May 1, 2026

Episode 103: The Declaration of Independence — with Michael Auslin

Charles talks to Michael Auslin about his new book, 'National Treasure: How the Declaration of Independence Made America.' What is the Declaration of Independence? Who wrote it? How close we were to losing the original copy? Why did it appeal to early nineteenth-century socialists? Why did the committee remove the lines condemning the slave trade? When did women start using it to demand the vote? How did it help assimilate immigrants? What happened to it in WWII? Will it survive the next century?

Also available on Apple Podcasts ↗