Declaring Independence: Why 1776 Matters episode artwork

EPISODE · Mar 2, 2026 · 36 MIN

Declaring Independence: Why 1776 Matters

from For the Ages: A History Podcast · host The New York Historical

At the beginning of 1776, virtually no one in the colonies was advocating independence. What changed over the course of one year? From Thomas Paine’s Common Sense in January to the Continental Congress that first grounded the idea of independence, historian Edward Larson, in conversation with David M. Rubenstein, traces a narrative path that reminds us why, as we approach the 250th anniversary of American independence, 1776 matters.Recorded on January 26, 2026

At the beginning of 1776, virtually no one in the colonies was advocating independence. What changed over the course of one year? From Thomas Paine’s Common Sense in January to the Continental Congress that first grounded the idea of independence, historian Edward Larson, in conversation with David M. Rubenstein, traces a narrative path that reminds us why, as we approach the 250th anniversary of American independence, 1776 matters. Recorded on January 26, 2026

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Declaring Independence: Why 1776 Matters

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This episode was published on March 2, 2026.

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At the beginning of 1776, virtually no one in the colonies was advocating independence. What changed over the course of one year? From Thomas Paine’s Common Sense in January to the Continental Congress that first grounded the idea of independence,...

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