Podcasts about Second Continental Congress

In celebration of America's 250th, we'd like to officially invite you to enjoy this special episode telling the tale of that audacious, terrifying, and formative step taken by the Second Continental Congress to declare Independence in the summer of 1776. Fought over bitterly on July 1st, voted on affirmatively on the 2nd, with the exact wording finalized on the 4th—I mean, how could we not resurface episode #8's account of this story for this week? If you're new here, you may not have listened to it—here's your chance. And if you've been listening for a while, take a step back with me and remember why we revere this document. This is the story of independence and crushed hope.Congress is finally declaring independence but it isn't a straightforward process. Delegates have different perspectives; John Adams and John Dickinson are taking the floor to argue passionately for and against it. The vote will come down to the wire.It's also time to bring the "$10" Founding Father into the story. That's right. We'll meet Alexander Hamilton, get the backstory of his rough childhood in the Caribbean, and see how he ends up in the Big Apple.Speaking of NYC, George Washington has chased Lord William Howe from Boston to Manhattan, but this is a very different battlefield. He's going to have a harder go here than he did in New England. Much harder.Connect with us on HTDSpodcast.com andorder Prof. Jackson's new bookgo deep into episode bibliographies and book recommendationsjoin discussions in our Facebook communityget news and discounts from The HTDS Gazette come see a live showget HTDS merchHTDS is part of Audacy media network. Interested in advertising on the History That Doesn't Suck? Contact Audacyinc.com.

Episode 4154 │ June 21, 2026 The colonists saw King George as Pharaoh and themselves as the new Israel. The Declaration of Independence was their petition to the courts of heaven. WHAT THIS EPISODE COVERS  Scott Kesterson and Rochelle Porto continue the Our Sacred Honor series with a timeline correction and deep dive into the summer of 1775 — mapping the simultaneous congressional actions of the Second Continental Congress against the Battle of Bunker Hill, the Olive Branch Petition, the Declaration of the Causes and Necessity of Taking Up Arms, and King George III's Proclamation for Suppressing Rebellion and Sedition, showing how these events were happening in parallel across a six-to-eight week information delay between the continents that the strategic minds of the era — particularly Adams — were already calculating and playing through. The episode surfaces a major understudied intelligence thread: Charleston Mechanics intercepting British correspondence that proved Superintendent of Indian Affairs John Stuart was actively weaponizing Creek and Cherokee nations as a second military front against the southern colonies — intelligence that destroyed Stuart's ability to operate from Charleston, forced him to flee to Florida, and gave Georgia Patriots the decisive argument that neutrality was no longer viable. The episode closes with a reading of Psalm 80 — the same passage Jacob Duché read to the Continental Congress — as the founding generation's own declaration that they understood themselves as the new Israel petitioning the courts of heaven, a framework that completely inverts the modern Zionist political theology being imposed on the 250th anniversary. KEY QUESTIONS ADDRESSED (3 bullets hard cap) How were the Olive Branch Petition and the Declaration of the Causes and Necessity of Taking Up Arms sent one day apart — and what does that simultaneous dual track reveal about the real strategic thinking behind the colonial leadership? What did the Charleston Mechanics discover about British Superintendent John Stuart's covert operation to weaponize Native nations against the southern colonies — and how did that intelligence change Georgia's position toward independence? Why did the Continental Congress read Psalm 80 and cast themselves as the new Israel with King George as Pharaoh — and what does that theological framework reveal about who our founding fathers actually were? ABOUT BARDSFM BardsFM is a daily independent podcast covering faith, liberty, history, and information warfare. Hosted by Scott Kesterson — combat veteran, documentary filmmaker, and rancher. Over 4,100 episodes and 50 million lifetime downloads. New episodes every weekday. bards.fm This episode was researched and produced under the Sentinel Framework — the analytical methodology built by Scott Kesterson — with AI-assisted research synthesis. All analysis, conclusions, and editorial judgments are those of Scott Kesterson. AFFILIATE LINKS Bards Nation Health Store: www.bardsnationhealth.com MYPillow promo code: BARDS >> Go to https://www.mypillow.com/bards and use the promo code BARDS or... Call 1-800-975-2939.  EMPShield protect your vehicles and home. Promo code BARDS: Click here Treadlite Broadforks...best garden tool EVER. Promo code BARDS26: TreadliteBroadforks.com EnviroKlenz Air Purification, promo code BARDS to save 10%: www.enviroklenz.com Morning Intro Music Provided by Brian Kahanek: www.briankahanek.com Founders Bible 20% discount code: BARDS >>> TheFoundersBible.com Windblown Media 20% Discount with promo code BARDS: windblownmedia.com White Oak Pastures Grassfed Meats, Get $20 off any order $150 or more. Promo Code BARDS: www.whiteoakpastures.com/BARDS Mission Darkness Faraday Bags and RF Shielding. Promo code BARDS: Click here DONATIONS: If you wish to support this podcast directly you can donate here... DONATE: Click here MAILING ADDRESS: Xpedition Cafe, LLC Attn. Scott Kesterson 591 E Central Ave, #740 Sutherlin, OR  97479

The Birth of the Continental Army. How did the Second Continental Congress create the Continental Army on June 14, 1775, a full year before the Declaration of Independence? The creation of the Continental Army marked one of the most important turning points of the American Revolution and launched George Washington's leadership before the United States officially existed. Long before the Founding Fathers declared independence, Congress faced an impossible question: How do you fight a war when your country doesn't exist yet? In this episode of America's Founding Series on The P.A.S. Report Podcast, Professor Nick Giordano strips away the textbook myths to reveal the real story behind the birth of the Continental Army. Discover how John Adams engineered one of the most consequential political decisions in American history, why George Washington became the ideal choice to command the new force, and how a collection of local militias helped forge an American identity before America officially existed. This isn't just a story about military history. It's a story about liberty, civic responsibility, self-government, and the moment Americans took ownership of their destiny. What You'll Learn In This Episode: Why the creation of the Continental Army mattered more than many of the famous battles of the American Revolution How John Adams transformed a regional New England conflict into a truly American cause Why George Washington's appointment carried enormous political significance beyond military leadership How the Continental Army forged an American identity before the United States officially existed What modern Americans can learn about liberty, self-government, civic responsibility, and the preservation of freedom As America celebrates its 250th anniversary, this episode explores a forgotten truth: liberty requires responsibility. The men who created the Continental Army understood that freedom cannot survive when citizens refuse to defend it. The question is whether Americans still understand that lesson today. If you value real history and thoughtful analysis, subscribe to The P.A.S. Report Podcast, leave a five-star review, and share this episode with family and friends. Topics Covered: Continental Army | June 14, 1775 | Second Continental Congress | George Washington | John Adams | American Revolution | Founding Fathers | Revolutionary War | American Independence | U.S. History | America's Founding Series | Liberty and Responsibility | Civic Duty | Self-Government | American History Podcast

June 14, 2026On June 14, 1775, the Second Continental Congress established the Continental Army, The Battles of Lexington and Concord had made it clear that the British government endangered American liberties, Congress then named Virginia planter George Washington as its commander-in-chief, Defending the country without creating a military that could be used to repress the people was a challenge, The army was overlooked by Congress and funds were not available for food or supplies for the militiamen encamped at Valley Forge, PA, When France signed a treaty with the American states in February 1778, they lent money, material, and men to the cause of American independence, The Treaty of Paris formally ended the war in September 1783, and Congress disbanded the army, Washington stepped aside from military leadership, addressing Congress in December, Painter John Trumbull called his retirement one of the highest moral lessons ever given to the world.  Watch today's recording here: https://www.youtube.com/live/g9TUa1Rwd6U?si=T8_KKcHQZElhpnZ-Get full, free access to Letters from an American here: https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribeYou can also find me:Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/hcrichardson.bsky.socialInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathercoxrichardson/?hl=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/heathercoxrichardson/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@heathercoxrichardson Get full access to Letters from an American at heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe

Brethren, this Short Talk Bulletin Podcast episode was written by MW Bro Rev Thomas Sherrard Roy, PGM – MA, and is brought to us by MW Bro Russ Charvonia, PGM – CA. Five delegates from Massachusetts were members of the Second Continental Congress which adopted the Declaration of Independence and signed that document. They were John and Samuel Adams, Eibridge Gerry, John Hancock, and Robert Treat Paine. While Masonic membership has been claimed for Elbridge Gerry, a claim of doubtful validity, the only Massachusetts Masons we can be sure of were John Hancock and Robert Treat Paine. Enjoy, and do share this and all of these Podcast episodes with your brothers and your Lodge.

