Episodes

  • The Quartering Act and Homosexuality in the Colonies

    The Quartering Act and Homosexuality in the Colonies
    Jun 12 2025
    "He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures." This Pride Month episode focuses on two questions. First, why were American colonists increasingly frustrated with the presence of British troops in the Colonies? Second, to what extent were Thomas Jefferson and the Founders aware of LGBTQ+ issues at the nation's founding? Topics include the following: -Grievances 11, 12, and 14 in the Declaration of the Independence -The Quartering Act of 1774 -Evidentiary problems when trying to access LGBTQ+ history -'Disordered' sexuality in the Colonies, including gay sex and master-slave sexual relations -Similarities and differences in the treatment of homosexuals in Great Britain and the Colonies -Reasons for the low number of executions of gay men in the Colonies -Molly Houses and Macaronis -Concepts of Masculinity in the Colonies
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    52 mins
  • Religion in the Declaration of Independence

    Religion in the Declaration of Independence
    Jun 5 2025
    The Declaration of Independence uses the words 'God,' 'the Creator,' and 'Divine Providence,' but many of the Founders were highly skeptical of both Christianity and also organized religion, preferring the scientific and rational ideals of the Enlightenment. In this episode, we explore the tensions between religion and reason in the Declaration of Independence. Topics include the following: -Theistic and deistic beliefs in the Founders, including Franklin and Jefferson -The different religious groups in the Colonies, from Baptists and Catholics to Anglicans and Quakers -Biblical and theological arguments for and against revolution as well as submission to the King -Grievance #20 in the Declaration, which references the Quebec Act of 1774, which allowed for the establishment of Catholicism in the Canadian colony of Quebec -Jefferson's Act for Establishing Religious Freedom (1779) -The Establishment Clause in the First Amendment
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    1 hr
  • The Importance of Free Trade and Immigration in the Declaration

    The Importance of Free Trade and Immigration in the Declaration
    May 28 2025
    "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 the new Appropriation of Lands" ..."for cutting off trade with all parts of the world." In this episode, Steven Pincus explores grievances against King George for restricting free trade and for preventing immigration to the colonies. Topics include the following: -The importance of the trans-Atlantic Patriot Party, which existed both in Great Britain and throughout the Empire and which criticized the policies of King George for ruling as the King of England alone, rather than the King of the whole Empire -Economic justifications and criticisms of the Stamp Act (1765), the Townshend Acts (1767), and the Fairfax Resolves (1774) -The evolving splits in the Patriot Party that led some like Thomas Paine to advocate for independence others like Governor John Wentworth of New Hampshire to for advocate reform while remaining loyal to the King -Reasons behind the pro-immigration beliefs of the Patriot Party
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    53 mins
  • Native Americans and The Declaration of Independence

    Native Americans and The Declaration of Independence
    May 18 2025
    "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." How are we supposed to understand the phrase "merciless Indian Savages" in the Declaration of Independence? In this episode, expert in American Indian history Prof. Matthew Kruer (U. of Chicago) gives a thorough analysis of indigenous-colonial relations from the Seven Years' War (1756-1763) through the Declaration of Independence (1776). Topics include the following: -The enormous diversity of the 574 indigenous nations recognized by the US Federal government -The Great Dying, which led to the death of 90% of the indigenous population of North America due to war, disease, and enslavement -The complexity and size of indigenous urban centers and trade networks -The consequences of the Seven Years' War (or the French and Indian War), which ended in 1763, for native peoples and colonists -The Proclamation of 1763, which demarcated settler country and Indian country -Pontiac's War (1764) and settler-Indian violence -The rise of the Black Boys, arguably the first violent anti-British imperial militia -Dunmore's War (1774), the conflict between Mingo and Shawnee against the Virginia Militia -Indigenous reactions to the Declaration The episode ends with a reflection on the tension between the ideals expressed in the Declaration and the characterization of native peoples as "merciless Indian savages."
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    1 hr and 8 mins
  • Thomas Jefferson and the Composition of the Declaration

    Thomas Jefferson and the Composition of the Declaration
    May 13 2025
    Who was Thomas Jefferson and how did he come to write the Declaration of Independence at the tender age of 33? In this episode, historian Robert McDonald (US Military Academy) discusses the genius of Thomas Jefferson. Topics include the following: -Jefferson's evolution into a revolutionary -The long tradition of self government in the Colonies -The process of composing the Declaration of Independence -The deletion of the passage condemning slavery (see the full passage below) -Jefferson's reputation in his own time
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    55 mins
  • The Seven Years' War and More: Key Events before the Declaration of Independence

    The Seven Years' War and More: Key Events before the Declaration of Independence
    Apr 21 2025
    In this introductory episode, you will learn about some key events leading up to the Declaration of Independence. Check out additional information at amerikazentrum.de. If you have any thoughts, please share them on our YouTube channel: @declarationofindependence250. Here is the timeline: 1756-1763: The Seven Years’ War AKA The French and Indian War 1763, 10 February: Treaty of Paris (ended the war) 1763, 7 October: Proclamation of 1763 (set the boundaries for Indian Territory) 1763-1766: Pontiac’s War (Native American Coalition vs. Britain) 1765: Stamp Act (Tax on Printed Material Used in Colonies) 1766-1767: Townshend Acts (Levied More Taxes on Colonies) 1770, March 5 : Boston Massacre (Protest against Townshend Acts, 5 Protesters Killed) 1773,16 December : Boston Tea Party (Protest against Tea Act) 1774: Intolerable Acts (Punishment for Boston Tea Party) 1774: Dunmore’s War (Colony of Virginia vs. Shawnee and Mingo Nations) 1774 September-October: First Continental Congress 1775, 19 April : Battles of Lexington and Concord 1775: Second Continental Congress begins 1775, 5 July : Olive Branch Petition (Final Attempt by Congress to Avoid War) 1776, 11 June : Committee of Five Established (to Write Declaration of Independence) 1776, 4 July : Final “Fair” Version of Declaration Completed
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    15 mins
  • Teaser

    Teaser
    Feb 5 2025
    In 2026, the United States of America is celebrating the 250-year anniversary of its founding, with the signing of the Declaration of Independence on the 4th of July, 1776. Join us in commemorating this important milestone by learning more about the Declaration of Independence, including the historical reasons for its composition, the political philosophies that influenced it, its reception in Europe and the rest of the world, and its impact on independence movements around the world. The series features scholars and experts in a variety of disciplines, from history and law to philosophy and culture. It also features guests from around the world, who will provide their own perspective on how the Declaration of Independence influenced their own struggles for independence. The series is hosted and produced by Dr. Andrew Sola at the Amerikazentrum-Hamburg. If you would like suggest an episode topic or be a guest speaker, or if you would like to provide any comments, please contact me at sola@amerikazentrum.org.
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    4 mins
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