Jul 4, 2026 · 28 min · 11 segments
This is a special bonus episode in celebration of the 250th anniversary of the signing (at least by some) of the Declaration of Independence. Every American knows these words and the unalienable…
To be sure, it wasn't just the planters like Jefferson and Washington, nor the lawyers like John Adams and Robert Treat Payne, nor the traders like John Hancock who felt the rebellious spirit.
Since the passing of the Stamp Act, everyone who bought or sold anything felt the pain of the taxes and trade barriers imposed.
In the cities, harassment from soldiers made matters even worse.
But the idea of independence was still one that was bandied about in smoke-filled parlors and in letters discussing philosophy.
For most of the colonists, these pains were also caused by parliament, not through any action of the king.
so many remained loyal to the crown while placing every tax fee and annoying official at the feet of those damned tories furthermore the learned colonists understood that british common law was what had granted them the rights that were being undercut so protest as they might they were still englishmen and wished to remain so So there remained a rift between the common folk and the rich elites.
He denounced monarchy as an institution that had, quote, laid not for this or that kingdom only, but the world in blood and ashes, end quote.
He then moved on to attack the British government, King George III, and even Englishness itself.
He states that if Britain is the mother of America...
Then shame upon her conduct.
Even brutes do not devour their young, nor savages make war upon their families.
To that end, independence of this country on Britain, like all other truths discovered by necessity, will appear clearer and stronger every day.
When Paine's words were published in January 1776, there was still hope, even among some of the elites, that reconciliation was possible.
By summer, after tens of thousands of people had read Common Sense, it was clear and obvious that independence was the only true option.
Before the Second Congress signed their own declaration for the new nation, cities, counties, and even whole colonies were declaring their independence from Great Britain.
Paine's prediction was correct, and many of his radical desires became commonplace.
To be sure, it wasn't just the planters like Jefferson and Washington, nor the lawyers like John Adams and Robert Treat Payne, nor the traders like John Hancock who felt the rebellious spirit.
Since the passing of the Stamp Act, everyone who bought or sold anything felt the pain of the taxes and trade barriers imposed.
In the cities, harassment from soldiers made matters even worse.
But the idea of independence was still one that was bandied about in smoke-filled parlors and in letters discussing philosophy.
For most of the colonists, these pains were also caused by parliament, not through any action of the king.
so many remained loyal to the crown while placing every tax fee and annoying official at the feet of those damned tories furthermore the learned colonists understood that british common law was what had granted them the rights that were being undercut so protest as they might they were still englishmen and wished to remain so So there remained a rift between the common folk and the rich elites.
He denounced monarchy as an institution that had, quote, laid not for this or that kingdom only, but the world in blood and ashes, end quote.
He then moved on to attack the British government, King George III, and even Englishness itself.
He states that if Britain is the mother of America...
Then shame upon her conduct.
Even brutes do not devour their young, nor savages make war upon their families.
To that end, independence of this country on Britain, like all other truths discovered by necessity, will appear clearer and stronger every day.
When Paine's words were published in January 1776, there was still hope, even among some of the elites, that reconciliation was possible.
By summer, after tens of thousands of people had read Common Sense, it was clear and obvious that independence was the only true option.
Before the Second Congress signed their own declaration for the new nation, cities, counties, and even whole colonies were declaring their independence from Great Britain.
Paine's prediction was correct, and many of his radical desires became commonplace.
The rest of this transcript — segmented and speaker-labeled, so you land on the exact moment something was said
Search every transcript — by keyword, by phrase, or by meaning, across every show Radar indexes
Trends — what is surging across podcasts, measured against its own baseline
Alerts — when a name you follow appears in a newly indexed episode
No account is needed to search Radar.