Episode 4140 │ June 7, 2026 The Second Continental Congress was an information war, a spy network, and a theological covenant. The parallels to today are exact. Scott Kesterson and Rochelle Porto continue the Our Sacred Honor series on the founding era, moving into the Second Continental Congress convened May 10, 1775 in Philadelphia. The discussion dismantles the simplified textbook version of the Revolution and replaces it with the operational reality: an information war run through spy networks, intercepted What was the Second Continental Congress actually doing beneath its public posture of reconciliation — and who was running the covert war effort? Why did Congress declare a day of fasting, humiliation, and prayer before forming the Continental Army or voting on independence? How did the British post office surveillance network intercept John Adams' private letters and use them to damage the patriot cause? Who was Dr. Benjamin Church, and why was he more dangerous to the American cause than Benedict Arnold? When did the term Judeo-Christian actually originate — and what does its history reveal about the rewriting of America's founding theology? BardsFM is a daily independent podcast covering faith, liberty, history, and information warfare. Hosted by Scott Kesterson — combat veteran, documentary filmmaker, and rancher. Over 4,100 episodes and 50 million lifetime downloads. New episodes every weekday. bards.fm #BardsFM_OurSacredHonor #AmericanHistory #RevolutionaryWar Bards Nation Health Store: www.bardsnationhealth.com MYPillow promo code: BARDS >> Go to https://www.mypillow.com/bards and use the promo code BARDS or... Call 1-800-975-2939.  EMPShield protect your vehicles and home. Promo code BARDS: Click here Treadlite Broadforks...best garden tool EVER. Promo code BARDS26: TreadliteBroadforks.com EnviroKlenz Air Purification, promo code BARDS to save 10%: www.enviroklenz.com Morning Intro Music Provided by Brian Kahanek: www.briankahanek.com Founders Bible 20% discount code: BARDS >>> TheFoundersBible.com Windblown Media 20% Discount with promo code BARDS: windblownmedia.com White Oak Pastures Grassfed Meats, Get $20 off any order $150 or more. Promo Code BARDS: www.whiteoakpastures.com/BARDS Mission Darkness Faraday Bags and RF Shielding. Promo code BARDS: Click here If you wish to support this podcast directly you can donate here... DONATE: Click here Mailing Address: Xpedition Cafe, LLC Attn. Scott Kesterson 591 E Central Ave, #740 Sutherlin, OR  97479

Richard Henry Lee is the Founding Father who made July 4th possible, yet most Americans barely know his name. Before the Declaration of Independence and Jefferson's immortal words, Lee forced the Second Continental Congress to choose independence. In this episode of America's Founding Series, part of The P.A.S. Report Podcast, Professor Nick Giordano marks the 250-year anniversary of the Lee Resolution, introduced on June 7, 1776, at the Pennsylvania State House. Discover how Richard Henry Lee moved the colonies from resistance to separation, why Congress was deeply fractured, and how June 7th set the stage for the Declaration of Independence, July 4th, and the birth of the United States. What You'll Learn: Why Richard Henry Lee deserves recognition as one of America's most important Founding Fathers  How the Lee Resolution made July 4th and the Declaration of Independence possible  Why June 7, 1776, forced the Second Continental Congress to finally choose independence  How the fierce debate between radicals and moderates like John Dickinson shaped the vote  The difference between July 2nd, the vote for independence, and July 4th, the adoption of the Declaration  What Lee's courage teaches Americans today about liberty, self-government, and constitutional responsibility  Richard Henry Lee did not write the Declaration of Independence, but he forced Congress to make the decision that required one. This forgotten moment in American Revolution history reminds every generation that liberty demands more than slogans. It requires courage, responsibility, and a people willing to govern themselves.

Today on The Amber May Show, we start with the media outrage over President Trump acknowledging America's Christian founding as the nation approaches its 250th birthday. On May 17, 1776, the Second Continental Congress called Americans to a day of humility. That history matters. Before America declared independence, our founders understood that freedom needed faith, courage, and moral responsibility. We also talk about Tim Allen's powerful reaction to reading the Old Testament and how the Book of Job left him humbled by God's power and wisdom. Then we turn to the headlines showing what happens when a culture walks away from accountability. From the Austin crime spree, to the teen brawl inside a DC Chipotle, to the deadly Oakland crowd crash, America is facing a deeper crisis than politics. Denzel Washington said it plainly, don't just blame the system. It starts at home. This episode is about faith, family, humility, and the moral foundation America must recover if we want our nation to survive. https://www.heartfirstmedia.com/ Join Me On Telegram https://t.me/theambermayshow Podcast Like A PRO https://podcast-like-a-pro.trainercentralsite.com Promocode Amber Discord https://discord.gg/kUsDba4zRj https://discord.com/channels/1331829063400034435/1331829063869792308 The Amber May Show Theme Song https://suno.com/song/87e27080-4ddb-47f7-8722-b00b251e6c84 Get AMAZING Amber May Merchandise https://www.ambermayshow.com/amazing-products Follow Me on Pickax https://pickax.com/?referralCode=gb4e11n&refSource=copy Get all your My Pillow Products at a DISCOUNT www.mypillow.com/amber Use Promo Code AMBER and save up to 66% off Promo code-AMBER 800-957-2123 Get Ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine and SAVE Dr Stella Immanuel https://shop.drstellamd.com/?linkId=lp_080983&sourceId=amber-may&tenantId=rehoboth-medical-cli Use Promo Code AmberMay and save Become An Affiliate with Dr Stella https://rehoboth-medical-cli.trackdesk.com/sign-up?referralAccountId=1f8c94aa-933e-4aa8-ac5b-5a8d9a0d4508 Save Money When Using A Patient Advocate In The Medical System https://www.graithcare.com/?ref=Amber Take Control of Your Health & Healing! Get the full celebration of solutions that happened at Healing For The A.G.E.S. Over 20 hours of ground-breaking, life-changing, information you've never heard before, and can't get anywhere else! https://healingfortheages.com/ use promocode Amber Patriot Mobile- Free Activation When you become a Patriot Mobile member, your dollars are helping to fund our God-given right to freedom. A portion of every dollar we earn is given back to the causes that support organizations that fight for First Amendment Religious Freedom, Freedom of Speech, Second Amendment Right to Bear Arms, Sanctity of Life, and the needs of our Veterans and First Responders. https://www.patriotmobile.com/amber/ Use Promocode AMBER Our Exodus supplement nourishes your body with potent biblical ingredients, supporting your physical and spiritual journey. Https://exodusstrong.com?a_aid=Amber Become an Exodus Affilate Https://exodusstrong.com/pages/champions?a_aid=Amber The Flynn Movie https://www.flynnmovie.com/ref/azladyz/ War On Truth Movie You've been told that J6 was a violent insurrection against the United States by a group of angry, fringe, MAGA supporters… What if it wasn't? What if there really was a War on Truth? https://hisglory.tv/?ref=448 Promocode MAY Patrick Byrne, the founder/CEO of Overstock.com, rose to the height of financial success and was once heralded as a Wall Street prophet. However, in 2019, Byrne seemingly slipped into madness — stepping down from his multi-billion dollar company, claiming to be a covert government asset trapped in a deadly game of political espionage https://enemywithindocuseries.com/ref/amber Promocode AMBER Is it possible with Turbo Cancers on the rise and Big Pharma's reputation at zero, that Americans are finally ready to hear the truth about Cancer? Are you ready? In the 70's a Doctor working for a National Cancer Institute discovered that Apricot seeds, which contain B-17, actually slowed the growth of tumors. https://rncstore.com/ambermay Ensure the health of the indoor air quality in your home investing in good air purifiers to eliminate pollutants and allergens. Find adjunctive therapies to cancer and better health with red light and methylene blue found in the link below! https://airwaterhealing.com/#May Promocode May Supermassive Black Coffee Use Promocode AMBER https://www.supermassiveblackcoffee.com/ Find Where we air our show here: https://www.ambermayshow.com/

“Unconditional submission” or “resistance by force.” Thomas Jefferson, John Dickinson, and the Second Continental Congress said those were their two terrible options less than 3 months after the battles of Lexington and Concord. Live on their knees or fight to the death. They chose the latter. On this episode, it's one of the most important, but forgotten and ignored documents of the American Revolution: the one that detailed their decision, why they were fighting BACK. The post This Isn’t Rebellion. It’s Survival. appeared first on Tenth Amendment Center.

