All episodes

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...

"Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our Brittish brethren...They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, ENEMIES IN WAR, IN PEACE FRIENDS."

In this episode we explore Loyalist vs. Patriot Civil War during the Revolutionary War. Topics include:

-the outbreak of violence in Lexington and Concord in 1775 and the mustering of local militias, which forced Colonial men to decide whether they supported the revolution or the King

-the Sons of Liberty...

"And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, OUR FORTUNES, and our sacred Honor."

Why did the signers of the Declaration of Independence have to pledge their fortunes (their money) to the revolutionary cause?

How did unorthodox American ideas about money help win the Revolutionary War?

And were the Founding Fathers, in fact, the first crypto bros?

We explore these ideas in this episode about money, bills of credit, taxes and coinage in the 13 Colonies and the British Empire with economic historian...

In this episode, we explore the influence of Wales and Welsh immigrants on the Declaration of Independence with two expert guests from the University of Cardiff, Dr. Marion Loeffler and Dr. Huw Williams.

Topics include:

-the importance of preserving and expanding Welsh language and identity in the present

-an exploration of Welsh identity in the 1700s

-the tradition of Welsh religious dissenters which meshed with political non-conformity

-economic and political similarities and differences between Wales and Ireland in the 1700s

-confusions and conflations between English and Welsh identity

-an introduction to the Welsh philosopher Richard Price and his influence on...

"Irish men and Irish women, in the name of God and of the dead generations from which she receives her old tradition of nationhood, Ireland through us summons her children to her flag and strikes for her freedom.

She now seizes that moment and supported by her exiled children in America and by gallant allies in Europe, but relying in the first on her own strength, she strikes in full confidence of victory. Six times during the past 300 years, they have asserted it in arms. We hereby proclaim the Irish Republic as a sovereign, independent state."

-1916 Proclamation of...

"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...