You're listening to an airwave media podcast.

Ben Franklin's World is a production of the Omahaundro Institute.

Hello and welcome to episode 307 of Ben Franklin's World.

The podcast dedicated to helping you learn more about how the people and events of our early American past

have shaped the present day world we live in.

And I'm your host, Liz Covard.

The story of the founding of the United States is a familiar one.

It usually, although not always.

It usually begins with the founding of Jamestown Virginia in 1607.

Describes the founding in development of 13 British North American colonies.

Discusses the growth of trade and periods of imperial warfare.

And then delves into the imperial reforms and conflicts.

The cause colonists to respond with violent and vociferous protests during the 1760s and 1770s.

From there we know that the war for independence began when shots were fired at Lexington Green in April 1775.

In July 1776, the rebellious Americans declared their independence from Great Britain.

And from that time until independence was secured with a treaty of Paris in 1783.

Americans persevered through tough military and political situations to overcome all the odds stacked against them.

Have you ever wondered where this familiar narrative came from and why it was developed?

One historian who has wondered about the origins of this narrative is Michael Hadam.

Michael is a historian of early America who has a research specialty in the age of memory of the American Revolution.

And today he joins us so that we can investigate the creation of this great narrative about the revolution and the founding of the United States

by sharing details from his book, past and prologue, politics and memory in the American Revolution.

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