This week on the Mark Levin Show, there's this endless obsession with Israel and Jews by the Work Reich and this notion that Israel demands unlimited biblical rights to occupy land. Does anyone challenge the UK's sovereignty over Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland? Does anyone challenge the United States' sovereignty over Texas, California or Nevada? Why is it only Israel's right to exist is challenged? Next, not much is talked about the First Continental Congress which convened in Carpenter's Hall, Philadelphia, from September 5 to October 26, 1774. They agreed to boycott British goods in both directions, issued a Declaration of Rights and Grievances, and asserted in Section 4 that the foundation of English liberty and free government is the right of the people to participate in their legislative council. This gathering served as a key prelude to the Second Continental Congress and the Declaration of Independence two years later. Don't do this Iran deal, Mr. President! The Iranian regime the world's worst terrorist state for decades, which funds proxies, lies in negotiations, and uses talks to buy time while pursuing its fundamentalist ideology. The only path to true elimination of this regime is arming and training the Iranian people to overthrow their internal police state. Without fully toppling the regime, it will regroup, Hezbollah and Hamas will survive, and critics (Democrats, media, isolationists) will still attack Trump as having wimped out. Victory requires finishing off the Iranian regime through military, economic, and internal pressure: arming Iranian resistance groups, targeting the IRGC and internal security forces, encouraging the regular army to turn, and backing opposition operations with U.S. and Israeli airpower. With 92 million Iranians facing intensified oppression and executions, this environment is ideal for supporting internal revolt, as done successfully in past operations. The enemy must surrender or die. Zohran Mamdani is intentionally creating a violent and hostile environment for the Jewish community in New York City. Jews are being harassed, pushed, and beaten on the streets and outside temples using bullhorns, while swastikas and other hateful symbols appear in Jewish neighborhoods. Thugs, Islamists, and neo-Nazis act freely because they know they can get away with it. Mamdani speaks out of both sides of his mouth, fully aware of the situation, and is deliberately working to depopulate the city of Jewish people in order to turn it into a permanent center for people of his own faith. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Catholic Church in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries defended monarchy and so many assume that "the divine right of kings" was a Catholic idea. But it wasn't. So, if the Catholic Church didn't teach the divine right of kings, what did it teach about civil government and what could that have to do with the Second Continental Congress of thirteen English colonies in North America declaring, “That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved”?

On Tuesday's Mark Levin Show, not much is talked about the First Continental Congress which convened in Carpenter's Hall, Philadelphia, from September 5 to October 26, 1774. They agreed to boycott British goods in both directions, issued a Declaration of Rights and Grievances, and asserted in Section 4 that the foundation of English liberty and free government is the right of the people to participate in their legislative council. This gathering served as a key prelude to the Second Continental Congress and the Declaration of Independence two years later. Also, today marks the 24th anniversary of Mark on the air. Mark celebrates by revisiting some of his most memorable moments — including his gripping live play-by-play coverage of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing and the 2016 election.  Later, the military and economic operations against the Iranian regime have been spectacularly successful, and President Trump is wisely deciding how to end it while rejecting the left and isolationists who demand a quick withdrawal. This position reflects the Woke Reich who are rooting for America to fail to claim they were right, though they never were. Afterward, Rep Jim Jordan calls in to discuss his legislation for sanctuary cities.  Jordan's legislation grants immunity to local law enforcement that cooperates with federal agents, withholds certain federal grants from sanctuary jurisdictions, and creates a private right of action allowing victims harmed by released illegal migrants (after ignored detainers) to sue the responsible entities. Finally, Bret Baier calls in to discuss his new book, The Case for America: An Argument on Behalf of Our Nation – A Thoughtful Defense of Our History, Values, and National Character in Divisive Times. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Two men walk into the temple to pray, and Jesus says the one everyone despises goes home justified. That single twist from Luke 18 forces an uncomfortable audit of our own spiritual instincts: do we come to God listing our virtues, or do we come like the tax collector with nothing but honesty and a plea for mercy?We start with Jesus' call to persistent prayer, the widow who refuses to stop asking, and the question that lands like a warning shot: when the Son of Man returns, will He find faith? From there we slow down over the words, “O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner,” and talk about humility, repentance, and how easy it is to look fine on the outside while things decay behind closed doors.That connects directly to 1 Corinthians 7 and a practical conversation about Christian marriage, sexual self-control, and why Scripture treats intimacy and temptation as serious discipleship issues for husbands and wives. We also read Psalm 85 and Proverbs 13 as prayers for revival and truth, remember Medal of Honor sacrifice as a rebuke to cheap cynicism, and revisit a Second Continental Congress prayer that reveals how badly the founders wanted peace, virtue, and religious liberty under God.If you care about biblical prayer, humility, Christian marriage, faith and patriotism, and the spiritual roots of America, listen through to the end, then subscribe, share with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find the show.#ChristianNation#BacktoGod#AmericanPatriotSupport the showThe American Soul Podcasthttps://www.buzzsprout.com/1791934/subscribeCountryside Book Serieshttps://www.amazon.com/Countryside-Book-J-T-Cope-IV-ebook/dp/B00MPIXOB2 

Business as usual can be the most dangerous setting of all. We open with Jesus' words from Luke 17, where normal life keeps rolling right up until the day everything changes, and the warning is blunt: don't cling, don't delay, don't live like you have endless time. I read the passage aloud and sit with the hard question behind it, what does readiness look like when there are no flashing signs and the kingdom of God is already among us?From there, we move into the story of the ten lepers and the one grateful man who comes back to thank Jesus, then into a practical challenge from Hebrews 13:4 about honoring marriage. I push past the obvious definition of cheating and ask what happens when we give our best attention to sports, screens, hobbies, or anything else and hand our spouse whatever scraps remain. If you want Christian marriage encouragement that deals with real habits and real priorities, this one goes straight to the nerve.We also read Psalm 84 and Proverbs 13 to anchor the heart and the conscience, then spotlight courage through a Medal of Honor citation. Finally, I return to a prayer from June 1775 tied to the Second Continental Congress, breaking down its language about God's providence, confession, fasting, and public prayer, and why that history matters in today's argument over whether America's foundation is Christian or secular. If this conversation helps you, subscribe, share the show with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find it.#AmericanPatriot#ChristianNation#DailyBibleVerseSupport the showThe American Soul Podcasthttps://www.buzzsprout.com/1791934/subscribeCountryside Book Serieshttps://www.amazon.com/Countryside-Book-J-T-Cope-IV-ebook/dp/B00MPIXOB2 

