America250! Ideas of the American Revolution

This is the second episode in an occasional series for the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Listen to the first show here. Why did America's eighteenth-century revolutionaries revolt? Which ideas influenced their decisions and behavior? The answers depend on which revolutionaries you're talking about, from colonial society's elites to ordinary people hoping to survive the crisis with their lives and property. The ideas of the American Revolution are indispensable to understanding why a long and bloody war was fought to throw off the yoke of tyranny. Historian Kate Carté is our guest. Subscribe now to enjoy ad-free listening and bonus content. Keep the narrative flow going in 2026! Recommended reading: Religion and the American Revolution: An Imperial History by Kate Carté, historian, Southern Methodist University