America250 Episode 8 Rerelease: Declaring Independence, the Rise of Alexander Hamilton, & the Fall of New York

History That Doesn't Suck - Prof. Greg Jackson

This encore episode explores the pivotal moments leading to American independence in 1776, from the Siege of Boston to Congress's declaration, while tracing Alexander Hamilton’s rise and Washington’s struggles in New Yor

Key takeaways

• The Declaration of Independence was a bold idealistic act, not just political necessity.

Transcript preview

Hello my friends, Professor Jackson here and today in celebration of America's 250th. This is a special encore episode telling the tale of that audacious, terrifying, informative step taken by the Second Continental Congress to declare independence in the summer of 1776. Fought over bitterly on July 1st, voted on affirmatively on the second, with the exact wording finalized on the 4th. I mean, how could we not? surface episode 8's account of this story for this week. If you're new here, you may not have listened to it. Here's your chance. And if you've been listening for a while, take a step back with me and remember why we revere this document. In a broader sense, why do we keep coming back to the declaration? The Constitution is the law of the land. But the declaration, it encapsulates the best of ideals. Even when we, as a nation, don't live up to them. They are there for us to strive toward. That beautiful language we hold these truths to be self-evident. That all men are created equal. That they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights. That among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted. to revisit this remarkable story and share it with you today. In other news, the first episode of a new show, Government That Doesn't Suck, will premiere July 6th. I'm teaming up with my friend Professor Lindsay Kormat, who's been a guest on HTS. In this new show, we'll tell stories of America's most impactful successes in governance, from our founding to the present day. We'll bring engaging narratives and insightful conversations about moments when leaders long ago and not so long ago, actually let us toward a more. perfect union. It's not a love letter to government, but like my book, then they're done that. These are stories and conversations about how our history shows what we can overcome. Finally, the next regular episode of HDDS will drop July 13th when we get back to the war in the Pacific. Cheers to 250 and wishing you a happy and healthy 4th of July. It's almost on March 5th, 1776. American forces are just finishing fortifications on top of Dorchester Heights on the peninsula south of British occupied Boston. This move is similar to their occupation of Bunker and Breed's Hill last year, except this time Patriot Forces are going further. They have not one but two redoubts. Over 20 cannons and some 4,000 fierce soldiers ready to hold their. ground. They set up all of this in a single night. Down in Boston, the tall, handsome, mid-40s general, William Billy Howe, and his men can hardly believe their eyes. Gazing southward across Boston's not yet filled in waters and marshes. They can clearly see Dorchester Heights two miles in the distance. Such strong fortifications. So much artillery, so many men. British commanders knew. the American forces were up to something last night. The news disrupted their drinking. But how is this even possible? General Howe fumes and decides to answer with the cannon aid. For two hours British artillery fires at the American position. It's a complete failure. Dorchester's Heights elevation is simply too high. Yet that elevation also means that Patriot cannons can hit Boston harbor. Rear Admiral Molinel-Osholdum informs General How that the not stay here. What should they do then? Well, General Howe drove off the rebels last year at the Battle of Bunker Hill, so now the honor-bound commander will drive them from this southern peninsula. By 12 noon, troops are at long war, preparing for an amphibious attack against the Americans. He's sending 2,000 Redcoast to Castle Island. They'll hit Dorchester at nightfall. Washington arrives at Dorchester Heights. He's thrilled with the plan's execution and calls out a stirring rallying cry to his men. Remember, it is the 5th of March and avenge the death of your brethren. That's right. March 5th, six years to the day since the Boston massacre. The Virginia General's words invigorate his troops. They welcome this fight. Civilians take to the hills to watch the slaughter to come. But this battle isn't meant to be. Afternoon passes, strong winds, rip up fences and dash windows. By that evening, it isn't cannon but snow and sleet that attack. As the Reverend William Gordon will later describe, it was such a storm as scarce anyone remembered to have heard. I concluded that the ship could not stir and please myself with the reflection that the Lord might be working deliverance for us and preventing the effusion of human blood. Considering the American's fortifications in high ground, British, British Colonel, British Colonel, Charles Stewart also wonders if this isn't the best. God knows whether it was a fortunate circumstance or not. But at any rate, so high a wind arose, that it was impossible for the boats to take to sea. The next day, General Howe and his engineers recognize George Washington's army holds too strong of a position. The Redcoats will not attack. Instead, the British commander will contend with the range of the Patriots' far-reaching cannons by evacuating Boston. the British properly prepare and depart in peace. As a result, Billy Howe, who might not prevent his men from stealing, does nonetheless refrain from putting the torch to Boston. He'll also evacuate more than a thousand loyalists, including hundreds of women and children who fear the wrath of George's army. Loyalist refugees also include notable figures like the Boston Latin school's headmaster and a former law mentor of John Adams, James Putnam of Worcester. But not all will make it out. A few loyalists will kill. themselves. Seeing loyalists as traitors, George doesn't lose too much sleep over this. But still, this doesn't please him. He later write, unhappy wretches, diluted mortals. Would it not be good policy to grant a generous amnesty to conquer these people by a generous forgiveness? See, George is a leader who understands that ending a conflict of this magnitude requires more than winning in battle. Building a future American society will require making concessions to the vanquished, forgiving, and seeking general reconciliation. Finally, on March 17th, St. Patrick's Day, William Howe, his 8,906 troops and civilian loyalists, over 11,000 souls in total, depart from the city of Boston. As there are 120 ships weigh anchor, Bostonians watching break down in tears of relief. It'll be yet 10 days before the fleet disappears from site, but no matter. An end to their city's occupation is relief enough for beleaguered Bostonians. Abigail Adams calls the site marvelous and credits the Lord. But George has little time to celebrate his victory. The Virginia knows Billy Howe is only regrouping, and when their armies clash