The Second Continental Congress voted for independence on July 2, 1776, but it had absolutely no plan for telling the world about it. Congress sent just one copy of the Declaration to France. It was lost at sea. Printers ran the text however they liked. And the first formal acknowledgment of American independence came not from a European court, but from a Native American chief responding to a verbal translation of the Declaration in the middle of a treaty negotiation. Historian and Declaration expert Emily Sneff joins us to explore what the Declaration of Independence looked like when it was just news — urgent, imperfect, and far beyond anyone's control. Emily's Website | Book |Show Notes: https://www.benfranklinsworld.com/439 EPISODE OUTLINE00:00:00  Introduction00:04:07 The Declaration as a Congressional Product00:06:28 Jefferson's humble signature00:11:10 Congress Has No Plans for Circulation00:16:22 News of the Declaration Breaks00:24:36 Pubilc Readings of the Declaration00:27:27 Ministers Spread News of the Declaration00:32:57 German-American Translation of the Declaration00:42:04 French Translation Failures00:46:42 Verbal Translations of the Declaration00:51:52 No Official Copy Sent to King George III00:58:43 The Declaration of Independence as News01:02:17 Time Warp01:07:48 Upcoming 250th Exhibitions01:11:24 ConclusionRECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODES

"He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures." In this episode we explore Grievance #4 of the Declaration of Independence and the importance of Colonial infrastructure--the roads, ports, cities, and other communication structures and information systems that helped the Colonies thrive. Topics include the following: -the importance of the 7 Years' War in accelerating the development of infrastructure throughout the Colonies and into the interior -the Braddock Expedition against the French in 1755 -the expansion of the Colonial/Imperial post office, led by Benjamin Franklin -the inauguration of the monthly packet boat from Falmouth to London in 1755, with the purpose of strengthening information sharing around the British Empire -the presence of Native American infrastructure throughout North America -the "pathways of paperwork" and the centralization of British Imperial bureaucracy in New York, which set the foundation for more effective infrastructure projects -how Patriots captured and instrumentalized British Imperial infrastructure for their own political and military ends -the expansion of knowledge or information infrastructure throughout the Colonies between the end of the 7 Years' War and the start of the War for Independence -the symmetries forming between newspapers and an ever more efficient postal service -tensions between supporters of the free press and ministers who preferred censorship and who used the Stamp Act and its tax on newspapers to curtail the free spread of ideas throughout the Colonies -the development of infrastructure that was independent from the British Empire, such as the Committees of Correspondence and the Post Office, which was authorized by the Second Continental Congress in July 1775 -the rebel takeover of the Imperial postal networks -the importance of infrastructure in the expansion of the United States after independence

March 16, 2026 In early 1775, Boston was bitterly divided, The British occupied the town as Patriots built fortifications, Militiamen led by Benedict Arnold and Ethan Allen seized cannons and other weapons from Fort Ticonderoga, 300 miles away, The Second Continental Congress created the Continental Army, appointing George Washington as commander in chief, Henry Knox, a friend of Washington, developed a plan to retrieve the Fort Ticonderoga cannons and bring them to Boston, After several grueling months, the cannons were delivered, As British soldiers and Washington's men traded fire in Boston, Patriots fortified the town. In a major victory for the Patriots, the British negotiated the evacuation of soldiers and loyalists from Boston, Evacuation bolstered the Patriot cause as a just and winning one. Less than four months later, Patriots took the extraordinarily daring step of declaring independence from the King.   Watch today's recording here: https://www.youtube.com/live/g9TUa1Rwd6U?si=T8_KKcHQZElhpnZ-Get full, free access to Letters from an American here: https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribeYou can also find me:Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/hcrichardson.bsky.socialInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathercoxrichardson/?hl=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/heathercoxrichardson/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@heathercoxrichardson Get full access to Letters from an American at heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe

When the Second Continental Congress calmly reshuffled the revolutionary army's high command on 19th February 1777, they couldn't have known they were detonating a grievance in one of their most daring and battle-tested commanders: Benedict Arnold. Arnold was certain that he had the merit and seniority to be promoted, but instead saw junior officers leapfrogging him in a decision printed for all to see. It was the first of many humiliations, arguably leading ultimately to his scandalous defection to the British. George Washington, aware of the dangers, wrote tactfully to Arnold, urging patience and suggesting the omission might yet be corrected. But Arnold's sensitivity to honour had deep roots: born into a once-prominent Rhode Island family whose fortunes declined through his father's alcoholism, his whole military career can be seen as an attempt to rehabilitate his reputation.  In this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly consider how history would remember this turncoat and traitor had he died instead at the Battles of Seratoga; explain how the seeds of his treachery were sewn in his marriage to Peggy Shippen; and ask whether the chip on his shoulder was truly justified…  Further Reading: • ‘BENEDICT ARNOLD: HERO, TRAITOR... WHINER' (The Washington Post, 1995): https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/1995/03/08/benedict-arnold-hero-traitor-whiner/52cd2720-8a16-4ba9-ac30-0d1cb56ca5b7/ • ‘10 Surprising Facts About Benedict Arnold' (Mental Floss, 2021): https://www.mentalfloss.com/history/war/10-facts-about-benedict-arnold • ‘James Kirby Martin discusses the truths and legends of Benedict Arnold' (American Revolution Institute, 2016): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kl0v__W6B94 #Scandal #1700s #Philadelphia #Revolution Love the show? Support us!  Join 

