The Trans-Atlanticist

In this episode, Andrew Sola and Christina Neuhaus, our expert political journalist from Berlin, analyze the US mid-term elections, the German reaction to the results, and the implications for the trans-Atlantic relationship. Topics include the following: -similarities and differences between President Trump and Chancellor Merz -similarities and difference between American and German forms of (Chr...

"(He has) cut off our trade with all parts of the world. (He has) imposed taxes on us without our consent."--Grievances #16 and #17 In this episode, we explore the importance of climate, the environment, and natural disasters in the British Caribbean during the revolutionary period. Topics include the following: -similarities and differences between the 13 rebellious colonies and the other British...

"He has waged cruel war against human nature itself, violating its most sacred rights of life and liberty in the persons of a distant people who never offended him, captivating & carrying them into slavery in another hemisphere or to incur miserable death in their transportation thither. This piratical warfare...is the warfare of the Christian King of Great Britain. Determined to keep open a marke...

In this episode, we explore the links between the Greek War of Independence (1821-1829) and the American War for Independence. Topics include the following: -Thomas Jefferson's life-long interest in Ancient Greek philosophy and political thought -the broad influence of Ancient Greek thinkers on all of the American Founders -an overview of Greek history, including the Orlov Revolt from 1770-1771 -t...

"'All men are created equal. They are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.' This immortal statement was made in the Declaration of Independence of the United States of America in 1776. In a broader sense, this means: All the peoples on the earth are equal from birth, all the peoples have a right to live, to be happy...

"Wir halten diese Wahrheiten für ausgemacht, daß alle Menschen gleich erschaffen worden, daß sie von ihrem Schöpfer mit gewissen unveräusserlichen Rechten begabt worden, worunter sind Leben, Freiheit und das Streben nach Glückseligkeit." -from one of the first German translations of the Declaration of Independence, Philadelphia, July 1776 In this episode, we explore the role of Germanic immigrants...

"A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people." In this episode, we explore the Boston Tea Party, the global tea industry, British-American perceptions of tyrannical governments in Asia, and the Declaration of Independence. Topics include the following: -the connotations of the word "tyranny" in the Colonies -the presump...

"I would be prepared to accept the status of independence for Cyprus on the condition that this status shall not be changed, either by union with Greece, by partition, or by any other way, unless the United Nations approves such a change." Archbishop Makarios, September 1958 In this episode, we explore connections between the American struggle for independence from Britain in 1776 and the Cypriot...

"At this very time, they are permitting their chief magistrate to send over not only soldiers of our common blood, but SCOTCH and foreign Mercenaries to invade and deluge us in blood." -From Jefferson's first draft of the Declaration of Independence In this episode, we survey the history and importance of Scotland and Scottish people in Revolutionary America. Topics include: -anti-Scottish sentime...

“The Mexican Nation, which for three hundred years has not had its own will, nor the free use of its voice, rises today from the oppression in which it has lived… [The Mexican Nation] solemnly declares, through its Supreme Junta of the Empire, that it is a Sovereign Nation and independent from old Spain, with which, in the future, it will not maintain another union but that of a close friendship,...

"When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the sepa...

"Happiness" is mentioned twice in the opening lines of the Declaration of Independence, but what does it mean? In this episode, Prof. Darrin McMahon, best-selling author of _Happiness: A History_, outlines the history of happiness and its various meanings. Topics include: -the history of the word in English and other languages -happiness in the classical Greek and Roman philosophical traditions -h...

In this episode, we discuss the rum industry in connection with grievances #16 and #17 in the Declaration of Independence: "For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world" "For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent" Topics include the following: -an explanation of rum production, from sugarcane to the finished product -the origins of sugarcane and rum production in Barbados in the early...

"He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us." In this episodes, we explore the many faces of Loyalism in the Colonies, particularly the Loyalist stronghold of New York City. Of course, Loyalists remained under the King's protection during the war, contrary to Grievance #23 of the Declaration of Independence. Topics include the following: -a de...

In this episode we explore the Revolution 250 exhibit at The National Archives in Kew, from 24 June 2026 to 29 November 2026: [Revolution 250](https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/whats-on/exhibitions/revolution-250-americas-independence-story-1763-1783/) America's Independence Story 1763–1783 Britain and America. One Story, Two Nations Topics include the following: -the story of the distribution o...

"He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures. He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power...He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us. He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people." In this ep...

"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 examine one of the most important first-person accounts of the War for Independence, Johann Ewald's...

"We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America...do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain...

"He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures." In this episode we explore Grievance #4 of the Declaration of Independence and the importance of Colonial infrastructure--the roads, ports, cities, and other communication structures and info...

"When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the sepa...

"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...

"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 1776 For our Women's History Month episode, we explore...

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 Americ...

"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 of...