America might be celebrating independence on the wrong day

It’s 250 years since the Declaration of Independence brought a new nation into formal existence. But what did it actually say – and who did it leave out? Subscribe to our channel here: https://bit.ly/SubHistoryExtraPods In the second episode of HistoryExtra’s series on the American Revolutionary War, Elinor Evans and Professor Adam IP Smith explore the drafting of the Declaration, the grievances against George III, and the document’s immediate and long-term impact – and examine the contradictions at the heart of America’s founding ideals. #HistoryExtra #americanrevolution #americanhistory 00:00 Intro 01:55 Was independence possible? 04:52 Patriots become rebels 06:38 Introducing the Declaration of Independence 11:28 Is the US celebrating independence on the wrong day? 13:03 Was George III a tyrant? 16:16 Inside the Declaration of Independence 22:55 Word spreads 25:19 Liberty and freedom for all? 29:23 Reactions in Britain 31:12 The Declaration’s legacy GO BEYOND THE PODCAST To find out more about the American Revolution, including key figures, the experiences of women, and the people who forged the early United States, head to our curated list, which includes archive podcast episodes and videos, all available in the HistoryExtra app: https://bit.ly/42OYGpt ▷ Find out more: https://www.historyextra.com/ ▷ Follow the podcast on iTunes: https://apple.co/3Y6n8Bt ▷ Like our page on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HistoryExtra/ ▷ Follow us on Twitter: https://x.com/HistoryExtra ▷ Follow us Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/historyextra/ ▷ Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@history_extra Subscribe to our Substack for Life Lessons from History with Dr David Musgrove: https://historyextra.substack.com/ 🏰 History at your fingertips Unlock the past with leading historians, exclusive ad‑free podcasts and stories from across the globe, only on History Extra. https://www.historyextra.com/subscribe/?utm_medium=social&utm_content=youtube.com&utm_campaign=youtube-2026