Podcasts about united colonies

In this week's episode, I take a look at why I don't set up preorders and I usually don't write prequels. I also share my thoughts about the video game STARFIELD. TRANSCRIPT 00:00:00 Introduction and Writing Updates Hello, everyone. Welcome to Episode 219 of The Pulp Writer Show. My name is Jonathan Moeller. Today is September the 20th, 2024 and today we are discussing why I don't set up preorders for my books and why I prefer not to write prequels. Before we get to our main topic, we'll have an update on my current writing projects, Question of the Week, then we'll talk about a video game I recently enjoyed, and then we'll plunge on ahead to our main topic. First up, current writing and audiobook projects. I am pleased to report that Shield of Conquest is now completely finished and available. You can get it at all the usual ebook stores. It has been selling quite briskly and has been receiving good reviews. So thank you all for that. My next main project, which you can probably guess if you've been listening to the show for the last few months, is Ghost in the Tombs. As of this writing, I am 62,000 words into it, which I think puts me about 62% of the way through it, because I believe the rough draft will be around 100,000 words. I'm hoping to have that out towards the middle of October, if all goes well. I'm also 21,000 words into Cloak of Illusion. That should hopefully be out in November and I've just started what will be the fourth Rivah book, Orc-Hoard. It originally had been entitled Elven Sorcerer for the fourth Rivah book, but I decided to change the title to Orc-Hoard and that will be out in either December or January, if all goes well. In audiobook news, Stealth and Spells Online: Leveling is completely done and currently working its way through processing and the various audiobook platforms. You can get it at my Payhip store right now and it should be available at all the other stores in a couple of weeks. Stealth and Spells Online: Leveling was excellently narrated by CJ McAllister. Recording is almost done on Shield of Darkness, and hopefully we can approve the final version of that next week and then that'll work its way through processing and be available before too much longer. So that's where I am with my current writing and audiobook projects. 00:02:00 Question of the Week Now it's time for Question of the Week, designed to inspire interesting discussions of enjoyable topics. This week's question: what is the most annoying video game enemy? Obviously, there is no profound reason behind this question, since we're talking about video games. I happened to be reading an article about the upcoming Starfield expansion, and the comments devolved into a rambling discussion of game design and most annoying enemies, which inspired this question. We had a good range of responses. Reader AM wrote in to say that her greatest video game enemy is her own hand-eye coordination. We've all been there, AM; we've all been there. Justin says: The Legend of Zelda series is a great bunch of video games, but they do have their annoying bits. I nominate the Like Like worm. To get sucked in and spit back out (minus your shield) is incredibly aggravating. I cannot count the number of shields I've lost to this adversary. Later versions steal money or health, but for me, you know, the annoyance of having to go back to town to get a replacement shield (while trying to avoid encounters) ranks up there. Legend of Zelda also has annoying characters. Navi is the most so- her cry of “Hey! Listen!” quickly becomes painful. I too remember the Like Like worm from the Legend of Zelda days and that was indeed very annoying. JD says: Cliff racers from Morrowind. Do I need to say more? Juana says: the vampire guarding the sewers in Vampire: the Masquerade-Bloodlines. You have to be maxed out in at least two disciplines to take them out. It's really difficult to get maximum disciplines. Ross says: at least for me, it's Cliff racers in Morrowind. They're so far out ahead of anything else, I can't even think of what I'd put in second place. Morgan says: not sure of all time, but in terms of more recent games, the Zoanthropes in Space Marine 2 are an absolute nightmare, especially when they come in pairs so one is always shielding the other. Jesse says: Seymour in Final Fantasy 10. Only boss I remember that you have to beat five times. Jenny says: that drum boss in Ocarina of Time. William says: Zelda 2 has no shortage of troublesome enemies, like the Iron Knuckles. It's probably for the best I never had the chance to play it back in the day without save states. Brandy says: The first multiplayer run through Diablo, where you're through the Easter Egg levels and every other flick of the mouse you're screaming “run away, run away!” or “hold still, so I might smite thee!” For myself, my answer would be those stupid Medusa Heads from the Castlevania series. If you've played any Castlevania game, you know what I'm talking about. You'll be climbing the stairs and the Medusa Head will somehow come in at exactly the right angle to avoid all your weapons and to knock you off the stairs to your death at the same time. Honestly, a lot of the old school Castlevania Games are much more enjoyable with save states on modern systems. A very strong runner up would be Lakitu from Super Mario Brothers. He's the guy in the cloud who drops all those Spiny Shells on your head. So we had quite a good range of responses this week, thought it appears that the Morrowind Cliff Racer may take the championship. 00:04:49 Thoughts on Starfield Speaking of video games, I actually wanted to talk about Starfield a little bit because I beat the main quest in Starfield this month. By my standards, this is fast. I first started playing Skyrim in 2011, and I finally beat the main quest in autumn 2020 on the Switch version, since that was during the height of COVID and there wasn't much else to do. By contrast, Starfield came out in September 2023, so I beat the main quest in just a little bit over a year. So here are my thoughts on the game. Overall, I would say I really liked it. It does capture the feel of being a competent space adventurer wandering around the galaxy. You can do bounty hunting, pirate hunting, mining, exploring, and a variety of other stuff. Back in the ‘90s, I really liked Wing Commander: Privateer, which had infinite random missions and Starfield kind of feels like an enormously expanded version of Privateer, or like Privateer with a Halo game attached to it, given the wide variety of firearms you can obtain. In the grand tradition of Bethesda Games, you don't even have to do the main quest or any of the scripted side quests. You can just wander around visiting random planets and fighting space pirates forever. Honestly, I probably spent more time playing randomly generated side missions than any of the scripted quests. That said, I very much liked some of the scripted side missions. The Vanguard plotline was the best of them, in my opinion. You have to help the United Colonies find the origins of a super deadly alien predator called the Terrormorph, and at the end there's a genuinely hard moral question: does the greater good justify the means for people in positions of authority? The game also improved quite a bit since launch with new patches. The updates added a city map feature which is massively useful and a Space Car you can use for driving across planetary surfaces, which makes a lot of the game's missions quite a bit simpler and easy. Now, while I enjoyed Starfield, I concede that many of its critics had a point about its weaknesses. The game relies a lot on procedural generation. Every time you land on a planet, a bunch of nearby dungeons and features are randomly generated. This can get repetitive, though honestly I don't mind that very much. It makes it easier to play the game in bite sized chunks when it's late and I'm tired and I just want to mow down some Space Pirates or something. What is annoying is that sometimes the procedurally generated locations don't match with the procedurally generated quests, which locks you out of finishing some of the randomly generated quests. That was really irritating, though it only tends to happen at very high levels. The game's main plot revolved around multiverse stuff, and as I've mentioned frequently before, I am not a big fan of the multiverse as a storytelling concept. However, it works better in a video game than in a movie or a book, and Starfield's implementation of it is quite clever. Many games have the New Game Plus concept where you beat the game and then you start a new game, but things are slightly different. In Starfield, when you beat the game, you go to a new universe, you lose all your possessions, but you keep all your skills and knowledge, so you're starting the new game at level 65 or whatever. Additionally, a lot of the quests are subtly altered because your character knows in advance what is going to happen from the previous universe, so you can get a better outcome than you did the last time, which is honestly a kind of a clever game mechanic, which makes it a compelling journey to go from universe to universe and to put right what once went wrong. Anyway, I enjoyed Starfield and I will definitely play the Shattered Space expansion, which comes out at the end of September, but enough talk about video games. 00:08:14 Main Topic of the Week: Preorders and Prequels This is writing podcast, so let's move on to our main topic, preorders and prequels. I have to admit preorders and prequel sounds like a really lame tabletop RPG for indie authors. Like if you roll a 20, your book gets picked up as an Amazon Daily deal for the US, but if you roll 1, your book file gets corrupted and you can't figure out how to fix it. Anyway, the inspiration for this alliterative title was that someone asked me about preorders, and someone else asked me about prequels within 24 hours. So let's start with prequels. Reader Juan writes in to ask about preorders: something I noticed about your books. There's never a preorder option on Apple Books. Is this by design? I know you self-publish so I didn't know if that was a publisher feature or if there's a way to preorder there. If not, no worries, I just know Apple takes a little longer to load the book. Preorders are available to self-publishers, but the reason I don't do preorders is by design. I never do preorders for a couple different reasons, which we'll go through right now. #1: the consequences of missing a preorder date are moderately negative. If you miss a preorder date on Amazon, you get locked out of doing another one for the following 12 months. I'm not sure what happens if you miss a preorder on Apple Books, but I suspect it's about the same level of penalty and this ties directly into reason two. #2 is that life is chaotic and unpredictable, and I absolutely hate making promises I end up unable to keep. Like if I get sick or something in Real Life comes along that I have to deal with immediately, I could easily miss a week of writing time, which would make hitting the preorder date either very stressful or impossible. #3: If I wrote like only two books a year, I might do preorders. That would give me enough of a cushion of time to make sure that everything is ready to go well in advance of the launch date. But I usually write and publish like ten books a year, sometimes more. With books coming out so frequently, organizing that many pre-orders would be a serious headache and sometimes I don't actually decide what I'm going to write next until the day comes and I actually sit down to start writing. Like at the end of 2023, I pretty much decided on impulse to finish writing Half-Elven Thief and had that be my last book of the year in 2023. So with the amount I write and publish, managing the logistics of so many pre-orders would be a serious headache. #4: And finally, reason number four and the most important reason: the worst consequence of missing a preorder is a loss of reader confidence. Without going into details, let's say there's been enough of that in the fantasy genre already, so preorders have too many negatives and not enough positives, at least for my situation. I'd rather just make a good faith effort of having things come out when I can and announcing them via my newsletter. Speaking of which, if you sign up for my newsletter, you get regular free short stories. Now onto prequels. Concerning prequels, reader Danny writes in to ask: May I suggest writing a series of prequels to the Cloak Game series? Shield of Conquest made me hope that it would be a prequel book to the Cloak Game series, a book that speaks about the invasion of Earth by the elves and brings some backstory of the relationship between Kathran Morvilind and Tarlia- a teacher and a student, and the discovery and invasion of Earth, or other back stories that were not developed enough. For example, what about Aiden, brother of Riordan, or Riordan's experience as a Shadow Hunter? Generally speaking, I am not a big fan of writing prequels. I have written a couple of prequel novels out of the 155 books I've written (Frostborn: The First Quest comes to mind) and sometimes I'll do short stories as a flashback. Probably the most recent example of that is Prophecy of the High Queen, the short story that describes the first meeting between Nadia and the High Queen written from the High Queen's perspective. The High Queen uses magic to look into Nadia's past and her various potential futures, and so the short story bounces all over the place in time. I have also written novels that kind of jump around in time. In Cloak of Iron, the scenes from Lauren Casey's perspective go back to even before the Cloak Game series actually started to set up why Lauren was desperate enough to save her brother that that she was willing to deal with someone like Mr. Shang of the Deathless Society. Or in the very first Nadia book, Games: Thief Trap, where we blur through the first twenty years of Nadia's life in the first chapter. That said, I do write the short stories in mind as bonus materials like the extra scenes on a movie DVD. However, at this point I don't think I would write a prequel novel, and I certainly wouldn't write a prequel series. Why not? It feels like prequels are sort of like procrastinating before you continue on the main story, which is likely what most readers really want. I've noticed some writers (again, without going into details) have a bad habit of writing prequels instead of getting on with the main story. Making yourself continue the main story instead of getting sidetracked by prequels or side quests is difficult, but it must be done for the greater good of the story. Additionally, a big problem with prequels is it's extremely difficult to generate narrative tension because you know in advance that certain characters are going to survive or certain situations are going to play out in a way you've already read in subsequent books. If I did, for example, my Andomhaim series as a prequel series, it would be set in a region of the world we've never visited and with characters we never encountered before, so that way there is a dramatic tension that the reader doesn't know how things are going to end and that will make the book more enjoyable. Also, some things are really better left to the reader's imagination, and that can include back stories. Writing fiction is in some ways an exercise in creating a line drawing and letting the imagination of the reader provide color and shadow. Like, since we've been talking about Nadia, here's someone describing her from a first-person perspective:  "A woman in a dark coat and black jeans sat across from me. She had red-tinged brown hair tied in a loose ponytail and pale grey eyes the color of knives. I thought she looked like she could stand to eat more. That, combined with the eyes, gave her a look of feverish, almost unsettling intensity. I probably outweighed her by a good ninety pounds, but I felt the sudden urge to reach for the gun I wasn't carrying." Now that's just a line drawing, right? Yet every reader will fill in that line drawing with something from his or her own imagination. In the same way, I think it is sometimes (even frequently) best to let the reader's imagination fill in the details of the character's backstory. Like Riordan- we know he tried to save his brother Aidan and failed. We know that he became a Shadow Hunter and that his first wife joined the Rebels and tried to murder him to score points with her new friends. I could write out a prequel series describing those events, but I think at this point it wouldn't be as vivid as the one that readers have generated in their imaginations. Besides, writing a prequel story would be a distraction from the main story. So that is why I don't set up preorders and I don't usually write prequels. So that is it for this week. Thanks for listening to The Pulp Writer Show. I hope you found the show useful. A reminder that you can listen to all the back episodes on https://thepulpwritershow.com. If you enjoyed the podcast, please leave a review on your podcasting platform of choice. Stay safe and stay healthy and see you all next week.