again, likely in New York, his foe will have the advantage and bring all the vengeance of an embarrassed superpower. There is little civil left in this civil war. Perhaps it's time to be able to cut ties once and for all. Perhaps it's time for independence. Thus concludes the siege of Boston and I know this might seem weird but after talking about Boston in almost every episode so far it's time for us to move on. In fact we're going to get around this episode. First we're heading down to Philadelphia. It's Well, not without a few more months of debating and disagreeing, but I'll fill you in on that difficult process and decision. We'll then head to the Caribbean of yesteryear because it's time to meet the most unlikely founding father of them all. Alexander Hamilton. We'll bear witness to the orphan's rough island childhood, an incredible assent. Whether you're a new Alex fan thanks to Lynn Manuel Miranda, a Hamilton hipster who thought the ten dollar founding father was cool before the musical, know nothing of him of him or are Hamilton Hater. It's quite the saga. Finally, we'll follow Alex to New York where we'll reconnect with George Washington as he loses battles, brave lads like Nathan Hale and goes on the retreat. We'll see George at his lowest of lows since he was a young and inexperienced colonel at Fort Necessity. Indeed, despite the declaration, 1776 will prove a difficult year for the Patriot cause, one that tries men's souls, if you will. We've got quite a story cut. out for us. So let's bid a fond farewell to Boston and head to Philadelphia. Ah, Philly. We've sat in as Congress has met numerous times in the city's gorgeous red brick white-trimmed state house, but before we do so today, let's brush up on the situation. In the last episode we saw that most congressional delegates in 1775 didn't see independence as the goal. Many viewed the current state of affairs as a civil war. that would likely be brief and conclude in reconciliation with the King and their rights as British subjects being restored. But this belief suffered a fatal below with King George III's harsh rejection of Congress's olive-branch petition in late 1775. And if the King's rejection put reconciliation on life support, Thomas Payne pulled the plug in January 1776 while George Washington drove the nail in the coffin by chasing General Howe from Boston in March. And now, in March, 1776, we can see this evolution in Congress's views by looking at its actions. On March 3rd, two days before George even took Dorchester Heights, Congress sent Mr. Silas Dean across the Atlantic to try and convince France to get in the fight. That's a telling move. See, France wouldn't want to get mixed up in a civil war, and Congress knows that. But a war for independence? That's different. King Louis 16th might see value in helping a piece of his nemesis King George III's empire break off. Silas is even permitted to say there's a good chance of, quote, total separation from Britain coming. So, Silas's mission speaks volumes to where the delegate's minds are. But don't take that as every delegate agreeing on independence. No, remember, everyone in Congress rarely agrees on anything. Things are only moving in that direction, though John and Abigail Adams couldn't be happier about this development. We know that from their current letters. Now before I quote some Abigail for you let me fill you in on these two New Englanders who are arguably America's original power couple. Although they live in an era where women are left out of politics and rarely receive much formal education, as is the case with Abigail, make no mistake. This autodidactic driven woman is brilliant and her husband relies heavily on her advice. Even when Short and Husky Johns various roles in government take him far away from his even shorter, dark hair to beautiful wife. like right now as he's in Philly representing Massachusetts in Congress the loving couple writes to each other constantly. Across their half a century of marriage they'll exchange a slew of letters well over a thousand of which will survive right into the 21st century. Their fiery personalities can leap off the page on occasion but the duo mean it when they start their letters to one another as they often do with my dearest friend. Theirs is a committed honest relationship. Two best friends who make make the other better. Sharper. John and Abigail are interdependent. My apologies to everyone who is now feeling badly about their love life, but all that said, let's get to Abigail's letter. On March 31st, 1776, Abigail writes to John, I long to hear that you have declared an independence. Ah, there's the tale-tale line. Little surprise, considering that, as we saw in the last episode, Abigail witnessed the horrors of the Battle of Bunker little John Quincy a year ago. Of course she's come to this same conclusion like so many other Patriots in New England. But let's not stop her letter there. Seeing two steps ahead, Abigail also tells John that when the boys in Congress get around to creating new laws and a new government, they would do well not leave women on the sidelines. To pick up with the very next clause of Abigail's letter, I quote, and by the way, in the new code of laws which I suppose it will be necessary for you to make, I desire you to make, I desire you would the ladies and be more generous and favorable to them than your ancestors. Do not put such unlimited power in the hands of the husbands. Remember, all men would be tyrants if they could. If particular care and attention is not paid to the ladies, we are determined to foment a rebellion and will not hold ourselves bound by any laws in which we have no voice or representation. Did I say Abigail C's two steps ahead? Make that a century and a half ahead. Now, don't blame John. much. He'll be in England when the future US Constitution is penned, but women will not receive the right to vote on a federal level until 1920. That's the year when, to use Abigail's words, the rebellion of several generations of American women will result in the US Constitution's 19th Amendment prohibiting federal or state laws from denying the right to vote on the basis of sex. But let's not get ahead of ourselves. Back to the path to declaring independence in 1776. As winter melts in the spring, colonial governments start giving their congressional delegates permission to vote for independence. Some even begin bailing on their British monarchy sanctioned colonial governments and establishing new patriot governments. Congress officially recommends all the colonies, or United colonies, to quote the resolution, do this on May 10th. This august body doubles down on that five days later by adding a preamble that says, quote, it is necessary, that the exercise of every kind of authority under the said crown should be totally suppressed close quote. Whoa, rather forceful. But of course it is. John Adams wrote it. John is exuberant. He couldn't be happier as he sees the independence movement pick up steam. On May 20th he writes to his fellow New England patriot James Warren. Every day rolls in upon us, independence like a torrent. What do you think must be my sensations when I