Decide if it's fair to say that 1775 can be best defined as being a momentous year. Agree if momentous means more than just one thing. Get a broad in depth analysis behind what takes place in Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts between April 18-19,1775. Understand the differences between fighting Linear Style versus Guerilla, aka non conventional warfare. Go behind the scenes and explore how a second momentous event from June 1775 involved delegates attending the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia. Learn how Patriot Forces had demonstrated that they could go head to toe in fighting against British Regulars aka Redcoats at Battle of Bunker Hill on June 17,1775. Discover who arrives into Massachusetts nearly two weeks after the Battle of Bunker Hill. Learn about something momentous involving a well known Boston Physician come two days after the Battle of Bunker Hill including what got bestowed upon him come the very beginning of June 1775 while in Philadelphia. Understand the importance behind why it's essential for doctors to be good at what they do. Agree if it's easy to assume during the American Revolutionary War that people in high level positions always shared the interests of those below them with good intentions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Thursday's Mark Levin Show, we bring you the best of Mark Levin on New Years Day.  President Trump announces that the U.S. America has launched “Operation Hawkeye Strike” in Syria after ISIS ambushed and killed two of our soldiers and an interpreter. Trump promised overwhelming retaliation—and he's delivering—sending jets, helicopters, and artillery to wipe out ISIS fighters and their infrastructure. This is real leadership: when you kill Americans, you pay the price. Later, America was founded by Christians—all delegates at the Constitutional Convention and Second Continental Congress were Christian—and Christianity is a tolerant, and humane faith enabling religious minorities to live freely. The Declaration of Independence's references to God stem from Judeo-Christian values, with Christianity heavily influenced by Judaism, as recognized by the founders; modern efforts, like those by Tucker Carlson, to separate the two are a new attack on both Jews and Christians, repudiated as blasphemy by pastors.  Americanism is fundamentally incompatible with Islamism. There's an alliance between leftists and Islamists driven by a shared goal of destroying the West, America, its Constitution, and republican system. Afterward, America owes its greatness to the Republican Party, which ended slavery and passed civil rights acts that Democrats wrongly claim credit for, rooted in foundational principles called constitutional conservatism. Without it, the nation would be an awful, dark, lawless place. The party fights to secure borders, promote assimilation, teach true history (good, bad, and ugly), and elect conservatives who embrace national ideals, leading to better quality of life in free states compared to dying blue ones. However, internal threats like Tucker Carlson, Nick Fuentes, and Steve Bannon seek to destroy the Republican Party—not just its establishment—and its Judeo-Christian foundations, abandoning the legacy of Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Coolidge, Eisenhower, Reagan, and Trump, without specifying a replacement.  In addition, U.S. Attorney's office in Minnesota has announced new indictments in the Somali community revealing industrial-scale fraud in the state's Medicaid programs, with half or more of the roughly $18 billion paid out since 2018 potentially fraudulent across at least 14 high-risk services. The fraud outpaces other states, risking essential services and ripping off taxpayers. Why isn't there any outrage from Democrats like Rep Ilhan Omar? Also, Inflation is decreasing significantly, and the U.S. economy is poised for improvement despite possible short-term dips, ultimately leading to growth. President Trump has implemented extensive pro-growth measures across sectors such as natural resources, food, commercial fisheries, and farming, including removing Biden-era regulations, and enacting massive tax and regulatory cuts reminiscent of Reagan's. Finally, we have a growing terrorist threat in Europe stemming from the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza, which has been exported through operational networks involving Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran.  These Islamists are already in the U.S. waiting and plotting.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn how by mid-December, 1776, the American Revolution was in desperate straits. Explore that after a series of defeats, the American Army had retreated through New Jersey and was stationed in Pennsylvania — with the British Army across the Delaware River. The Continental Army was on the verge of utter collapse.Overconfident, the British went into Winter Quarters. Congress gave George Washington enormous authority, and Washington used the lull in fighting and his new power to reorganize and strengthen his troops. Washington and his officers designed a daring attack on Hessian forces in Trenton, New Jersey. Before the battle, Washington inspired the troops through the reading of Thomas Paine's American Crisis. Follow Washington's troops through the winter storm, the crossing of the nearly frozen Delaware River, an arduous march, and the pitched battle. The fate of the new nation depends on it.Through divine intervention, Washington was able to mount a surprise attack on the hated Hessian troops in Trenton, winning an improbable victory, which became a critical turning point in the war.Highlights include David Hackett Fisher, Washington's Crossing, James McPherson, Christmas 1776, Delaware River, Hessian soldiers, Trenton New Jersey, Your Excellency, Battle of Bunker Hill, Battle of Long Island a/k/a the Battle of Brooklyn a/k/a/ the Battle of Brooklyn Heights, Continental Army, Brooklyn Heights, Battle of Harlem Heights, New York City, Thomas Paine, Common Sense, General Charles Lee, General William Howe, The American Crisis, Federalist Papers, Pennsylvania Journal, Second Continental Congress, Henry Steel Commager, Richard B. Morris, James Gant, Colonel Johann Rall, Colonel Joseph Reed, militia, Hessians, Hanoverians, Mechlenburghers, Christmas Day, Fifer John Greenwood, General James Ewing, Colonel John Cadwalader, Highlanders, General Israel Putnam, Christmas Eve, American Crisis No. 1, “These are the times that try men's souls,” Lieutenant Andreas Von Wiederholdt, Major Friedrich von Dechow, Captain Thomas Rodney, Daniel Hitchcock, Lieutenant Widerholdt, Victory or Death!, Sergeant Madden, General Nathanael Greene, Captain William Hull, the first use of synchronized watches to time a military battle, Captain George Wallis, Adam Stephens, Virginia's Fourth Regiment, Major John Sullivan, artillery barrage, future President James Monroe, General Henry Knox, Battle of Trenton, and many others.To learn more about George Washington the American Revolution & Patriot Week, visit www.PatriotWeek.org. Our resources include videos, a TV series, blogs, lesson plans, and more.Check out Judge Michael Warren's upcoming new book, The Revolutionary Words that Forged America - The Definitive Guide to the Declaration of Independence (Republic Books 2026), available for pre-order on amazon.com (release date, April 14, 2026).Merry Christmas!

On Friday's Mark Levin Show, President Trump announces that the U.S. America has launched “Operation Hawkeye Strike” in Syria after ISIS ambushed and killed two of our soldiers and an interpreter. Trump promised overwhelming retaliation—and he's delivering—sending jets, helicopters, and artillery to wipe out ISIS fighters and their infrastructure. This is real leadership: when you kill Americans, you pay the price. Also, Ukraine drones blew up a Russian oil tanker. For all the talk of Ukraine losing this war, they are putting up a fight. Ukraine is on the offense!  Later, America was founded by Christians—all delegates at the Constitutional Convention and Second Continental Congress were Christian—and Christianity is a tolerant, and humane faith enabling religious minorities to live freely. The Declaration of Independence's references to God stem from Judeo-Christian values, with Christianity heavily influenced by Judaism, as recognized by the founders; modern efforts, like those by Tucker Carlson, to separate the two are a new attack on both Jews and Christians, repudiated as blasphemy by pastors.  Americanism is fundamentally incompatible with Islamism. There's an alliance between leftists and Islamists driven by a shared goal of destroying the West, America, its Constitution, and republican system. Afterward, America owes its greatness to the Republican Party, which ended slavery and passed civil rights acts that Democrats wrongly claim credit for, rooted in foundational principles called constitutional conservatism. Without it, the nation would be an awful, dark, lawless place. The party fights to secure borders, promote assimilation, teach true history (good, bad, and ugly), and elect conservatives who embrace national ideals, leading to better quality of life in free states compared to dying blue ones. However, internal threats like Tucker Carlson, Nick Fuentes, and Steve Bannon seek to destroy the Republican Party—not just its establishment—and its Judeo-Christian foundations, abandoning the legacy of Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Coolidge, Eisenhower, Reagan, and Trump, without specifying a replacement. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Washington.  Adams.  Jefferson.  Madison.  Hamilton.  There are certain Founding Fathers with whom are all very familiar.  But there are also those who are less well-known but not less important.  John Witherspoon is one such historical figure.  Our guest today is Jeffry Morrison, Professor of American Studies at Christopher Newport University and Director of Academics at the federal government's James Madison Foundation.  Dr. Morrison will teach us about this important founder and explain why John Witherspoon is "the most interesting  Founding Father you have never heard of."

fWotD Episode 3142: George Mason Welcome to featured Wiki of the Day, your daily dose of knowledge from Wikipedia's finest articles.The featured article for Thursday, 11 December 2025, is George Mason.George Mason (December 11, 1725 [O. S. November 30, 1725] – October 7, 1792) was an American planter, politician, Founding Father, and delegate to the U. S. Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1787, where he was one of three delegates who refused to sign the Constitution. His writings, including substantial portions of the Fairfax Resolves of 1774, the Virginia Declaration of Rights of 1776, and his Objections to this Constitution of Government (1787) opposing ratification, have exercised a significant influence on American political thought and events. The Virginia Declaration of Rights, which Mason principally authored, served as a basis for the United States Bill of Rights, of which he has been deemed a father.Mason was born in 1725 in present-day Fairfax County, Virginia. His father drowned when a storm capsized his boat while crossing the Potomac River in 1735 when Mason was about nine years old. His mother managed the family estates until he came of age. Mason married in 1750, built Gunston Hall, and lived the life of a country squire, supervising his lands, family, and slaves. He briefly served in the House of Burgesses and involved himself in community affairs, sometimes serving with his neighbor George Washington. As tensions grew between Great Britain and the North American colonies, Mason came to support the colonial side, using his knowledge and experience to help the revolutionary cause, finding ways to work around the Stamp Act 1765 and serving in the pro-independence Fourth Virginia Convention in 1775 and the Fifth Virginia Convention in 1776.Mason prepared the first draft of the Virginia Declaration of Rights in 1776, and his words formed much of the text adopted by the final Revolutionary Virginia Convention. He also wrote a constitution for the state; Thomas Jefferson and others sought to have the convention adopt their ideas, but Mason's version was nonetheless adopted. During the American Revolutionary War, Mason was a member of the powerful House of Delegates of the Virginia General Assembly, but to the irritation of Washington and others, he refused to serve in the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia, citing health and family commitments.In 1787, Mason was named one of his state's delegates to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, his only lengthy trip outside Virginia. Many clauses in the Constitution were influenced by Mason's input, but he ultimately did not sign the final version, citing the lack of a bill of rights among his most prominent objections. He also wanted an immediate end to the slave trade and a supermajority requirement for navigation acts, fearing that restrictions on shipping might harm Virginia. He failed to attain these objectives in Philadelphia and later at the Virginia Ratifying Convention of 1788. His prominent fight for a bill of rights led fellow Virginian James Madison to introduce the same during the First Congress in 1789; these amendments were ratified in 1791, a year before Mason died. Obscure after his death, Mason later came to be recognized in the 20th and 21st centuries for his contributions to Virginia and the early United States.This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 00:57 UTC on Thursday, 11 December 2025.For the full current version of the article, see George Mason on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Bluesky at @wikioftheday.com.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm neural Ayanda.