Happy Birthday to the United States of America. The Declaration of Independence is comprised of five distinct parts. Hear about them, the language, its length, and how the signatures are categorized.

Approximately 5,000 African-American or Black soldiers fought for the patriot cause in the American Revolution. Some joined state militias, some joined the Continental Army, and some sailed the seas with the fledgling navies of the United Colonies. William and Benjamin Frank were two of those 5,000. Both were free Blacks from Rhode Island who enlisted in the 2nd Rhode Island Regiment in 1777. Their father was a veteran of the French and Indian War, so the family was well-established in military tradition. The 2nd Rhode Island fought and defended Fort Mercer during the campaigns of 1777 and survived harsh winters at Valley Forge and Morristown before returning to Rhode Island to literally defend the hearth and home from the British. Author and historian Dr. Shirley L. Green, adjunct professor at the University of Toledo, a 26-year veteran of the law enforcement community, and current Director of the Toledo Police Museum in Ohio, “takes the reader on a journey based on her family's history, rooted in its oral tradition.” Her book Revolutionary Blacks, Discovering the Frank Brothers, Freeborn Men of Color, Soldiers of Independence was published by Westholme Publishing in November 2023.

This is the story of the New Haven Colony from 1643 until is absorption by Connecticut in 1664. We look at the colony's economic, military, and geopolitical successes and disasters, and the famous story of the "Ghost Ship," perhaps the most widely witnessed supernatural event in early English North America. Finally, confronted with the restoration of the Stuarts in England, the Puritan colonies of New England, the greatest supporters of Oliver Cromwell and the Commonwealth, struggle to establish their legitimacy under the monarchy. Connecticut Colony secures a charter from Charles II, and through a series of power plays absorbs New Haven Colony and puts an end to its theocratic government of the Elect. X (Twitter): @TheHistoryOfTh2 Facebook: The History of the Americans Podcast Selected references for this episode (Commission received on Amazon links, if clicking through the website) Edward Elias Atwater, History of the Colony of New Haven Until its Absorption Into Connecticut First Anglo-Dutch War (Wikipedia) The United Colonies of New England I: The New England Confederation Begins (1643-1652) (Apple podcasts link) The United Colonies of New England II: Confederation or Absorption (1644-1690) (Apple podcasts link)

The four Puritan colonies of New England, after one successful decade of confederation, faces headwinds internally and externally as the Dutch, Natives, English authorities and their own settlers threaten to disrupt the Puritan Oligarchy. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/osoa/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/osoa/support

Of the organized Puritan settlements in New England in the first half of the 17th century – Massachusetts Bay, Plymouth, and Connecticut being foremost – the New Haven Colony was in some respects the most peculiar.  It was probably the wealthiest of the four United Colonies of New England on a per capita basis, the most insistent on religion's role in civil governance, and the least democratic, being, basically, not democratic.  The men who founded it, Theophilus Eaton and the Reverend John Davenport, had great expectations and ambitions for spiritual communion and commercial profit, most of which would come to naught. It would survive as an independent colony less than 25 years. This is the story of its founding, at a place called Quinnipiac. X (Twitter): @TheHistoryOfTh2 Facebook: The History of the Americans Podcast Selected references for this episode (Commission received on Amazon links, if clicking through the website) Edward Elias Atwater, History of the Colony of New Haven Until its Absorption Into Connecticut Josephine Dodge Daskam Bacon, History of the Colony of New Haven, Before and After the Union With Connecticut

There was a conflict before the Colony War, also between the United Colonies and the Freestar Collective. It sowed the seeds of future conflicts.Support the show and get cool stuff! https://www.patreon.com/starfieldlorecastSubscribe for more Starfield lore, news, and updates!Links:Watch on Robots Radio Youtube: https://youtube.com/c/robotsradio Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major podcast services.Discord: https://discord.gg/tVnB9ceNews: https://starfieldinsider.comTwitter: https://twitter.com/starfieldcast Tom: https://twitter.com/robots_radio https://twitch.tv/robotsradioDave: https://twitter.com/DaveChafinz Instagram: https://instagram.com/starfieldcasthttps://robotsradio.netAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

While England devolves into Civil War, the four Puritan Colonies of New England form a Confederation, leaning on one another for a little order in a chaotic world. Together the United Colonies will have to contend with Roger William's Rhode Island Colony, Sir Ferdinando Gorges' Maine Colony, and the Dutch in New Netherland, all while navigating Native politics, plots and assassination attempts. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/osoa/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/osoa/support

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 these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness... To secure these Rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed, and whenever any form of Government becomes destructive of these Ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it... We, therefore, the Representatives of the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, (in General Congress), do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly Publish and Declare, 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; Happy Independence Day Everyone. Here's to the greatest country ever on the face of the planet.

