This is an I-Heart podcast.

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And we return to our American stories.

Up next, another story from our series about us, the story of America. Here to tell the story

is Hillsdale College Professor Bill McLeigh, author of the terrific book, Land of Hope. If you know or have

young people in your life, check out his remarkable young readers edition, too. After the Declaration of

Independence was signed, the question became, what's next?

Let's get into the story.

Take it away, Bill.

The Declaration of Independence was a massive, amazing, world-changing achievement.

But in a way, it was the easy part.

It did not take a miracle to produce ringing words

celebrating the cause of independence.

It wasn't hard to have a few scattered military victories

against an enemy that wasn't fully prepared for war

and that had the bulk of its power across the seas.

But the admonitions of people like John Dickinson

began almost immediately to have some resonance.

Dickinson said the declaration was a skiff made of paper.

It was not destined to sail for long.

So it's the morning after, a sort of a Hollywood moment where the camera moves through the crowd

and everyone is cheering and bumping their fists in the air and feeling great inspiration.

...