas for the invasion, namely to protect their property rights and religious freedom, as well as to free them from...

"For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies."

In the first of this two-part episode about Canada and the rebellious Colonies, we discuss the important differences in the history, politics, religion, demographics, and economies of the two regions. Topics include the following

-The transfer of Canada from France to Britain after the Seven Years' War in 1763

-The complex process of integrating new British settlers and...