What is New Atlantis actually like? It's the capital of the United Colonies and the city of the future, but is everything what it seems?Subscribe for more Starfield lore, news, and updates!Links:Watch on Robots Radio Youtube: https://youtube.com/c/robotsradio Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major podcast services. News: https://starfieldinsider.comTwitter: https://twitter.com/starfieldcast Tom: https://twitter.com/robots_radio Dave: https://twitter.com/DaveChafinz Instagram: https://instagram.com/starfieldcasthttps://robotsradio.netThis show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/5851763/advertisement

What is New Atlantis actually like? It's the capital of the United Colonies and the city of the future, but is everything what it seems?Subscribe for more Starfield lore, news, and updates!Links:Watch on Robots Radio Youtube: https://youtube.com/c/robotsradio Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major podcast services.News: https://starfieldinsider.comTwitter: https://twitter.com/starfieldcast Tom: https://twitter.com/robots_radio Dave: https://twitter.com/DaveChafinz Instagram: https://instagram.com/starfieldcasthttps://robotsradio.netAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In July of 1776, even as the ink on the Declaration of Independence is still drying, a British invasion force invades New York, forcing George Washington and the Continental Army to retreat into New Jersey and leave America's largest port in British hands. By winter, the cause of the United Colonies appears lost. But 1777 is a new year, and brings with it new opportunities. Will the colonists be able to turn things around and beat back the British? And if they win, what kind of country will they have created? MAP OF NEW YORK CITY (MODERN): https://ontheworldmap.com/usa/city/new-york-city/ SUBSCRIBE TO RELEVANT HISTORY, AND NEVER MISS AN EPISODE! Relevant History Patreon: https://bit.ly/3vLeSpF Subscribe on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/38bzOvo Subscribe on Apple Music (iTunes): https://apple.co/2SQnw4q Subscribe on Google Music: https://bit.ly/30hUTRD RSS feed: https://bit.ly/2R0Iosz Relevant History on Twitter: https://bit.ly/3eRhdtk Relevant History on Facebook: https://bit.ly/2Qk05mm Relevant History SubscribeStar: https://www.subscribestar.com/relevant-history Official website: https://bit.ly/3btvha4 Episode transcript (90% accurate): https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vRzzs6to_BPTh0nNQ3VJlhjg4VW4R8tEHcA5ZS17YhHvmBM03v7aYitMponUurYQFg-vEFfyyN8rtuS/pub Music credit: Sergey Cheremisinov - Black Swan

This season will cover the many forgotten English colonies that became the Middle and New England Colonies we all know and love so well. Rather than serve as missteps and side stories, these ventures shaped the borders, nature and circumstances of the Colonies that would one day declare their independence, beginning yet another state of America. A few topics covered this season: The Wampanoag, The United Colonies of New England, Lygonia, West New Jersey and many more. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/osoa/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/osoa/support

TNFro Live...Freedom and Pop Culture with Quark's Bar You fittin' to be missing in your own mirror...Uncle Clifford Talking About Autumn Night and "A pot of hog maws got to simmer all day to be any good...Uncle Cliffordism #10975" What is your favorite Uncle Cliffordism? Celebrating The Notorius KBJ(Supreme Court Justice Kentanji Brown Jackson) Reflecting On Freedom and Reading the Declaration of Independence         "We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and the 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; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which the Independent States may of right do. 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"...Yo We Were Losing When This was Published Wow. Subscribe monthly on Anchor.fm  Patreon or Podbean Click link to sign up! Check out Dale's Angels Inc Blog for notes from this episode and other subjects. Contact Us via LinkedIn: Dale's Angels Inc Twitter: @tvfoodwinegirl Instagram: @tnfroisreading YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/FeliciaBaxter_TNFroIsReading Facebook: TNFroIsReading Bookclub You know your girl is on her hustle, support the show by navigating to: Online Bookstore: Far From Beale St. Books Dale's Angel's Store...For Merch Promo Code: tnfro Writer's Block Coffee Ship A Bag of Dicks Promo Code: tnfrogotjokes Don't forget to drop me a line at tnfroisreading@gmail.com comments on the show or suggestions for Far From Beale St additions. Or you can leave a brief message at the following link https://anchor.fm/felicia-marie-baxter/message. Non-trolley messages will be read on the show! Subscribe and follow me on Spotify and Anchor.fm https://anchor.fm/felicia-marie-baxter

On Independence Day, Some Advice from the Declaration on Fighting Absolute Despotism Today's Links:National Archives:   Declaration of Independence: A Transcription   (full text is also below)You're listening to the American Democracy Minute, keeping YOUR government by and for the people.We can't read the entire Declaration of Independence in 90 seconds, but here's a  portion for Independence Day:  “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 these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. Read the Declaration in full at AmericanDemocracyMinute.orgGranny D said, “Democracy is not something we have, it's something we DO.”  For the American Democracy Minute, I'm Brian Beihl.-----------------------------------------------------------------------------Declaration of Independence: A TranscriptionIn Congress, July 4, 1776The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America, When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.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 these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.--Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.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.He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offencesFor 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:For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.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.He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our Brittish brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. 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.We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, 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; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. 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.GeorgiaButton GwinnettLyman HallGeorge Walton North CarolinaWilliam HooperJoseph HewesJohn Penn South CarolinaEdward RutledgeThomas Heyward, Jr.Thomas Lynch, Jr.Arthur Middleton MassachusettsJohn HancockMarylandSamuel ChaseWilliam PacaThomas StoneCharles Carroll of Carrollton VirginiaGeorge WytheRichard Henry LeeThomas JeffersonBenjamin HarrisonThomas Nelson, Jr.Francis Lightfoot LeeCarter Braxton PennsylvaniaRobert MorrisBenjamin RushBenjamin FranklinJohn MortonGeorge ClymerJames SmithGeorge TaylorJames WilsonGeorge RossDelawareCaesar RodneyGeorge ReadThomas McKean New YorkWilliam FloydPhilip LivingstonFrancis LewisLewis Morris New JerseyRichard StocktonJohn WitherspoonFrancis HopkinsonJohn HartAbraham Clark New HampshireJosiah BartlettWilliam Whipple MassachusettsSamuel AdamsJohn AdamsRobert Treat PaineElbridge Gerry Rhode IslandStephen HopkinsWilliam Ellery ConnecticutRoger ShermanSamuel HuntingtonWilliam WilliamsOliver Wolcott New HampshireMatthew Thornton 

Independence Day commemorates the ratification of the Declaration of Independence by the Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776. The Declaration is a legal brief, making a case that “these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States.” The Declaration also makes theological claims, however. It begins with reference to “the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and Nature's God entitle [the colonists].” It ends with the signers appealing to “the Supreme Judge of the world” and expressing “a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence.” But its most important theological statement is this: “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 these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” In this episode of the Influence Podcast, I'm talking to Prof. Thomas S. Kidd about religion and the American Founding. Specifically, I'm talking to him about the faith of Thomas Jefferson — the Founding Father who drafted the Declaration of Independence. I'm George P. Wood, executive editor of Influence magazine and your host. Thomas S. Kidd is Research Professor of Church History at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Mo., and a Senior Research Scholar at Baylor University's Institute for Studies of Religion. His most recent book is Thomas Jefferson: A Biography of Spirit and Flesh, published this year by Yale University Press. ----- This episode of the Influence Podcast is brought to you by My Healthy Church, distributors of Bible Engagement Project. Bible Engagement Project gives churches access to a library of kids curriculum and small group resources all in one subscription. Visit BibleEngagementProject.com to download sample lessons.

