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PODCAST

Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness: 250 Years of the Declaration of Independence

Andrew Sola and Amerikazentrum-Hamburg

Learn more about the Declaration of Independence for the 250-year anniversary with this interdisciplinary podcast, featuring experts from the USA and around the world. The series is produced and hosted by Dr. Andrew Sola and the Amerikazentrum, Hamburg.

history

All Episodes

58:44

France and the Declaration of Independence

Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness: 250... ·

2026/03/15

"We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America...solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States...and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do."In this episode, we explore the complex relationship between the new United States and its major patron,

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41:07

Abigail Adams and the Declaration of Independence

Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness: 250... ·

2026/03/05

"Do not put such unlimited power into the hands of the Husbands. Remember all Men would be tyrants if they could. If perticuliar care and attention is not paid to the Laidies we are determined to foment a Rebelion, and will not hold ourselves bound by any Laws in which we have no voice, or Representation." Abigail Adams to John Adams, 31 March 1776For our Women's History Month episode, we explore the amazing life of Abigail Adams, wife of John Adams, the second president, and mother of John Quincy

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48:56

"What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?": Black...

Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness: 250... ·

2026/02/19

The phrase, ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL, is complicated when viewed from the perspective of an enslaved person. So for our Black History Month episode, we are exploring the wide variety of Black perspectives about the Declaration of Independence. Topics include the following: -a history of Juneteenth, the alternative Independence Day for Black Americans -the different life situations of Black Americans in 1776 and their different responses to the Declaration of Independence -the story of James

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57:49

Privateering, Boycotts, and Slavery in the...

Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness: 250... ·

2026/02/05

"He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people."In this episode, we explore Grievance #24 in the Declaration of Independence, which condemns the British practice of privateering amongst other things. Topics include the following: -the destruction of Norfolk and Falmouth--the towns alluded to in Grievance #24 -the legal differences between official action by navies and semi-official actions by privateers -the massacre of enslaved people on

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58:18

Impressment and the Declaration of Independence

Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness: 250... ·

2026/01/22

"He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands."Today we explore Grievance #26 in the Declaration of Independence, which protested against the Royal Navy practice of impressment, the forced conscription of sailors into naval service. Topics include the following: -a description of the life of seafarers in the 18th century -a detailed overview

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56:33

Why Did Colonial Americans Oppose Standing Armies in...

Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness: 250... ·

2026/01/08

"He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures."In today's episode, we explore Grievance #11 in the Declaration of Independence, which condemns the deployment of British regular troops in American towns and cities during peacetime. Topics include: -the long British tradition disapproving of standing armies on British soil -the long British tradition of allowing for political protest and dissent without fear of punishment by a standing

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49:25

"Enemies in War, in Peace Friends": Declaring the...

Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness: 250... ·

2025/12/19

"Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our Brittish brethren...They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, ENEMIES IN WAR, IN PEACE FRIENDS."In this episode we explore Loyalist vs. Patriot Civil War during the Revolutionary War. Topics include: -the outbreak of violence in Lexington and Concord in 1775 and the mustering of local militias,

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69:08

"We Pledge Our Fortunes": Money and the Declaration...

Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness: 250... ·

2025/12/04

"And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, OUR FORTUNES, and our sacred Honor."Why did the signers of the Declaration of Independence have to pledge their fortunes (their money) to the revolutionary cause? How did unorthodox American ideas about money help win the Revolutionary War? And were the Founding Fathers, in fact, the first crypto bros? We explore these ideas in this episode about

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77:24

Wales, Welsh Identity, Richard Price, and the...

Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness: 250... ·

2025/11/27

In this episode, we explore the influence of Wales and Welsh immigrants on the Declaration of Independence with two expert guests from the University of Cardiff, Dr. Marion Loeffler and Dr. Huw Williams.Topics include: -the importance of preserving and expanding Welsh language and identity in the present -an exploration of Welsh identity in the 1700s -the tradition of Welsh religious dissenters which meshed with political non-conformity -economic and political similarities and differences

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51:19

Ireland and the Declaration of Independence

Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness: 250... ·

2025/11/13

"Irish men and Irish women, in the name of God and of the dead generations from which she receives her old tradition of nationhood, Ireland through us summons her children to her flag and strikes for her freedom.She now seizes that moment and supported by her exiled children in America and by gallant allies in Europe, but relying in the first on her own strength, she strikes in full confidence of victory. Six times during the past 300 years, they have asserted it in arms. We hereby proclaim the

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65:37

Creating "THE PEOPLE": Whig Legal Concepts plus...

Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness: 250... ·

2025/10/30

"When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for ONE PEOPLE to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another...""Whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of THE PEOPLE to alter or to abolish it..." In this episode, we explore the creation of the legal concept of THE PEOPLE with the right to overthrow their government. Topics include : -the tension in the British Empire between Whigs, who valued popular parliamentary

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50:03

African-Americans in Spanish Florida and the...

Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness: 250... ·

2025/10/16

This episode explores the complexity of Florida's colonial history, its relationship to African-Americans, and its importance during the War of Independence.Our expert guest is Prof. Jane Landers (Vanderbilt University), who is also the Director of the Slave Societies Digital Archive. Topics include: -The importance of remembering African-American history in Spanish America -An overview of Spanish colonial history, which is much older than Anglo-American history that began in Jamestown in

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42:17

Canada's Rejection of Independence, Part 2: The...

Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness: 250... ·

2025/10/02

In the second of our 2-episode series about Canada and the Declaration of Independence, historian Mark R. Anderson talks us through the invasion of "the neighbouring Province" of Canada as well as the third and final letter from the Continental Congress to the Inhabitants of Canada. Topics include:-The formation of the Continental Army in June of 1775 and the appointment of General Schuyler to invade (or liberate) Canada -A description of the explanations offered by the Americans to the Canadas

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45:30

Canada's Rejection of Independence, Part 1: The First...

Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness: 250... ·

2025/09/25

"For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies."In the first of this two-part episode about Canada and the rebellious Colonies, we discuss the important differences in the history, politics, religion, demographics, and economies of the two regions. Topics include the

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76:51

Haiti and the Origins of American Diplomacy in the...

Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness: 250... ·

2025/09/11

"...and as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do."In this episode, Professor Johnson (Baylor U.) explores the origins of American theories of diplomacy and the importance of race and freedom in early American history. These concepts are seen most clearly in early relations between the USA and France, particularly the French colony of

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72:10

Thomas Paine, Common Sense, and the Declaration of...

Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness: 250... ·

2025/08/28

In this episode, Dr. Nora Slonimsky, Director the the Institute for Thomas Paine Studies at Iona U., walks you through the life and ideas of one of the most influential figures in American history, Thomas Paine, author of the bestselling political pamphlet Common Sense (10 January 1776).Topics include: -Thomas Paine's early life -The massive popularity of Common Sense -Similarities between Common Sense and the Declaration of Independence -Paine's savage critiques of King George and hereditary

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47:41

Hessian Mercenaries and German Reactions to the...

Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness: 250... ·

2025/08/07

"He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation."In this episode, we explore grievance #25 in the Declaration of Independence, which laments the deployment of the notorious Hessian mercenaries to the Colonies in order to fight the American rebels. We also look at

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36:20

Chicagoland in 1776

Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness: 250... ·

2025/07/23

How did the indigenous people of Chicagoland understand what was happening in the Colonies in 1776? Did the Declaration of Independence affect them in any way? Of course, the City of Chicago was not founded until 1837, but this episode explores the lives of the inhabitants of the Chicago area and the effect of European colonization on their way of life during the Revolutionary War. Our expert guest, Prof. Theodore Karamanski, walks us through the history of Chicagoland, focussing on the

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53:44

Jewish Life in the Colonies

Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness: 250... ·

2025/07/16

In this episode, Andrew Sola and Tobias Brinkmann explore the history of the earliest Jews in the Colonies.Topics include the following: -The arrival in 1654 of the first Jewish ship in New Amsterdam, which was governed by Peter Stuyvesant (who is featured in the photo, arriving in New Amsterdam for the first time) -The story of Asser Levy, perhaps the first Jewish inhabitant of the North American colonies -The status of early Jews in Spanish, Dutch, and Portuguese colonies -Jew and Puritans

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55:58

Daughters of Liberty: Women and the Declaration of...

Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness: 250... ·

2025/06/26

"We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men AND WOMEN are created equal." Declaration of Sentiments, Seneca Falls ConventionIn this episode, Prof. Rosemarie Zagarri explores the legal, social, and political status of women from the Colonial Era through the Revolutionary War, the Seneca Falls Convention (1848), and beyond. Topics include: -The tensions between the ideals of the phrase "all men are created equal" and the lived reality of women -"Coverture" and the legal status of women

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27 results

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