S8 Ep607: Ed Larson Ed Larson examines the 1770s transition of American colonists from subjects to citizens. He describes George Washington’s personal shift toward independence, concluding that armed conflict made total separation the only viable path forward. Wash
The John Batchelor Show
John Batchelor
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🗓️ 19 March 2026
⏱️ 3 minutes
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Summary
Ed Larson Ed Larson examines the 1770s transition of American colonists from subjects to citizens. He describes George Washington’s personal shift toward independence, concluding that armed conflict made total separation the only viable path forward. Washington’s Transformation from British Subject to Independent Citizen (4)
1783 JOHN ADAMS
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Speaking with the author Ed Larson, his new book, Declaring Independence, |
| 0:05.2 | about the awakening of the Colonials in 1770s, |
| 0:11.8 | that they are no longer subjects of the crown. |
| 0:15.3 | They are no longer good Englishmen, |
| 0:19.9 | obedient to the king. |
| 0:22.1 | They are independent. |
| 0:23.9 | They declare their independence. |
| 0:25.7 | They are a new thing in the world. |
| 0:27.9 | They are citizens of the United States of America. |
| 0:31.4 | And it's a moment that comes to each of them in their own way. |
| 0:34.5 | And the book reviews when and how. |
| 0:37.8 | In this particular instance, it's George Washington writing his brother. |
| 0:41.8 | You'll see. |
| 0:42.9 | Ed Larson, there's much more tonight and tomorrow night. |
| 0:48.0 | It's a two-hour interview. |
| 0:50.7 | Declaring Independence. |
| 0:53.1 | Ed Larson. |
| 0:55.0 | Here's Ed. It was because if you look back, words matter, and you can see it in the words. If you follow these words closely, |
| 1:05.0 | and if you look back to literally anything in 1775, all the way through to December. |
| 1:11.1 | You don't get people talking like that. |
| 1:13.3 | You don't even get George Washington talking like that. |
| 1:15.8 | They were looking for a reconciliation. |
... |
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