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 these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness... To secure these Rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed, and whenever any form of Government becomes destructive of these Ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it... We, therefore, the Representatives of the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, in General Congress, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly Publish and Declare, 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; Happy Independence Day, everyone! CHEERS to the greatest country on Earth!

While New England's comfort generally increased in the Cromwell years, Rhode Island suffered from a lagging economy, political divisions and even issues with religious dissidents who worked to destabilize the already unstable colony.  Plymouth's prosperity also waned as trade came to dominate the New England economy.  And in the United Colonies, the issue of infant baptism continued to create problems.  In response to the limits of Church-membership exclusivity (including but not limited to infant baptism), younger people were either losing interest in religion or turning to more radical Puritan sects, like the Baptists.  Baptists, who advocated for no infant baptism at all, rather than simply limited infant baptism, grew more numerous and popular throughout New England.  Their ideology evened the social/political playing field as well as providing a simple solution to religious questions.   In response to these trends in New England religious life, United Colony Churches (with some exceptions) adopted the Half-Way Covenant.  

In the wake of so many controversies, there arose one more for the Puritan Oligarchy. This was in their wheelhouse and presumably should have been a slam dunk. It wasn't. The missionary efforts of The United Colonies, led by John Eliot, was marred with political intrigue and disappointing results. The records, the sentiments from those who were there, and the numeric results are a testimony not to doctrine, but to approach. Sometimes, the old adage really is true, "It's not what you say, but how you say it." In this two-part episode, we'll measure the efforts of John Eliot on the backdrop of Thomas Mayhew's work on Martha's Vineyard and the political activity of the Magistrates. Audio Production by Podsworth Media.

In a post-Pequot world, in a post-Miantonomo world, Narragansett Bay and all of Rhode Island was a coveted piece of property. The Puritans wanted it. All the Puritan groups. Even though they had formed the United Colonies, a formidable power block, they were still acting independently in their quest for land and treasure. Massachusetts Bay had the resources and manpower, not to mention the savvy, to frame the argument and control the narrative. Only one man really stood in their way. That man was Samuel Gorton. His one-man crusade to stand up to the magistrates of Massachusetts Bay opened the door to liberty for many people. He accomplished what many strong men and women could not: he beat the Magistrates of Massachusetts Bay at their own game. Check it out! Audio Production by Podsworth Media.

We will review the growing tensions between the Whompanoeg and the United Colonies leading up to the King Philips war.

The United Colonies of New England enjoy unprecedented peace and prosperity in the years following Cromwell's rise to power, and Cotton encourages ordinary people that the regicide was part of God's plan to bring about the millennium.   Pardon the roughness of this episode.  Still re-getting my sea legs, while adjusting to a new computer and recording space.   And thank you for being patient!  

This program will compare and contrast the US Declaration of Independence, written in 1776, with the globalist Declaration of Interdependence that was written in 1975, anticipating the 200th anniversary of the signing of the US Declaration of Independence. There are numerous Declarations of Interdependence beginning at least since the 1930s, nearly all of which urge the end of national sovereignty and its replacement with global government. I will focus on the Declaration of Interdependence written in 1975 by Henry Steele Commager. The US Declaration of Independence states "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; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do." The Declaration of Interdependence states that "it is necessary for the people of The United States to declare their interdependence with the people of all nations"; that "now we must join with others to bring forth a new world order." The US Declaration of Independence concludes with the statement: "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." In other words, we rely on divine Providence (the protective care of God), not on anything else. The Declaration of Interdependence requires us to depend on other men, not on God. © Copyright 2021 Liberty and Posterity

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 these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.… We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, 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; and that as Free and Independent States… 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.

In our first July 4th special the On the Rocks crew took a break from the Sturm und Drang of the day to day and recounted various tasty stories that lend meaning to their personal ideas of July 4th. Bruce recounts moments on July 4th serving overseas in Iraq in the United States Army.  Somehow we then got on the subject of illegal fireworks in Massachusetts.  Ahhhh, the memories of Fourth of July in the seventies and eighties, blowing off an appendage with an M80 or setting the neighbors home on fire with misplaced pinwheels..... Cam offers us a report of fireworks legal New Hampshire, the 'Live Free or Die' state. We end with a look at John Dickinson from our resident amateur historian Scott. John Dickinson, author of 'Letters from a Pennsylvania Farmer' and ardent Pennsylvania partiot during the 1760's and 1770's was in the end, a moderate who believed in freedom of commerce and social rights for the United Colonies, just under a different Constitution, that of Parliament in London. Dickinson's impassioned debates with John Adams during the days leading up to the signing of the Declaration of Independence included his speech where he warns delegates that they embark in a new venture   to, 'brave the storm in a skiff made of paper'. Read more on John Dickinson's Speech Point being, a look at our history through the eyes of some of the 'other' founding fathers really adds substance to our notion of how 'We' became 'Us'.

Time  Red Pill Topics & Headlines 6:03am cst Welcome to the Mike Church Show on www.crusadechannel.com Call the show            844-5CRUSADE Make Canon212 your first place to get news each day. Canon212 - News of the Church and the World. HEADLINE RUNDOWN - HEADLINE: At Least 5 Killed, 72 Wounded In Weekend Shootings In Chicago; 2 Mass Shootings Reported Sunday Night by CBS 2 Chicago Staff  We know this story is 100% fabricated b/c Biden told us that in cities w/ strict gun laws, gun violence doesn't exist.  However, there are in-fact 72 people that had to seek medical attention for gunshot wounds and 5 people are now dead from a gunshot wound.  I wonder if Sleepy Joe knows this?   31m Make A Wish Foundation -  They came out and stated they were back up and running since the COVID-19 hit the scene.  They determined that all VACCINATED families would be eligible.   HEADLINE: 4,115 Vaccinated People Have Died, Been Hospitalized With COVID-19 ‘Breakthrough' Infections: CDC by Jack Phillips Now we are all supposed to be on the vaccine, now they only count deaths that are DIRECTLY related to the shot. Which as you know, it went from deaths to cases when it suited their needs. The CDC has an add stating the vaccines are 100% effective but this plainly states otherwise. 45m HEADLINE: Death Toll Rises to 9; Engineer Warned About ‘Major Structural Damage' Before Condo Collapse by Jack Phillips  Crusade Channel Teaming Up With Epoch Times www.crusadechannel.com/epoch (affiliate link) If you have any issues that need to be resolved, please email Maggie O'Connell directly at sales@mikechurch.com or Candace her personal email candace@mikechurch.com Do business with those that do business with us. BullDog Kia have been with us since day one of Veritas Radio Network and the Crusade Channel. Get your Kia today from the fine folks at BullDog Kia in Atlanta Georgia. BRAVE BROWSER: Now you can support the Crusade Channel without spending a DIME! Simply use the url to download the BRAVE browser and WE get credit: http://brave.com/mik060 We can earn up to $50,000 for the downloads if our listeners use this browser. 7:15am cst Welcome back to The Mike Church Show! Call the Crusade Channel at 844-5CRUSADE! Join our FREE LIVE chatroom where you can chat with fellow Crusaders. Listen to us on ShortWave - 5850 TRIVIA QUESTION: What happened on this day in 1776? The Lee Resolution was submitted and they decided to write a more lengthy version. This paragraph - “Resolved, That these United Colonies are, and of right 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. That it is expedient forthwith to take the most effectual measures for forming foreign Alliances. That a plan of confederation be prepared and transmitted to the respective Colonies for their consideration and approbation.”   1h26m  AUDIO/VIDEO: Garland announces DOJ lawsuit against Georgia over voting restrictions Georgia will not fight this DOJ case. The Biden Regime is fighting w/ tooth and nail Chinese money into the economy of Georgia. The Governor is complicit in this influx b/c he just wants the money. You better start asking your Governor why you have a bunch of Chinese people running around building big manufacturing facilities. The Biden Regime is doing what Commie regimes do, they muzzle and silence the opposition.  The Federal Government that can print money at will is suing one of its member states! AUDIO/VIDEO: ARE COVID VACCINES TRIGGERING MISCARRIAGES? 1h51m AUDIO/VIDEO: Make A Wish Foundation - Make a Wish Foundation - will resume charity to dying kids only if the entire family is vaccinated.