Summer, 1776: the war for independence is over a year old and the leaders of the 13 colonies have finally decided that independence is their goal. How shall they explain America's aims and reasons to her own people and to the world?A committee of five was selected to draft the document; the Second Continental Congress debated, revised, and voted on the document; and the world was never the same again.Read the document: https://teachingamericanhistory.org/document/declaration-of-independence/Read the original draft: https://teachingamericanhistory.org/document/draft-of-the-declaration-of-independence/Host: Jeff SikkengaExecutive Producer: Jeremy GyptonSubscribe: https://linktr.ee/theamericanidea

King Hancock: The Radical Influence of a Moderate Founding Father (Harvard UP, 2023) is a rollicking portrait of the paradoxical patriot, whose measured pragmatism helped make American independence a reality. Americans are surprisingly more familiar with his famous signature than with the man himself. In this spirited account of John Hancock's life, Brooke Barbier depicts a patriot of fascinating contradictions--a child of enormous privilege who would nevertheless become a voice of the common folk; a pillar of society uncomfortable with radicalism who yet was crucial to independence. About two-fifths of the American population held neutral or ambivalent views about the Revolution, and Hancock spoke for them and to them, bringing them along. Orphaned young, Hancock was raised by his merchant uncle, whose business and vast wealth he inherited--including household slaves, whom Hancock later freed. By his early thirties, he was one of New England's most prominent politicians, earning a place on Britain's most-wanted list and the derisive nickname King Hancock. While he eventually joined the revolution against England, his ever moderate--and moderating--disposition would prove an asset after 1776. Barbier shows Hancock appealing to southerners and northerners, Federalists and Anti-Federalists. He was a famously steadying force as president of the fractious Second Continental Congress. He parlayed with French military officials, strengthening a key alliance with his hospitable diplomacy. As governor of Massachusetts, Hancock convinced its delegates to vote for the federal Constitution and calmed the fallout from the shocking Shays's Rebellion. An insightful study of leadership in the revolutionary era, King Hancock traces a moment when passion was on the side of compromise and accommodation proved the basis of profound social and political change. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

King Hancock: The Radical Influence of a Moderate Founding Father (Harvard UP, 2023) is a rollicking portrait of the paradoxical patriot, whose measured pragmatism helped make American independence a reality. Americans are surprisingly more familiar with his famous signature than with the man himself. In this spirited account of John Hancock's life, Brooke Barbier depicts a patriot of fascinating contradictions--a child of enormous privilege who would nevertheless become a voice of the common folk; a pillar of society uncomfortable with radicalism who yet was crucial to independence. About two-fifths of the American population held neutral or ambivalent views about the Revolution, and Hancock spoke for them and to them, bringing them along. Orphaned young, Hancock was raised by his merchant uncle, whose business and vast wealth he inherited--including household slaves, whom Hancock later freed. By his early thirties, he was one of New England's most prominent politicians, earning a place on Britain's most-wanted list and the derisive nickname King Hancock. While he eventually joined the revolution against England, his ever moderate--and moderating--disposition would prove an asset after 1776. Barbier shows Hancock appealing to southerners and northerners, Federalists and Anti-Federalists. He was a famously steadying force as president of the fractious Second Continental Congress. He parlayed with French military officials, strengthening a key alliance with his hospitable diplomacy. As governor of Massachusetts, Hancock convinced its delegates to vote for the federal Constitution and calmed the fallout from the shocking Shays's Rebellion. An insightful study of leadership in the revolutionary era, King Hancock traces a moment when passion was on the side of compromise and accommodation proved the basis of profound social and political change. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/history

King Hancock: The Radical Influence of a Moderate Founding Father (Harvard UP, 2023) is a rollicking portrait of the paradoxical patriot, whose measured pragmatism helped make American independence a reality. Americans are surprisingly more familiar with his famous signature than with the man himself. In this spirited account of John Hancock's life, Brooke Barbier depicts a patriot of fascinating contradictions--a child of enormous privilege who would nevertheless become a voice of the common folk; a pillar of society uncomfortable with radicalism who yet was crucial to independence. About two-fifths of the American population held neutral or ambivalent views about the Revolution, and Hancock spoke for them and to them, bringing them along. Orphaned young, Hancock was raised by his merchant uncle, whose business and vast wealth he inherited--including household slaves, whom Hancock later freed. By his early thirties, he was one of New England's most prominent politicians, earning a place on Britain's most-wanted list and the derisive nickname King Hancock. While he eventually joined the revolution against England, his ever moderate--and moderating--disposition would prove an asset after 1776. Barbier shows Hancock appealing to southerners and northerners, Federalists and Anti-Federalists. He was a famously steadying force as president of the fractious Second Continental Congress. He parlayed with French military officials, strengthening a key alliance with his hospitable diplomacy. As governor of Massachusetts, Hancock convinced its delegates to vote for the federal Constitution and calmed the fallout from the shocking Shays's Rebellion. An insightful study of leadership in the revolutionary era, King Hancock traces a moment when passion was on the side of compromise and accommodation proved the basis of profound social and political change. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/political-science

King Hancock: The Radical Influence of a Moderate Founding Father (Harvard UP, 2023) is a rollicking portrait of the paradoxical patriot, whose measured pragmatism helped make American independence a reality. Americans are surprisingly more familiar with his famous signature than with the man himself. In this spirited account of John Hancock's life, Brooke Barbier depicts a patriot of fascinating contradictions--a child of enormous privilege who would nevertheless become a voice of the common folk; a pillar of society uncomfortable with radicalism who yet was crucial to independence. About two-fifths of the American population held neutral or ambivalent views about the Revolution, and Hancock spoke for them and to them, bringing them along. Orphaned young, Hancock was raised by his merchant uncle, whose business and vast wealth he inherited--including household slaves, whom Hancock later freed. By his early thirties, he was one of New England's most prominent politicians, earning a place on Britain's most-wanted list and the derisive nickname King Hancock. While he eventually joined the revolution against England, his ever moderate--and moderating--disposition would prove an asset after 1776. Barbier shows Hancock appealing to southerners and northerners, Federalists and Anti-Federalists. He was a famously steadying force as president of the fractious Second Continental Congress. He parlayed with French military officials, strengthening a key alliance with his hospitable diplomacy. As governor of Massachusetts, Hancock convinced its delegates to vote for the federal Constitution and calmed the fallout from the shocking Shays's Rebellion. An insightful study of leadership in the revolutionary era, King Hancock traces a moment when passion was on the side of compromise and accommodation proved the basis of profound social and political change. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/biography

King Hancock: The Radical Influence of a Moderate Founding Father (Harvard UP, 2023) is a rollicking portrait of the paradoxical patriot, whose measured pragmatism helped make American independence a reality. Americans are surprisingly more familiar with his famous signature than with the man himself. In this spirited account of John Hancock's life, Brooke Barbier depicts a patriot of fascinating contradictions--a child of enormous privilege who would nevertheless become a voice of the common folk; a pillar of society uncomfortable with radicalism who yet was crucial to independence. About two-fifths of the American population held neutral or ambivalent views about the Revolution, and Hancock spoke for them and to them, bringing them along. Orphaned young, Hancock was raised by his merchant uncle, whose business and vast wealth he inherited--including household slaves, whom Hancock later freed. By his early thirties, he was one of New England's most prominent politicians, earning a place on Britain's most-wanted list and the derisive nickname King Hancock. While he eventually joined the revolution against England, his ever moderate--and moderating--disposition would prove an asset after 1776. Barbier shows Hancock appealing to southerners and northerners, Federalists and Anti-Federalists. He was a famously steadying force as president of the fractious Second Continental Congress. He parlayed with French military officials, strengthening a key alliance with his hospitable diplomacy. As governor of Massachusetts, Hancock convinced its delegates to vote for the federal Constitution and calmed the fallout from the shocking Shays's Rebellion. An insightful study of leadership in the revolutionary era, King Hancock traces a moment when passion was on the side of compromise and accommodation proved the basis of profound social and political change. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/american-studies

King Hancock: The Radical Influence of a Moderate Founding Father (Harvard UP, 2023) is a rollicking portrait of the paradoxical patriot, whose measured pragmatism helped make American independence a reality. Americans are surprisingly more familiar with his famous signature than with the man himself. In this spirited account of John Hancock's life, Brooke Barbier depicts a patriot of fascinating contradictions--a child of enormous privilege who would nevertheless become a voice of the common folk; a pillar of society uncomfortable with radicalism who yet was crucial to independence. About two-fifths of the American population held neutral or ambivalent views about the Revolution, and Hancock spoke for them and to them, bringing them along. Orphaned young, Hancock was raised by his merchant uncle, whose business and vast wealth he inherited--including household slaves, whom Hancock later freed. By his early thirties, he was one of New England's most prominent politicians, earning a place on Britain's most-wanted list and the derisive nickname King Hancock. While he eventually joined the revolution against England, his ever moderate--and moderating--disposition would prove an asset after 1776. Barbier shows Hancock appealing to southerners and northerners, Federalists and Anti-Federalists. He was a famously steadying force as president of the fractious Second Continental Congress. He parlayed with French military officials, strengthening a key alliance with his hospitable diplomacy. As governor of Massachusetts, Hancock convinced its delegates to vote for the federal Constitution and calmed the fallout from the shocking Shays's Rebellion. An insightful study of leadership in the revolutionary era, King Hancock traces a moment when passion was on the side of compromise and accommodation proved the basis of profound social and political change. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learn that the idea of gratitude and giving thanks is an ancient concept for mankind and is expressly elevated in the Bible.Review how days of thanksgiving were originally commemorated in the English colonies in Virginia and Massachusetts, with the English dissenters, the Pilgrims, having the most influential celebrations.In the colonial era, Thanksgiving celebrations were centered on specific events and circumstances and accordingly occurred at different times.As Americans united against British tyranny, they made continental-wide proclamations through the Continental Congress, but again, they were tied to specific events and times.President George Washington issued the first two Thanksgiving Proclamations under the Constitution.Sarah Josepha Hale's drive to create a uniform, nationwide celebration was embraced by Lincoln and his successors, and it became firmly fixed to the Fourth Thursday of November under President Franklin Delano Roosevelt.Feasts, running, football, parades, Black Friday, Cyber Monday and Giving Tuesday all flow from this powerful day of gratitude.Highlights include the Bible, Thessalonians 5:16-18, Colossians 2:7, Psalm 100:4, Colossians 4:2, Psalm 92, Philippians 4:6, King Henry VIII, Queen Elizabeth Anne Boleyn, Church of England, John Calvin, Puritans, Common Book of Prayers, King James I, Pilgrims, Mayflower, Plymouth England, Plymouth Harbor Massachusetts, Mayflower Compact, John Locke, Thomas Hobbes, Samoset, Squanto, Wampanoag, William Bedford, Thanksgiving commemoration, Melanie Kirkpatrick, Thanksgiving The Holiday at the Heart of the American Experience, William Bradford, Berkeley Plantation a/k/a Berkeley Hundred, The Margaret, John Woodlief, Jamestown, the Starving Time, Chief Opechancanough, Massacre of 1622, Massachusetts Bay Colony, New Amsterdam, First Continental Congress, Second Continental Congress, Day of Humiliation Fasting and Prayer (1776), Henry Laurens, Thanksgiving Day Proclamation (1777), Battle of Saratoga, Thomas McKean, Day of Thanksgiving and Prayer (December 18, 1781), George Washington, James Madison, Elias Boudinot, Aedanus Burke, Thomas Tudor Tucker, Federalist Party, Anti-Federalists, Peter Silvester, Roger Sherman, Articles of Confederation, Continental Association, Constitution, William Samuel Johnson, Ralph Izard, Washington Thanksgiving Day Proclamation (October 3, 1789 for November 26, 1789), Whiskey Rebellion, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Samuel Letter, James Madison, First Amendment, War of 1812, Abraham Lincoln, Sarah Josepha Hale, Mary Had a Little Lamb, Northwood: A Tale of New England, Vassar College, domestic science, Ladies' Magazine, Godey's Lady's Book, Civil War, William Seward, Andrew Johnson, Lincoln Thanksgiving Proclamation (October 3, 1863 and October 24, 1864), President Franklin Delano Roosevelt a/k/a FDR, National Retail Dry Goods Association, Franksgiving, Allen Treadway, Earl Michener, FDR Thanksgiving Speech (1938), President Lyndon Baines Johnson, Johnson Thanksgiving Speech (1963), President John F. Kennedy, President Ronald Reagan, Reagan Thanksgiving Speech (October 19, 1984 and 1986), President Barak Obama, Obama Thanksgiving Speech (2009), President George W. Bush, President Bush Thanksgiving Day visit to the troops in Iraq, President Donald Trump, Trump Thanksgiving Day visit to troops in Afghanistan, Trump Speech to troops on Thanksgiving, President Bill Clinton, Clinton Pardoning of Turkey Speech (1997), Presidential Pardons of Turkey, Thanksgiving Dinner & Feast, Thanksgiving parades, Grumbles, Macy's, Hudson's, Turkey Trot, National Football League (NFL) Thanksgiving Games, Detroit Lions, Dallas Cowboys, Walter Camp, Collegiate Football Thanksgiving Games, George A. Richards, The Chicago Bears, Saturday Night Live (SNL), Black Friday, Giving Tuesday, Henry Timms, Cyber Monday, and many others.To learn more about America & Patriot Week, visit www.PatriotWeek.org.

Our country owes a lot of gratitude to the generation of men and women who were the Founders of this country and wrote its founding documents.  Too often we forget  they were walking in uncharted territory: they were the first group of colonies to successfully break away from an empire, we were the first post-colonial country and the first nation founded on moral principles.  What they accomplished was unprecedented.  Today, we examine the role of the Second Continental Congress in achieving this success.  To explain why he calls them the “greatest generation,” we are pleased to welcome Jeffry Morrison, Professor of American Studies at Christopher Newport University in Newport News, Virginia, and Director of Academics at the federal government's James Madison Foundation in Alexandria, Virginia.

"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 British law into French-Canadian society -The Quebec Act of 1774, which allowed Quebecois (French-Canadian) religious and legal traditions to be maintained in British Canada -The substance and consequences of the First Letter to the Inhabitants of Quebec, authorized by the First Continental Congress in October 1774 -The turbulent spring of 1775, including the Battle of Lexington and Concord on 19 April 1775, which was shortly followed by the official imposition of the Quebec Act on 1 May 1775 -The Second Letter to the OPPRESSED Inhabitants of Canada, authorized by the Second Continental Congress on 29 May 1775

Guest is Josh Blackman, law professor at the South Texas College of Law and one of the best known constitutional experts in the nation, to talk about the launch of the 3rd edition of the Heritage Guide to the Constitution, as well as the judicial warfare we are seeing in the courts. Classic movie review of “1776,” the 1972 musical film about the Second Continental Congress and the drafting of the Declaration of Independence.

On June 14, 1777, the Second Continental Congress adopted a resolution authorizing the design of the new country's flag. That resolution read: “Resolved: That the flag of the United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation.”

