Hi, podcast listeners. This is Esther Feng, and I produced the president's inbox.

To mark the upcoming 4th of July holiday, we are replaying the TPI episode Jim recorded last year

with Jack Rakeau, the co-profess of History and American Studies, and professor of political

science emeritus at Stanford University. They discussed why the United States declared independence

in 1776 and its meaning for the country today. As Americans prepare to celebrate their

independence, learn what this holiday is really about. Enjoy. Welcome to the President's Inbox, a CFR podcast about the foreign policy challenges facing the United States.

I'm Jim Lindsay, Director of Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations.

This week's topic is the 4th of July.

With me to discuss why the United States declared independent in 1776, in its meaning for today, is Jack Rakoff.

Jack is the William Robertson co-professor of History and American Studies and Professor

of Political Science and Law emeritus at Stanford University.

He has written extensively on the origins of the American Revolution and Constitution.

He is the author of six books, including original meanings, politics and ideas in the making of the Constitution, which won the Pulitzer Prize

in History. He's also the author of Revolutionaries, A New History of the Invention of America,

which was a finalist for the George Washington Prize. Jack, thank you very much for joining me.

Well, it's great to be here. Jack,

this is a podcast where you normally talk about foreign policy, what's happening in China, Ukraine

war, climate change, and things like that. But today I want to talk about the 4th of July for two

reasons. One, this episode is going to debut on the Fourth of July, but also because

of the idea of the Fourth of July, the sentiments expressed in the Declaration of Independence

in some way sort of form a core foundation of the United States, and it's a big part of America's appeal abroad. So I'd like to talk a little bit

about how the United States ended up in a revolution throwing off British rule. And from your

...