Surviving in a Post-Christian America Message Three – To Obey or Not Obey On January 20th, our country went through a change of leadership. President Biden became our 46th president of the United States. I watched a good deal of the Inauguration. Lady Gaga did a fabulous job singing the National Anthem. Recently I heard Amanda Gorman, our Youth Poet Laureate, recite one of her poems; so I was interested to hear her read her new poem The Hill We Climb. I sang along with Garth Brooks as he performed Amazing Grace. And as I listened to President Biden’s speech, I shared his hope for unity. Every 4-8 years we go through this. We welcome a new government into power. The republic created 243 years ago still stands. So now what? What do we as Christians do with respect to this new government? Do we honor and respect President Biden and Vice President Harris or do we stand against them?  Do we subject ourselves to these leaders for the next four years or do we rebel? Two weeks back you learned that your first responsibility toward your leaders is to pray for them and to thank God for them. But do we have to obey them? Must we follow in lockstep wherever they lead? Today you will learn the answer to the question – must I obey... You will learn that .... God commands us to obey our government as long as our obedience is not in conflict with God. When we do choose to obey God rather than man we must be willing to accept the consequences. Subjection Romans 13:1-2 Believers are to be subject to their governing authorities because God has appointed these leaders. Look at Romans 13:1-2 Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. Why does the Word tell us to subject ourselves to our political leaders? The reason we are to subject ourselves to our governing authorities is that God has appointed them. God raises leaders up and God removes them. If the Scripture is telling the truth, (and we know it is) then God just appointed President Biden and God just removed President Trump. And we are to subject ourselves to that change. Remember, Paul is writing the book of Romans at the time Nero is Emperor. As I discussed two weeks back, Nero was one of the most perverse leaders of all time. Yet Paul told the readers of Romans that they were to subject themselves to this leader. Several questions come to mind. What about: Hitler who executed 4-6 million Jews (2/3 of all European Jews) Stalin who killed approximately 20 million Soviet citizens Chairman Mao killed as many as 45 million Chinese citizens Or what about the United States, who has aborted 62 million babies since Roe v Wade. What is a believer’s responsibility to a government like that? Must a Christian obey their leaders when their leaders sanction murder? Three Things to Think About Does the Bible and especially Romans 13 teach the “Divine Right of Kings”? The DRK is “the doctrine that kings derive their authority from God, not from their subjects.” The DRK teaches that human rulers are beyond reproach or criticism by his or her subjects. Rebellion would be the worst of political crimes. So is this biblical? No – Romans and elsewhere in Scripture teach that we are subject in general but not in absolute. Remember that Nathan called out King David’s sin in 2 Samuel 12:7 Jeremiah stood against Ahab in 1 Kings 18 Remember Daniel in the lions’ den? John the Baptist confronted Herod and religious leaders with their sin. There is another important teaching in the Scripture that destroys the idea of the Divine Right of Kings. What is it? All men are created equal. All are sinners. Romans 3:23 (All men are created equal.) All are guilty and those without Christ will be held accountable for their sins. So does the Bible teach that we must obey our leaders because they are without reproach? The answer is no. Christians are citizens of two kingdoms. You are a citizen of the country in which you live. And you are a citizen of heaven. Phil 3:20 and Col 1:13 Why is this important? Because you are to subject yourself to your leaders as long as there is no conflict with God’s laws. Look at Acts 5:17-32 What does that story teach? It teaches when man’s laws are in conflict with God’s laws then we must choose to obey God. Another example is found in Daniel 3:13-18. What does that story teach? It teaches that when we choose to obey God and not man we must be willing to accept the consequences. Here is another example. Who is Kim Davis? Kim Davis was the former county clerk in Rowan County Kentucky who refused to sign marriage licenses for same-sex couples. Shortly after the US Supreme Court made same-sex marriages legal, same-sex couples began to come to the Rowan County Courthouse for a license to marry. Kim Davis was the county clerk. Her name was on every marriage license and above her name was a line for her signature. She said, "I never imagined a day like this would come, where I would be asked to violate a central teaching of Scripture and of Jesus Himself regarding marriage. To issue a marriage license which conflicts with God's definition of marriage, with my name affixed to the certificate, would violate my conscience." Because of her refusal, she was jailed and sued. Eventually, she returned to her post after they removed her name from the signature block. Her assistant clerks signed from then on. She refused. Ultimately she was voted out of office. All in all, this worked out as it can. The government made same-sex marriage legal. Kim Davis, a representative of that government, chose to obey God rather than man and to suffer the consequences. She used her Frist Amendment rights to do so. The First Amendment says: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. When we are faced with a decision to obey the government or obey God we should always choose “Obey God.” But we should do so in the way that fits the issue and with an understanding that we must be willing to suffer the consequences. Kim Davis did not set off any bombs. She did not try to violently overthrow the government. She exercised her constitutional rights to resist a law that was in conflict with the Bible. The people of Rowan County Kentucky also exercised their rights and in due time voted her out of office. So must we obey our leaders in all matters? The answer is no when the laws of man are in opposition to the laws of God. But we must be willing to suffer the consequences. One final question then we will conclude.  What about our founding fathers and the American Revolution, was that a violation of Romans 13 because they did rebel against the sitting government? Pastor John MacArthur Jr. says that “the American Revolution was born out of a violation of Romans 13:1-7.” Let’s look at that. On August 2, 1776, 56 members of the 2nd Constitutional Congress signed the Declaration of Independence. These men too struggled with the teaching of Romans 13. But they also considered the entire Bible. The Declaration of Independence is a document that explains why they felt justified to break with England. When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation. It rejects the Divine Right of Kings because it states this: 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 these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness The signers believed that the King of England and the government he represented was no longer a government worthy of subjection. Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world. They then wrote down 28 ways the King had violated them and the law. Finally, they appealed to God that they would establish a new country that would be worthy of God-ordained subjection. We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States The final sentence of the declaration calls upon one another and upon God’s providence. 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. When we stand and obey God rather than man we can only depend upon God and one another. Conclusion So are we subject to our leaders?  Yes, we are. Why? Because God has appointed them. God appointed President Biden and God removed President Trump. Must we obey them in all matters?  No. Why? There is no Divine Right of Kings. And we are citizens of two kingdoms. When man’s kingdom disagrees with God’s we must choose God’s and suffer the consequences. Let’s pray.

In Congress, July 4, 1776The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America, When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.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 these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.--Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.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.He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offencesFor 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:For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.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.He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our Brittish brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. 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.We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, 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; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. 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.

He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil Power. He has combined with others to subject us to a Jurisdiction foreign to our Constitution, and unacknowledged by our Laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation: For quartering large Bodies of Armed Troops among us: For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from Punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:For cutting off our Trade with all Parts of the World: For imposing taxes on us without our Consent: For depriving us, in many Cases, of the Benefits of Trial by Jury: For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended Offences: 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 in these Colonies: For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments: For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with Powers to legislate for us in all Cases whatsoever. He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us. He has plundered our Seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our Towns, and destroyed the Lives of our People.He is, at this Time, transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the Works of Death, Desolation, and Tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty and Perfidy, scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous Ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized Nation. 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. He has excited domestic Insurrections among us, and has endeavoured to bring on the Inhabitants of our Frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known Rule of Warfare, is an undistinguished Destruction, of all Ages, Sexes and Conditions.In every stage of these Oppressions we have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble Terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated Injury. A Prince, whose Character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the Ruler of a free People. Nor have we been wanting in Attentions to our British Brethren. We have warned them from Time to Time of Attempts by their Legislature to extend an unwarrantable Jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the Circumstances of our Emigration and Settlement here. We have appealed to their native Justice and Magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the Ties of our common Kindred to disavow these Usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our Connections and Correspondence. 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.We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the World for the Rectitude of our Intentions, do, in the Name, and by the Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly Publish and Declare, 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; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/uirapuru/message

In the aftermath of the Remonstrance of 1646, two things happen.  One, Massachusetts deputies and magistrates stay united long enough to implement watered down versions of some of the reforms the deputies had been pushing for all along.   Second, though, New England set about to declare to the world what the Congregational way to govern a Church was (and by this, I do mean the United Colonies, everyone except Rhode Island).  By rejecting both Presbyterianism (which was too hierarchical, and accepted the inclusion of almost anyone as an individual) and the Independents (a movement comprised of a wide variety of denominations, some of which were quite radical, and others quite heretical), New England found itself growing unpopular in England.  The possibility existed that Parliament would intervene in the future, so they had to write a document which would show exactly how their ideas worked, and the merits of those ideas.  That document became the Cambridge Platform, and it became one of the most important religious documents in American history, and one of the most important documents in American Colonial history.   Also, Massachusetts executes its first woman for witchcraft.  