Friends of the Rosary,Today is Independence Day, the anniversary of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, issued by the Second Continental Congress, which met in Philadelphia.On that day, the U.S achieved its place among the family of nations. Thirteen colonies set out to form a new form of unity and devised a new plan for government—the Constitution, and the United States began to grow rapidly.The Catholic Church in the U.S. incorporates a special Mass into the liturgy, asking for peace, justice, and truth.We also pray that God will bless America and make the nation a place of liberty and justice for all, born and unborn.Ave Maria!Jesus, I Trust In You!Come, Holy Spirit, come!To Jesus through Mary!Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.Please give us the grace to respond with joy!+ Mikel Amigot w/ María Blanca | RosaryNetwork.com, New YorkEnhance your faith with the new Holy Rosary University app:Apple iOS | New! Android Google Play• ⁠July 4, 2025, Today's Rosary on YouTube | Daily broadcast at 7:30 pm ET

The Declaration of Independence was passed by the Second Continental Congress 249 years ago today. New Jersey is filled with a number of sites connected to the American Revolution, including here in Union County. It's not only historic locations that have a connection with the past, but there are people who can trace their ancestry to that time period. Cranford resident Chris Sands is the president of the New Jersey Society of the Sons of the American Revolution.  The SAR is active with a number of events connecting New Jersey to its revolutionary past. After a career in the US Army, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel, Chris became involved in the SAR. We talk about the organization, his involvement and his connections to the birth of the United States.

Learn why understanding the Declaration of Independence is important especially in these tumultuous times when patriotism is at an all time low. Discover why the Second Continental Congress decided to have a Declaration of Independence and how a committee of five of Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman and Robert Livingston were chosen to draft it. Explore why John Adams insisted that Thomas Jefferson draft it, and how the Committee and the Second Continental Congress changed Jefferson's draft. Hear the entire Declaration of Independence, the most profound words written in the English language that were approved by the Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776.Most Americans have never read the entire Declaration of Independence and have a elementary grade level understanding of it. Most remember the soaring words of the second paragraph (“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among the are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness”), and maybe the last clause (“we mutually pledge our to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor”), and have not reviewed in any detail the remainder of the 1320 words. The rest is not just taxation without representation. There were 27 grievances listed by the Founding Fathers, of which taxation without representation is but one. In addition to the amazing, stirring words we are familiar with, and with the exceptions of John Hancock, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and Benjamin Franklin, nearly no one knows the entire roster of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. The full roster of the signers is John Adams, Samuel Adams, Josiah Bartlett, Carter Braxton, Charles Carroll of Carrolton, Samuel Chase, Abraham Clark, George Clymer, William Ellery, William Floyd, Benjamin Franklin, Elbridge Gerry, Button Gwinnett, Lyman Hall, John Hancock, Benjamin Harrison, John Hart, Joseph Hewes, Thomas Hayward, Jr., William Hooper, Stephen Hopkins, Francis Hopkinson, Samuel Huntington, Thomas Jefferson, Francis Lightfoot Lee, Richard Henry Lee, Francis Laws, Philip Livingston, Thomas Lynch, Jr., Thomas McKean, Arthur Middleton, Lewis Morris, Robert Morris, John Morton, Thomas Nelson, Jr. , William Paca, Robert Treat Paine, John Penn, George Read, Caesar Rodney, George Ross, Dr. Benjamin Rush, Edward Rutledge, Roger Sherman, James Smith, Richard Stockton, Thomas Stone, George Taylor, Matthew Thorton, George Walton, William Whipple, William Williams, James Wilson, John Witherspoon, Oliver Wolcott, and George Wythe.Listen at your leisure to the amazing Declaration of Independence. Read the entire Declaration of Independence here: https://patriotweek.org/2021/07/24/the-declaration-of-independence-september-11/To learn more about the Declaration of Independence & Patriot Week, visit www.PatriotWeek.org. Our resources include videos, a TV series, blogs, lesson plans, and more.Check out Judge Michael Warren's book America's Survival Guide, How to Stop America's Impending Suicide by Reclaiming Our First Principles and History at www.AmericasSurvivalGuide.com, amazon, or other major on-line retailers.Join us!

On July 6, 1775, the Second Continental Congress approved a document explaining the reasons why they felt justified in taking up arms against the British government. For more details, check up Episode 68 of the American Revolution Podcast: https://blog.amrevpodcast.com/2018/10/episode-068-congress-olive-branch.html Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Second Continental Congress began meeting nearly a month after Lexington and Concord. Delegates debated what to do next before finally voting to create a Continental Army on June 14, 1775, and appointing George Washington as its commander the following day. For more details, check out Episode 64 of the American Revolution Podcast: https://blog.amrevpodcast.com/2018/09/episode-064-second-continental-congress.html Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 29, 1775: The Second Continental Congress calls on the people of Quebec to join the fight against British tyranny. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week: Last week’s antisemitic murder of two Israeli embassy staffers, the Second Continental Congress, and the election of George Washington to lead the Continental Army. Matthew Spalding, vice president of Washington Operations and dean of Hillsdale in D.C.’s Van Andel Graduate School of Government, joins Hugh Hewitt on the Hillsdale Dialogues. Release date: 23 May 2025See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Second Continental Congress, this episode revisits the origins of the United States Congress and how early Americans built a representative government from revolutionary ideals. Historians Matt Wasniewski and Terrence Ruckner of the Office of the Historian of the U.S. House of Representatives join us to explore how Congress evolved from its colonial and revolutionary predecessors into the bicameral legislature established by the Constitution. House History Office Website Show Notes: https://www.benfranklinsworld.com/202 RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODES

To commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Second Continental Congress, this episode revisits the origins of the United States Congress and how early Americans built a representative government from revolutionary ideals. Historians Matt Wasniewski and Terrence Ruckner of the Office of the Historian of the U.S. House of Representatives join us to explore how Congress evolved from its colonial and revolutionary predecessors into the bicameral legislature established by the Constitution. House History Office Website Show Notes: https://www.benfranklinsworld.com/202 RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODES

Last week's antisemitic murder of two Israeli embassy staffers, the Second Continental Congress, and the election of George Washington to lead the Continental Army. Matthew Spalding, vice president of Washington Operations and dean of Hillsdale in D.C.'s Van Andel Graduate School of Government, joins Hugh Hewitt on the Hillsdale Dialogues. Release date: 23 May 2025

This week: Last week’s antisemitic murder of two Israeli embassy staffers, the Second Continental Congress, and the election of George Washington to lead the Continental Army. Matthew Spalding, vice president of Washington Operations and dean of Hillsdale in D.C.’s Van Andel Graduate School of Government, joins Hugh Hewitt on the Hillsdale Dialogues. Release date: 23 May 2025See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two hundred fifty years ago, in May 1775, delegates from thirteen British North American colonies gathered in Philadelphia for the Second Continental Congress.  Why was Philadelphia chosen as the seat of Congress? What made the city a critical hub for revolutionary ideas, commerce, and culture? And how has Philadelphia's early history shaped the broader narrative of American Independence?  Paul Kahan, a historian of American political, economic, and urban history, joins us to explore Philadelphia's early American history with details from his book. Philadelphia: A Narrative History, the first comprehensive history book about Philadelphia in over 40 years. Paul's Website | Book  Show Notes: https://www.benfranklinsworld.com/411 RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODES

Two hundred fifty years ago, in May 1775, delegates from thirteen British North American colonies gathered in Philadelphia for the Second Continental Congress. Why was Philadelphia chosen as the seat of Congress? What made the city a critical hub for revolutionary ideas, commerce, and culture? And how has Philadelphia's early history shaped the broader narrative of American Independence? Paul Kahan, a historian of American political, economic, and urban history, joins us to explore Philadelphia's early American history with details from his book. Philadelphia: A Narrative History, the first comprehensive history book about Philadelphia in over 40 years. Paul's Website | Book Show Notes: https://www.benfranklinsworld.com/411 RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODES

Benjamin Franklin returns from Britain in time to join the opening of the Second Continental Delegates. With war having already started in New England, delegates must decide whether to join the fight. For more details on this topic, check out Episode 64 of the American Revolution Podcast. https://blog.amrevpodcast.com/2018/09/episode-064-second-continental-congress.html Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices