This episode is a deep dive into our founding document, the Declaration of Independence — its history, its intellectual influences, its legacy and ultimately its evolution into our national "scripture" as historian Pauline Maier calls it.
00:00 Introduction to the Declaration of Independence 01:23 The Myth That Binds Us 05:01 Historical Context and Influences 07:11 Early Colonial Period 18:04 The Road to Revolution 27:32 The Continental Congresses 32:49 Drafting the Declaration 42:35 Inspirations & Influences 45:23 Jefferson's Version 46:17 The Slavery Clause Controversy 51:34 Religious Language in the Final Draft 53:17 Structure and Purpose of the Declaration 58:07 The Declaration's Role in Securing Foreign Aid 01:00:41 The Influence of Enlightenment Philosophy 01:13:48 The Declaration as a Living Document 01:19:43 Lincoln's Reinterpretation at Gettysburg 01:22:52 The Declaration's Enduring Legacy 01:26:53 Final Words
Books & Texts:
The Declaration of Independence (side-by-side versions)
American Scripture by Pauline Maier
Inventing America by Garry Wills
The Ideological Origins of the American Revolution by Bernard Bailyn
American Gospel by Jon Meacham
John Quincy Adams's "Monsters to destroy" 1821 speech
John Winthrop's "City upon a hill" 1630 sermon
Lincoln's Gettysburg Address of 1863
More episodes from "Due Diligence"
Don't miss an episode of “Due Diligence” and subscribe to it in the GetPodcast app.
