How Revolutionary was the Declaration of Independence?

American History Hit

History Hit

History, America

4.5 • 1.3K Ratings

🗓️ 8 January 2026

⏱️ 57 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In July 1776, a group of men in Philadelphia committed an unthinkable act: they challenged one of the most powerful empires in the world by signing what became known as the American Declaration of Independence.

What had happened in the previous years that pushed them to such drastic action? What were the disagreements over the document's wording? And what movements and ideas were inspired by its message?

To take us through this topic, we welcome back Michael Hattem, author of ‘Memory of ‘76: The Revolution in American History.’ His newest work titled ‘The Declaration of Independence: A Concise History’ will be published in the Fall of 2026.

Edited by Aidan Lonergan. Produced by Tom Delargy. Senior Producer is Freddy Chick.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	The morning of July 8th, 1776, was bright and still in Philadelphia.
0:08.4	Bells began to ring, beckoning, across the town, a call to gather.
0:13.9	In time, a large crowd collected in the yard of the Pennsylvania State House, today called Independence Hall.
0:20.9	A local official stepped forward, holding in his hands a document, a copy of the Declaration
0:27.1	of Independence of the New United States of America. He read it aloud, his voice carrying
0:33.5	across the yard. Those assembled leaned forward, listening closer as he recited the lines,
0:40.4	asserting that the colonies now claimed a separate and equal station, listing their long set of
0:46.3	grievances against the crown, and finally declaring their independence. When the reading ended,
0:52.7	the gathered erupted in cheers and hazzaz all across the city as word spread.
0:57.8	Bells rang out again, not an alarm, but celebration.
1:01.9	Later on that day, the royal coat of arms, the symbol of the king's authority over the colonies,
1:07.4	was reportedly torn down, removed from the state House and destroyed in a public bonfire.
1:13.2	No longer were these people subjects of the British Crown.
1:17.1	They were citizens of a new nation.
1:19.6	Now, once and forever, Americans.
1:26.6	Music This is American History hit to our faithful listeners one and all. Welcome back.
1:39.1	If this is your first time, glad you found us. I'm Don Wildman here to talk about American history.
1:46.6	In July 1776,
1:52.8	a group of statesmen gathered in a sweltering room in Philadelphia to commit an unthinkable act.
1:58.6	Challenging one of the most powerful empires in the history of the world, they signed their names to a document that could cost them everything, their influence,
2:02.1	their fortunes, their lives. But for these men, the risk was worth it. And this document would go
2:08.7	on to become one of the most influential texts in human civilization. It was the unanimous
	...

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