In this episode, three 5th graders talk some about the Battle of Yorktown and what the United Colonies did with their freedom after the Treaty of Paris.

A short introduction to a jam-packed podcast, True Believers!! This is the Uticast, Episode #220, and this week, we welcome back the Executive Director of the Broadway Theatre League of Utica, GFOP Derek Clark!! Plus, Made In Utica's Katie Reilly returns to recap the 4th Annual Downtown Getdown!! On Tap This Week: Kevin, Heather and Sam return to the podcasting studio to break down all the hottest topics of the week, including Judge Judy/Judge Jerry, Dinosaur extinction, Soap Operas and the Great Vaping Epidemic of 2019. Afterwards, Sam sits down with the Executive Director of the Broadway Theatre League of Utica, Derek Clark, to discuss the benefits of standing up for yourself, LGBTQ activism and the rest of the 2019 Broadway Theatre League season!! Then, Made In Utica's Katie Reilly joins us for a quick Downtown Getdown recap!! Finally, The Crew circles the wagons to debate California Statehood, Drunk-Driving, White Claws and Fight Club. Plus, The United Colonies?? This is The Uticast and we're here to tell you a story. #JoinTheClub #MadeInUtica UTICAST.COM Apple Podcasts Stitcher Soundcloud Made In Utica Handshake.City

We celebrate American Independence Day on the Fourth of July every year. We think of July 4, 1776, as a day that represents the Declaration of Independence and the birth of the United States of America as an independent nation. 1776 wasn't the day that the Continental Congress decided to declare independence. It wasn't the day we started the American Revolution either. It wasn't the day Thomas Jefferson wrote the first draft of the Declaration of Independence. Or the date on which the Declaration was delivered to Great Britain. The Continental Congress approved the final wording of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. They'd been working on it for a couple of days after the draft was submitted on July 2nd and finally agreed on all of the edits and changes. July 4, 1776, became the date that was included on the Declaration of Independence, and the fancy handwritten copy that was signed inAugust It's also the date that was printed on the Dunlap Broadsides, the original printed copies of the Declaration that were circulated throughout the new nation. So when people thought of the Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776, was the date they remembered. In contrast, we celebrate Constitution Day on September 17th of each year, the anniversary of the date the Constitution was signed, not the anniversary of the date it was approved. If we'd followed this same approach for the Declaration of Independence we'd being celebrating Independence Day on August 2nd of each year, the day the Declaration of Independence was signed! How did the Fourth of July become a national holiday? For the first 15 or 20 years after the Declaration was written, people didn't celebrate it much on any date. It was too new and too much else was happening in the young nation. By the 1790s, a time of bitter partisan conflicts, the Declaration had become controversial. One party, the Democratic-Republicans, admired Jefferson and the Declaration. The other party, the Federalists, thought the declaration was too French and too anti-British, which went against their current policies. By 1817, John Adams complained in a letter that America seemed uninterested in its past. After the War of 1812, the Federalist party began to come apart and the new parties of the 1820sand 1830s all considered themselves inheritors of Jefferson and the Democratic-Republicans. Printed copies of the Declaration began to circulate again, all with the date July 4, 1776, listed at the top. The deaths of Thomas Jefferson and John Adamson July 4, 1826, may even have helped to promote the idea of July 4 as an important date to be celebrated. Celebrations of the Fourth of July became more common as the years went on and in 1870, almost a hundred years after the Declaration was written, Congress first declared July 4 to be a national holiday as part of a bill to officially recognize several holidays, including Christmas. Quick Recap: On July 4, 1776, the 13 colonies claimed their independence from England, an event which eventually led to the formation of the UnitedStates. Each year on the fourth of July, also known as Independence Day, Americans celebrate this historic event. The conflict between the colonies and England was already a year old when the colonies convened a Continental Congress in Philadelphia in the summer of 1776. In a June 7 session in the Pennsylvania StateHouse, Richard Henry Lee of Virginia presented are solution with the famous words: "Resolved: 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." Lee's words were the impetus for the drafting of a formal Declaration of Independence, although the resolution was not followed up on immediately. On June 11, consideration of the resolution was postponed by a vote of seven colonies to fi --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/roger-keyserling/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/roger-keyserling/support

It was Trevor's 40th and keys stopped by again to chat with the fellas. In the news we talk about insulated studs, airless tires, and the latest attempt to co-opt female sports as House democrats propose a law requiring biological males be allowed to compete in them. In His Story the United Colonies become the United States and Attila begins his conquest of Italy. Finally in Sports we see the coolest form of ping pong.   For all things Man Tools go to http://www.mantoolsmedia.com/   Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/mantoolsmedia/   Buy merch at http://mantoolsmedia.threadless.com/   Shop on Amazon and support us at https://mantoolsmedia.com/amazonshop   Opening & Sports theme music courtesy of http://www.bensound.com/ © Man Tools Media LLC --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/man-tools-podcast/message

The crew decides to head to some information brokers known as the Work Force over in the United Colonies section of space. The Work Force has a nice place on the planet Drai'noire, but from most of the crews recolection, the Work Force are not known to be info brokers. With them setting course however, it seems like Mirage is still upset after the encounter with one of Shamm’s kind, one that seems to know Shamm very well. Can the crew track down some teleportation tech and get to Earth? What about the power vacuum from the missing gods? Meanwhile on Drai’noire, there seems to be someone who has a tail on them, and well, on them, literally. Well, guess it’s time to get to work... Nebulous Nights is a FATE based real play podcast. This is a Patreon game, and the players are supporters to this podcast feed. A majority of music used in Nebulous Nights is from Lapfox Trax, the Halley Labs R&D “selected research” which is released for use by the artist for anyone to use! Go check their other work at lapfoxtrax.com. The Game Mayo for Nebulous Nights is Cody (@codedude3)Playing BONESTAR is Jae (@jaehighfive)Playing Mirage is Eli (@TheVikingBear__)Playing Morg Thrakka is Mike (@tokkan)Playing Sham is Robert (@cyberegg89) Playing Akita is Logan (@theninjathief) Made possible from support from: Tony Srimongkolkul, Tony S, Trish, Eli, Mike, Matthew, Bailee, Nicole, Maddie, Phil, Ashleh, Steph, Zak, Jack, Pamela, Jan, Cody, Michael, Robert, Gwynn, Ben C, Hunter, Ben A, Trans Fur Productions, Logan B

Psalm 33:12 In this sermon by Pastor Joe Still, he writes, “I spent some moments this week re-reading and reflecting on a few of the founding documents of our nation; as well as additional writings by some of the Founders and other great leaders in its history. One of those documents was the Declaration of Independence. The concluding paragraph of that document has only two sentences, one of which is quite long. It’s the only sentence that declares our independence using the word “independent”, and it’s used three times.” “We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, 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; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do.” (www.archives.gov/founding-docs/declaration-transcript) As clear as this sentence makes it that our Founders intended this nation would be completely “independent” from Great Britain, the full document clearly declares a total “dependence” on the Creator God. Like so many others, I fear that as a nation, we have departed from that dependence. So this week my prayer is “Sovereign LORD, as you allow us to celebrate our independence as a sovereign nation, please restore our nation’s dependence on YOU. For YOU alone are the One who has created all men and women equal and have endowed us all with the unalienable rights of Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. YOU alone have made our country great. Please dear LORD, return our nation to YOU.” Music courtesy of hooksounds.com.

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy Welcome to Day 901 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. I am Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Declaration of Independence – Wisdom Wednesday Thank you for joining us for our five days per week wisdom and legacy building podcast. Today is https://wisdom-trek.com/day-901/ (Day 901) of our trek, and it is Wisdom Wednesday. In honor of Independence Day in the United States, I am going to delay our next essay and instead provide you with an overview of the Declaration of Independence. We are broadcasting from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. While we cherish the freedom that we have in the United States and are thankful to be born and live in the United States, true freedom can only come from God through Jesus Christ. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians+5:1&version=NLT (Galatians 5:1) reads, “So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don't get tied up again in slavery to the law.” Declaration of Independence – Overview The significant aspect of the Declaration of Independence is that it changed the American “rebellion” against Great Britain into a “revolution.” From April 19, 1775, until July 2, 1776, the war was being fought so the colonists could regain their rights as Englishmen, which had been taken away by the British for the past 12 years, from 1763-1775. On July 2, 1776, the Second Continental Congress approved the resolution by Richard Henry Lee from Virginia 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…” This was truly a revolutionary statement. John Adams felt that July 2 would be the day that would be “solemnized with Pomp and Parade with shows, games, sports, bonfires, and illuminations from one end of this Continent to the other…” July 4 is the day that has been chosen as our “Independence Day.” That was the day that the Second Continental Congress approved, but did not sign, the Declaration of Independence mostly written by Thomas Jefferson. It was actually signed on August 2, 1776. Other important historical events have had a lot to do with the sanctity of July 4. It was on that day that the news of the Louisiana Purchase arrived in Washington, Henry David Thoreau arrived at Walden Pond, and President Abraham Lincoln learned of the Union victories at Vicksburg and Gettysburg. However, the one incredible event that happened to ordain July 4 as something significant were the deaths of both Thomas Jefferson and John Adams on July 4, 1826, only hours apart from each other. The Declaration of Independence is on public display at the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Archives_and_Records_Administration (National Archives) in Washington, D.C. There are a lot of very interesting facts that surround Independence Day. You would be well served to study them on your own.  The United States is a great country to live in and to become a citizen of. Just think how much greater our heavenly citizenship will be. Next https://wisdom-trek.com/day-906/ (Wisdom Wednesday) we will return to the Old Testament as we look at Dr. Heiser's next essay titled “Promised Undelivered.” I believe you will find this another interesting topic to consider as we build our Biblical worldview. https://wisdom-trek.com/day-902/ (Tomorrow) we will continue with our 3-minute humor nugget that will provide you with a bit of cheer, which will help you to lighten up and live a rich and satisfying life. So encourage your friends and family to join us and then come along with us tomorrow for another day of our Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy. If you would like to listen to any of our past 900 treks or read the...

In many ways it had earned the nickname Rogue’s Island. Founded by Roger Williams when he had been expelled from Massachusetts colony for sedition and heresy, it had become the home of what many considered the most radical elements of the Puritans population in the colonies. While the colony itself had grown and prospered as a Mercantile hub, especially with the rise of the Transatlantic slave trade, the radical, rogue nature of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations had remained. By 1764 a group of Loyalists known as the Tory Junto, concerned with the revolutionary streak that ran through the Colony would go as far as to petition the Court of St. James to repeal the Colonies Royal Charter and replace it with Royal Government. In the end they would fail. They would be chased from Rhode Island. The colony, on the other hand, would remain largely unchanged, with many committed to the cause of Independence even in those early days. That independent spirit that refused to relent to King and Parliament would become clear when, less than a decade later residents ran aground the HMS Gaspee, a British Custom’s schooner under the command of the increasingly zealous Lieutenant William Dudingston. While Admiral John Montagu, once a staunch defender of the unpopular Lieutenant Dudingston, had the commander sent back to England for Court Marshall, he found himself powerless to punish those who had burned the Royal Vessel in Narragansett Bay. Though charged with treason by a Royal Commission, it wouldn’t last as the matter was eventually dropped. Though it wasn’t the first or the last act of defiance by the Colony, it had demonstrated how far Rhode Island would go and the protection that its residents would be afforded by its Governor Joseph Wanton. In that spirit of independence, the Rhode Island Legislature would meet on May 4th, 1776. It had been little over a year since the fighting had broken out at Lexington and Concord, since the first shots had been fired, engulfing the thirteen colonies in war, and violence and bloodshed, as they entered open rebellion against the British Crown. Rhode Island would eagerly send its troops. Merchants and privateers by trade, accomplished and creative sailors by experience, it would furnish the Continental Forces with the Commander-in-Chief of its Navy, Commodore Esek Hopkins, brother of former Governor turned Delegate to the Continental Congress. Samuel Hopkins.  Now, as the Continental Congress met to discuss what this loose Confederation of Colonies would do, Rhode Island busied itself with its own future and the path to its own independence. Drafted by Jonathan Arnold, who would go on to serve as a surgeon in the Continental Army before twice serving in the Congress of the Confederation, the preamble of the Resolution would read: WHEREAS in all states, existing by compact, protection and allegiance are reciprocal, the latter being only due in consequence of the former: And whereas George the Third, King of Great Britain, forgetting his dignity, regardless of the compact most solemnly entered into, ratified and confirmed, to the inhabitants of this Colony, by his illustrious ancestors, and till of late fully recognized by him—and entirely departing from the duties and character of a good King, instead of protecting, is endeavoring to destroy the good people of this Colony, and of all the United Colonies, by sending fleets and armies to America, to confiscate our property, and spread fire, sword and desolation, throughout our country, in order to compel us to submit to the most debasing and detestable tyranny, whereby we are obliged by necessity, and it becomes our highest duty, to use every means, with which God and nature have furnished us, in support of our invaluable rights and privileges; to oppose that power which is exerted only for our destruction. In less than two hundred words they would lay out their case in the simplest possible terms, listing their grievances with the Crown and the Parliament, calling the policies of the Crown and Parliament to the forefront for their tyranny and oppression, before the resolution itself was read. Allegiance to the King was replaced with allegiance to the State, the courts were removed from Royal Authority and placed under home rule and the business of the government would no longer be conducted in the name of the George III or his heirs, it would be a government of Rhode Island. With a stroke of the pen and a vote of the Legislature Rhode Island, long reputed as the most independent of the Colonies, would become the first of the thirteen to separate itself from the Crown and Mother Country, and declare its independence. No longer would it hold itself under the authority of a King in a far distant capital. No longer would it hold itself to the authority of a Parliament it was not represented in. Even as they closed that session of the Legislature, the feeling, the attitude and tone would be different for them as, instead of declaring, as they so often before had, “God save the King”, now they declared “God save the United Colonies.” Nicholas Cooke, elected to replace Governor Wanton in 1775, would write to General George Washington shortly after, “I also enclose a copy of an Act discharging the inhabitants of this Colony from allegiance to the King of Great Britain, which was carried in the House of Deputies, after a debate, with but six dissentient voices, there being upwards of sixty members present.” Two months later, to the day, the Declaration of Independence, the great charter of American national freedom, would pronounce freedom across all Rhode Island’s sister colonies, finally breaking the ties that bound it to the British Empire, as sovereignty separate from the Crown rang through the colonies, and set these United Colonies on an irreversible course towards nationhood and republic. Proudly the delegates of Rhode Island would affix their names to the document. The signature of William Ellery would be second only to that of John Hancock, while Hopkins, now well advanced in years but still a force to be reckoned with, would seek to steady his palsied ridden right hand, declaring, “my hand trembles, but my heart does not.” Once the war was over Rhode Island would become the fourth of the thirteen colonies to ratify the Articles of Confederation, that first charter of political freedom that governed the new United States, but it would, in that independent nature, initially refuse to take on the Constitution. It would only be when a Bill of Rights, declaring the rights and freedoms of the individual, was guaranteed that it would become the last of the original thirteen to adopt. Even then it would be reluctantly, having grown weary from those years of colonial rule of giving too much power and authority to a centralized government in a distant capital, in the hands of an Executive and Legislature removed from their daily lives.

On June 7, 1776, Richard Henry Lee of Virginia moved that the Second Continental Congress resolve “that these United Colonies are, and of right out to be, free and independent States…” The Second Continental Congress adopted Lee’s motion and on June 11, 1776, it appointed a committee to draft a declaration of independence. Today, Steve Pincus, the Bradford Durfee Professor of History at Yale University and author of The Heart of the Declaration: The Founders’ Case for an Activist Government, leads us on an investigation of the Declaration of Independence and the context in which the founders drafted it. Show Notes: http://www.benfranklinsworld.com/119   Episode Sponsor Links Cornell University Press Julie Fisher and David Silverman, Ninigret, Sachem of the Niantics and Narragansetts   Helpful Show Links Help Support Ben Franklin's World Crowdfunding Campaign Ben Franklin's World Facebook Page Join the Ben Franklin's World Community Sign-up for the Franklin Gazette Newsletter Ben Franklin's World iOS App Ben Franklin's World Android App   Complementary Episodes Episode 018: Danielle Allen, Our Declaration Episode 062: Carol Berkin, The Bill of Rights Episode 113: Brian Murphy, Building the Empire State (Political Economy) Episode 117: Annette Gordon-Reed, The Life and Ideas of Thomas Jefferson   *Books purchased through this link will help support the production of Ben Franklin's World.

This week we take the United Colonies of New England into the 1660s.

This week the United Colonies of New England face tests both internally and externally. They must face off the Indians, the Dutch, and each other.

This week we return to Massachusetts, Connecticut and New Haven to see them, along with Plymouth, form the first American federal institution, the United Colonies of New England.

In 1864 Nevada mining merchant Reuel Gridley found a unique way to raise money for wounded Union soldiers: He repeatedly auctioned the same 50-pound sack of flour, raising $250,000 from sympathetic donors across the country. In this episode of the Futility Closet podcast we'll discover the origins of Gridley's floury odyssey. We'll also hear H.L. Mencken's translation of the Declaration of Independence into American English and try to figure out where tourism increases the price of electricity. Sources for our story on Reuel Gridley and the flour auction: Ralph Lea and Christi Kennedy, "Reuel Gridley and a Sack of Flour," Lodi [Calif.] News-Sentinel, Sept. 30, 2005. Mark Twain, Roughing It, 1872. Here's his monument, in the Stockton Rural Cemetery in California: Image: Wikimedia Commons The empty flour sack is in the collection of the Nevada Historical Society. "The Declaration of Independence in American," by H.L. Mencken, from The American Language, 1921: When things get so balled up that the people of a country have to cut loose from some other country, and go it on their own hook, without asking no permission from nobody, excepting maybe God Almighty, then they ought to let everybody know why they done it, so that everybody can see they are on the level, and not trying to put nothing over on nobody. All we got to say on this proposition is this: first, you and me is as good as anybody else, and maybe a damn sight better; second, nobody ain't got no right to take away none of our rights; third, every man has got a right to live, to come and go as he pleases, and to have a good time however he likes, so long as he don't interfere with nobody else. That any government that don't give a man these rights ain't worth a damn; also, people ought to choose the kind of goverment they want themselves, and nobody else ought to have no say in the matter. That whenever any goverment don't do this, then the people have got a right to can it and put in one that will take care of their interests. Of course, that don't mean having a revolution every day like them South American coons and yellow-bellies and Bolsheviki, or every time some job-holder does something he ain't got no business to do. It is better to stand a little graft, etc., than to have revolutions all the time, like them coons and Bolsheviki, and any man that wasn't a anarchist or one of them I. W. W.'s would say the same. But when things get so bad that a man ain't hardly got no rights at all no more, but you might almost call him a slave, then everybody ought to get together and throw the grafters out, and put in new ones who won't carry on so high and steal so much, and then watch them. This is the proposition the people of these Colonies is up against, and they have got tired of it, and won't stand it no more. The administration of the present King, George III, has been rotten from the start, and when anybody kicked about it he always tried to get away with it by strong-arm work. Here is some of the rough stuff he has pulled: He vetoed bills in the Legislature that everybody was in favor of, and hardly nobody was against. He wouldn't allow no law to be passed without it was first put up to him, and then he stuck it in his pocket and let on he forgot about it, and didn't pay no attention to no kicks. When people went to work and gone to him and asked him to put through a law about this or that, he give them their choice: either they had to shut down the Legislature and let him pass it all by him-self, or they couldn't have it at all. He made the Legislature meet at one-horse thank-towns out in the alfalfa belt, so that hardly nobody could get there and most of the leaders would stay home and let him go to work and do things as he pleased. He give the Legislature the air, and sent the members home every time they stood up to him and give him a call-down. When a Legislature was busted up he wouldn't allow no new one to be elected, so that there wasn't nobody left to run things, but anybody could walk in and do whatever they pleased. He tried to scare people outen moving into these States, and made it so hard for a wop or one of them poor kikes to get his papers that he would rather stay home and not try it, and then, when he come in, he wouldn't let him have no land, and so he either went home again or never come. He monkeyed with the courts, and didn't hire enough judges to do the work, and so a person had to wait so long for his case to come up that he got sick of waiting, and went home, and so never got what was coming to him. He got the judges under his thumb by turning them out when they done anything he didn't like, or holding up their salaries, so that they had to cough up or not get no money. He made a lot of new jobs, and give them to loafers that nobody knowed nothing about, and the poor people had to pay the bill, whether they wanted to or not. Without no war going on, he kept an army loafing around the country, no matter how much people kicked about it. He let the army run things to suit theirself and never paid no attention whatsoever to nobody which didn't wear no uniform. He let grafters run loose, from God knows where, and give them the say in everything, and let them put over such things as the following: Making poor people board and lodge a lot of soldiers they ain't got no use for, and don't want to see loafing around. When the soldiers kill a man, framing it up so that they would get off. Interfering with business. Making us pay taxes without asking us whether we thought the things we had to pay taxes for was something that was worth paying taxes for or not. When a man was arrested and asked for a jury trial, not letting him have no jury trial. Chasing men out of the country, without being guilty of nothing, and trying them somewheres else for what they done here. In countries that border on us, he put in bum goverments, and then tried to spread them out, so that by and by they would take in this country too, or make our own goverment as bum as they was. He never paid no attention whatever to the Constitution, but he went to work and repealed laws that everybody was satisfied with and hardly nobody was against, and tried to fix the goverment so that he could do whatever he pleased. He busted up the Legislatures and let on he could do all the work better by himself. Now he washes his hands of us and even declares war on us, so we don't owe him nothing, and whatever authority he ever had he ain't got no more. He has burned down towns, shot down people like dogs, and raised hell against us out on the ocean. He hired whole regiments of Dutch, etc., to fight us, and told them they could have anything they wanted if they could take it away from us, and sicked these Dutch, etc., on us without paying no attention whatever to international law. He grabbed our own people when he found them in ships on the ocean, and shoved guns into their hands, and made them fight against us, no matter how much they didn't want to. He stirred up the Indians, and give them arms ammunition, and told them to go to it, and they have killed men, women and children, and don't care which. Every time he has went to work and pulled any of these things, we have went to work and put in a kick, but every time we have went to work and put in a kick he has went to work and did it again. When a man keeps on handing out such rough stuff all the time, all you can say is that he ain't got no class and ain't fitten to have no authority over people who have got any rights, and he ought to be kicked out. When we complained to the English we didn't get no more satisfaction. Almost every day we warned them that the politicians over there was doing things to us that they didn't have no right to do. We kept on reminding them who we were, and what we was doing here, and how we come to come here. We asked them to get us a square deal, and told them that if this thing kept on we'd have to do something about it and maybe they wouldn't like it. But the more we talked, the more they didn't pay no attention to us. Therefore, if they ain't for us they must be agin us, and we are ready to give them the fight of their lives, or to shake hands when it is over. Therefore be it resolved, That we, the representatives of the people of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, hereby declare as follows: That the United States, which was the United Colonies in former times, is now free and independent, and ought to be; that we have throwed out the English Kings and don't want to have nothing to do with him no more, and are not in England no more; and that,being as we are now free and independent, we can do anything that free and independent parties can do, especially declare war, make peace, sign treaties, go into business, etc. And we swear on the Bible on this proposition, one and all, and agree to stick to it no matter what happens, whether we win or we lose, and whether we get away with it or get the worst of it, no matter whether we lose all our property by it or even get hung for it. Sources for the gruesome story of the Smalls lighthouse: Douglas Bland Hague, Lighthouses of Wales: Their Architecture and Archaeology, 1994. Christopher Nicholson, Rock Lighthouses of Britain, 1983. Nicholson writes that Howell's "ordeal had affected him so greatly it was said that some of his friends did not recognize him on his return." Many thanks to Doug Ross for the music in this episode. If you have any questions or comments you can reach us at podcast@futilitycloset.com. Thanks for listening!

There was a conflict before the Colony War, also between the United Colonies and the Freestar Collective. It sowed the seeds of future conflicts.Support the show and get cool stuff! https://www.patreon.com/starfieldlorecastSubscribe for more Starfield lore, news, and updates!Links:Watch on Robots Radio Youtube: https://youtube.com/c/robotsradio Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major podcast services.Discord: https://discord.gg/tVnB9ceNews: https://starfieldinsider.comTwitter: https://twitter.com/starfieldcast Tom: https://twitter.com/robots_radio https://twitch.tv/robotsradioDave: https://twitter.com/DaveChafinz Instagram: https://instagram.com/starfieldcasthttps://robotsradio.netOur Sponsors:* Check out Factor and use my code starlore50 for a great deal: https://www.factor75.com/Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy