Analyzing American Revolution - AARevolution.net

Adel Aali, History Behind News Program

AARevolution.net is not your basic U.S. History 101! We are not about chronicling the American Revolution, storytelling or mythologizing. In Analyzing American Revolution (AAR), professors analyze the American Revolution from many different angles in in-depth interviews with host, Adel Aali. AAR is a production of History Behind News (HbN), in which Adel has interviewed 197 professors (and counting) about U.S. and world history. And now Adel brings that experience to interview and analyze scholars of the American Revolution.

  1. 2d ago

    Did the Treaty of Paris Create the United States? | S1E29 AAR

    America's independence was not complete in 1776. The Declaration announced independence, but the United States still needed Britain—the empire it had rebelled against—to recognize it as a nation. It also needed to restore trade with the world's leading commercial power. In this interview, Dr. Eliga Gould explains why the 1783 Treaty of Paris was not just the end of the Revolutionary War, but one of America's founding documents. The treaty shaped America's borders, exposed early conflicts over slavery and Native Americans, and helped pave the way for a stronger national government. 📄 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Interview transcript & takeaways⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🚩About My 223rd Guest: Dr. Eliga Gould Dr. Eliga Gould is the Harmsworth Prof. of American History at the University of Oxford and a distinguished professor at the University of New Hampshire. His scholarship focuses on the American Revolution, with an emphasis on the entangled history that Americans shared with the rest of the Americas, as well as with Africa, Europe, and the wider world. Dr. Gould's books include: --"The Persistence of Empire: British Political Culture in the Age of the American Revolution", --"Empire and Nation: The American Revolution in the Atlantic World ", --"The Cambridge History of America and the World", --"Among the Powers of the Earth: The American Revolution and the Making of A New World Empire " --"Peace and Independence: The Turbulent History of the United States’ Founding Treaty", which is forthcoming. ▶️Other Related AAR Interviews: ►Dr. Rafe Blaufarb- Did America Betray France in the 1783 Paris Peace Treaty? ►Dr. Steve Pincus - America's Rise Compared to History's Empires ►Dr. Robert Fatton - The Haitian Revolution and Its Aftermath ****************** ▶️About Featured Image: Image of Adel Aali (program host) and his guest, Dr. Eliga Gould, superimposed on the Betsy Ross flag, along cover image of "Among the Powers of the Earth: The American Revolution and the Making of a New World Empire", a book by Dr. Gould that we discuss in this interview. ***** 🧭 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Explore AAR⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🖼️ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Image Gallery⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🗂️⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Thematic Collection⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📝 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Take the AAR IQ Quiz⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ***** 🔔 Follow AAR: 🎞️ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🎞️🎧 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📰⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠AAR's Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ***** 📑 Video Chapters: 00:00 Selected Highlights 02:32 Guest Introduction 04:15 The Treaty That Ended the Revolution 11:17 Did America Betray France? 26:08 What America Won at Paris 39:59 Why Trade Mattered More Than Territory 52:48 Becoming a Treaty-Worthy Nation 59:51 How the Treaty Led to the Constitution 1:13:59 Did the Treaty Create a Superpower? 1:24:46 Slavery, Native Americans, and the Treaty 1:35:40 America's Forgotten Founding Document 1:48:18 Just One Point ***** 📽️This video is made with Filmora. ☑️Image Attributions: All images are in the Public Domain 🎵Music Attributions: "Yankee Doodle" in our videos: ►⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Choral, U.S. Army Band (Public Domain) ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ We incorporate parts of this fabulous performance in the beginning and end of our videos. ✅⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe to our YouTube channel ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🫶⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support AAR⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: We appreciate your⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠financial support ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠of our program⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. *****

  2. Jul 15

    Who Decides What the American Revolution Means? | S1E28 AAR

    The American Revolution has never had one settled meaning. Americans have fought over its memory from the founding generation to abolitionists, Confederates, Cold War conservatives, immigrants, filmmakers, and modern political movements. The Revolution has been used to argue for liberty, equality, slavery, union, capitalism, national identity, and dissent. This interview asks not just what happened in 1776—but who gets to say what 1776 means. 📄 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Interview transcript & takeaways⁠⁠⁠ 🚩About My 222nd Guest: Dr. Michael Hattem Dr. Michael Hattem is the Associate Director of the Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute and a historian of the American Revolution and Popular Memory. He is one of the nation’s “leading scholars of the Revolution” and the foremost expert on how it has been remembered. Dr. Hattem has authored the following books: --"The Memory of '76: The Revolution in American History", which won the 2025 George Washington Prize Finalist --"Past and Prologue: Politics and Memory in the American Revolution" --"The Declaration of Independence - A Concise History" ▶️Other Related AAR Interviews: ►Dr. Edward Larson - 7 Months in '76 & the Declaration ****************** ▶️About Featured Image: Image of Adel Aali (program host) and his guest, Dr. Michael Hattem, superimposed on the Betsy Ross flag, along with the cover image of "The Memory of '76: The Revolution in American History", a book we discuss in this interview. ***** 🧭 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Explore AAR⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🖼️ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Image Gallery⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🗂️⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Thematic Collection⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📝 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Take the AAR IQ Quiz⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ***** 🔔 Follow AAR: 🎞️ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🎞️🎧 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📰⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠AAR's Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ***** 📑 Video Chapters: 03:52 — The phrase "Founding Fathers" 10:25 — The Declaration in a drawer 16:27 — Liberty, equality, and the Declaration 19:05 — When Southerners rejected the Declaration 27:25 — Have Americans ever agreed on the Revolution? 33:27 — When memory becomes more explosive 35:37 — The Liberty Bell on tour 44:24 — The lost Revolution film and treason 55:28 — How Americans stopped being British 1:01:21 — Nation-building, myths, and memory ***** 📽️This video is made with Filmora. ☑️Image Attributions: All images are in the Public Domain 🎵Music Attributions: "Yankee Doodle" in our videos: ►⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Choral, U.S. Army Band (Public Domain) ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ We incorporate parts of this fabulous performance in the beginning and end of our videos. ✅⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe to our YouTube channel ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🫶⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support AAR⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: We appreciate your⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠financial support ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠of our program⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. *****

  3. Jul 8

    Comparing America's Rise to History's Great Empires | S1E27 AAR

    In this interview, Dr. Steven Pincus compares America's rise with some of history's greatest empires, including Rome, Britain, Qing China, Spain, France, and the Dutch Republic. He explains why America's emergence as a great power was rare rather than exceptional, how constitutions and institutions shape powerful states, and what history suggests about the rise, endurance, and decline of great powers. 📄 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Interview transcript & takeaways⁠⁠ 🚩About My 204th Guest: Dr. Steven Pincus Dr. Steven Pincus is a professor of British history at the University of Chicago. He is a historian of Britain and its Empire, comparative revolutions and comparative empires, political economy, European ideas and Europe's cultural history of 17th & 18th centuries. Dr. Pincus has published extensively on these subjects, including the following books: --"The Heart of the Declaration: The Founders’ Case for Activist Government", --"The Politics of the Public Sphere in Early Modern England: Public Persons and Popular Spirits", --"1688:The First Modern Revolution", --"England’s Glorious Revolution 1688–1689: A Brief History with Documents", and --"A Nation Transformed: England after the Restoration" You can learn more about Dr. Pincus here: --⁠⁠⁠Academic homepage⁠⁠⁠ ►Dr. Pincus's 1st interview with AAR - American Revolution Compared to Other Revolutions ▶️Other Related AAR Interviews: ►Dr. Dael Norwood- Boston Tea Party ► Dr. Peter Van Cleave: Dutch & American Revolution ►Dr. Edward Larson - 1776 & Declaration ►Dr. Harvey Kaye - Thomas Paine & "Common Sense" ►Dr. Sidney Milkis - Growing Presidential Power ****************** ▶️About Featured Image: Image of Adel Aali (program host) and his guest, Dr. Edward Larson, superimposed on the Betsy Ross flag, along with the cover image of Dr. Larson's recent book "Declaring Independence: Why 1776 Matters". ***** 🧭 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Explore AAR⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🖼️ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Image Gallery⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🗂️⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Thematic Collection⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📝 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Take the AAR IQ Quiz⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ***** 🔔 Follow AAR: 🎞️ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🎞️🎧 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📰⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠AAR's Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ***** 📑 Video Chapters: 00:00:00 Selected Highlights 00:02:38 Guest Introduction 00:06:00 Congress Rewrites Jefferson's Draft 00:10:50 Why the Slavery Passage Was Removed 00:17:17 The Declaration's Uncertain Legal Authority 00:24:24 Why the Delegates Signed the Declaration 00:36:52 How the Signatures Gave the Declaration Authority 00:41:09 Britain's Response to the Declaration 00:50:02 How the Declaration Became America's Moral Charter 01:01:58 "All Men Are Created Equal" Through American History 01:06:47 Just One Point: The Declaration's Enduring Authority ***** 📽️This video is made with Filmora. ☑️Image Attributions: All images are in the Public Domain 🎵Music Attributions: "Yankee Doodle" in our videos: ►⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Choral, U.S. Army Band (Public Domain) ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ We incorporate parts of this fabulous performance in the beginning and end of our videos. ✅⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe to our YouTube channel ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🫶⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support AAR⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: We appreciate your⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠financial support ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠of our program⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. *****

  4. Jul 1

    Did the Declaration of Independence Actually Have Legal Authority? | S1E26 AAR

    The Declaration of Independence almost had no legal authority. The delegates themselves weren't entirely sure what authority they possessed. Britain dismissed the Declaration as little more than a political pamphlet, while Congress substantially rewrote Jefferson's draft before approving it. So how did this document become the moral foundation of the United States? 📄 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Interview transcript & takeaways⁠ 🚩About My 221st Guest: Dr. Edward Larson Dr. Edward Larson holds the Hugh and Hazel Darling Chair in Law and is University Professor of History at Pepperdine University. Dr. Larson has published more than one hundred articles and a dozen books, including the following: ►"The Return of George Washington: Uniting the States, 1783-1789" - New York Times Bestseller ►"Summer for the Gods: The Scopes Trial and America's Continuing Debate Over Science and Religion" - winner of the Pulitzer Prize ►"Declaring Independence: Why 1776 Matters" - his most recent book, discussed in this interview. You can learn more about Dr. Larson here: --⁠⁠Academic homepage⁠⁠ ▶️Other Related AAR Interviews: ►⁠Dr. Edward Larson (Part I)⁠ - "1776: 7 Months That Changed America" ►⁠⁠Dr. Serena Zabin ⁠⁠- The Boston Massacre's Real History ►⁠Dr. Harvey Kaye (Part I)⁠ - Thomas Paine ►⁠Dr. Harvey Kaye (Part II)⁠ - "Common Sense" ►Dr. Eliga Gould: The Treaty of Paris - 1783 "Why it should be considered a founding document!": COMING SOON ****************** ▶️About Featured Image: Image of Adel Aali (program host) and his guest, Dr. Edward Larson, superimposed on the Betsy Ross flag, along with the cover image of Dr. Larson's recent book "Declaring Independence: Why 1776 Matters". ***** 🧭 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Explore AAR⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🖼️ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Image Gallery⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🗂️⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Thematic Collection⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📝 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Take the AAR IQ Quiz⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ***** 🔔 Follow AAR: 🎞️ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🎞️🎧 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📰⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠AAR's Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ***** 📑 Video Chapters: 00:00:00 Selected Highlights 00:02:38 Guest Introduction 00:06:00 Congress Rewrites Jefferson's Draft 00:10:50 Why the Slavery Passage Was Removed 00:17:17 The Declaration's Uncertain Legal Authority 00:24:24 Why the Delegates Signed the Declaration 00:36:52 How the Signatures Gave the Declaration Authority 00:41:09 Britain's Response to the Declaration 00:50:02 How the Declaration Became America's Moral Charter 01:01:58 "All Men Are Created Equal" Through American History 01:06:47 Just One Point: The Declaration's Enduring Authority ***** 📽️This video is made with Filmora. ☑️Image Attributions: All images are in the Public Domain 🎵Music Attributions: "Yankee Doodle" in our videos: ►⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Choral, U.S. Army Band (Public Domain) ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ We incorporate parts of this fabulous performance in the beginning and end of our videos. ✅⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe to our YouTube channel ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🫶⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support AAR⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: We appreciate your⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠financial support ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠of our program⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. *****

  5. Jun 24

    1776: Seven Months That Changed America| S1E25 AAR

    January 1 to July 4, 1776, transformed Americans from rebellious British subjects fighting Britain for their rights and hoping for reconciliation into revolutionaries seeking complete separation from the mother country. But contrary to the familiar narrative most of us learned in school, independence was not the product of the Declaration of Independence. Rather, the movement toward independence began months earlier. The destruction of Norfolk, the King's threats to crush the colonies, Thomas Paine's "Common Sense," and Britain's economic blockade all pushed Americans toward separation. Long before July 4, colonial assemblies were writing new constitutions and claiming that political power derived from the people rather than the king. This interview follows the dramatic events of 1776 month by month and shows how a dispute over rights became a revolution in the very nature of government itself. 📄 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Interview transcript & takeaways 🚩About My 221st Guest: Dr. Edward Larson Dr. Edward Larson holds the Hugh and Hazel Darling Chair in Law and is University Professor of History at Pepperdine University. Dr. Larson has published more than one hundred articles and a dozen books, including the following: ►"The Return of George Washington: Uniting the States, 1783-1789" - New York Times Bestseller ►"Summer for the Gods: The Scopes Trial and America's Continuing Debate Over Science and Religion" - winner of the Pulitzer Prize ►"Declaring Independence: Why 1776 Matters" - his most recent book, discussed in this interview. You can learn more about Dr. Larson here: --⁠Academic homepage⁠ ▶️Other Related AAR Interviews: ►Dr. Edward Larson (Part II) - "1776: 7 Months That Changed America" ►⁠Dr. Serena Zabin ⁠- The Boston Massacre's Real History ►Dr. Harvey Kaye (Part I) - Thomas Paine ►Dr. Harvey Kaye (Part II) - "Common Sense" ►Dr. Gonzalo Quintero - Spanish Empire ►Dr. Peter Van Cleave - the Dutch ►Dr. Rafe Blaufarb - the French ****************** ▶️About Featured Image: Image of Adel Aali (program host) and his guest, Dr. Edward Larson, superimposed on the Betsy Ross flag, along with the cover image of Dr. Larson's recent book "Declaring Independence: Why 1776 Matters". ***** 🧭 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Explore AAR⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🖼️ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Image Gallery⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🗂️⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Thematic Collection⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📝 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Take the AAR IQ Quiz⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ***** 🔔 Follow AAR: 🎞️ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🎞️🎧 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📰⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠AAR's Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ***** 📑 Video Chapters: 00:00:00 Selected Highlights 00:02:17 Guest Introduction 00:04:09 Why 1776 Mattered 00:09:34 Burning Norfolk 00:15:31 Who Burned Norfolk? 00:19:22 "Common Sense" 00:29:51 Britain's Blockade 00:34:38 Fighting for Independence 00:42:41 Halifax Resolves 00:50:59 Why Unanimity Mattered 00:56:30 Adams' Hidden Declaration 01:10:18 Pennsylvania Flips ***** 📽️This video is made with Filmora. ☑️Image Attributions: All images are in the Public Domain 🎵Music Attributions: "Yankee Doodle" in our videos: ►⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Choral, U.S. Army Band (Public Domain) ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ We incorporate parts of this fabulous performance in the beginning and end of our videos. ✅⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe to our YouTube channel ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🫶⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support AAR⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: We appreciate your⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠financial support ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠of our program⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. *****

  6. Jun 17

    The Maritime Origins of the American Revolution: Press Gangs and Fishing Rights | S1E24 AAR

    Fishing rights. Press gangs. Forced military service. These are not the stories most Americans learn about the American Revolution. Yet maritime workers fought British naval impressment, Parliament's restrictions on Atlantic commerce, and a ban on colonial fishing that helped push thousands toward rebellion. Some of the Revolution's most important battles may have begun long before Lexington and Concord—in America's ports, harbors, and fishing communities. 📄 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Interview transcript & takeaways: https://analyzingamericanrevolution.com/the-american-revolution-story-we-never-learned-fishermen-and-press-gangs/ 🚩About My 220th Guest: Dr. Chris Magra Dr. Christopher Magra is an award-winning professor of Early American History at the University of Tennessee, where he also serves as Director of the Center for the Study of Tennesseans and War in the Department of History. His research focuses on the maritime dimensions of the American Revolution, slavery, the trans-Appalachian South, and the history of food and agriculture in the Atlantic World. His publications include the following books: ►"Poseidon’s Curse: British Naval Impressment and Atlantic Origins of the American Revolution" ►"The Fisherman’s Cause: Atlantic Commerce and Maritime Dimensions of the American Revolution " - winner of the Winslow House Book Prize --both books are discussed in this interview ►"America’s First War: The Military History of the Declaration of Independence", Edited by Dr. Magra and published in 2026 ►"Unfree Food: The Carceral Production of Chocolate In Early America" - Dr. Magra's forthcoming book You can learn more about Dr. Magra here: --Academic homepage --Personal website ▶️Other Related AAR Interviews: ►Dr. Serena Zabin - The Boston Massacre's Real History ►Dr. Robert Gross - Concord's Crisis: A Town Pushed to the Edge Long Before the Revolution ►Dr. Shawn J. Donahue - Gerrymandering: History & Current Political Analysis ►Dr. Eliga Gould - Treaty of Paris (1783): One of America's Founding Documents?: COMING SOON ****************** ▶️About Featured Image: Image of Adel Aali (program host) and his guest, Dr. Gonzalo Quintero, superimposed on the Betsy Ross flag, along with the cover image of Dr. Quintero's book "Bernardo de Gálvez: Spanish Hero of the American Revolution". ***** 🧭 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Explore AAR⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🖼️ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Image Gallery⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🗂️⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Thematic Collection⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📝 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Take the AAR IQ Quiz⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ***** 🔔 Follow AAR: 🎞️ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🎞️🎧 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📰⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠AAR's Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ***** 📑 Video Chapters: 00:00 Selected Highlights 01:42 Guest Introduction 03:32 Forced Service at Sea 06:35 When the Navy Took Ships 13:12 Inside a Press Gang 21:05 Riots Against Impressment 27:37 The Forgotten Grievance 34:28 Did Ordinary Americans Care? 40:08 The Fishermen Who Fought 47:23 Why Cod Was King 53:42 Parliament Bans Colonial Fishing 59:19 Why Adams Delayed Peace ***** 📽️This video is made with Filmora. ☑️Image Attributions: All images are in the Public Domain 🎵Music Attributions: "Yankee Doodle" in our videos: ►⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Choral, U.S. Army Band (Public Domain) ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ We incorporate parts of this fabulous performance in the beginning and end of our videos. ✅⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe to our YouTube channel ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🫶⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support AAR⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: We appreciate your⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠financial support ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠of our program⁠⁠⁠⁠. *****

  7. Jun 10

    Spain’s Forgotten Role in the American Revolution | S1E23 AAR

    Spain helped the American Revolution—but not because it believed in American independence. Rather, because it wanted revenge against Britain, recovery of lost territory, and protection of its own empire. In this interview, we look at covert aid, Spanish money at Yorktown, Bernardo de Gálvez, and why Spain refused to formally ally with the United States. 📄 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Interview transcript & takeaways: COMING SOON 🚩About My 219th Guest: Dr. Gonzalo Quintero Dr. Gonzalo M. Quintero Saravia is a career diplomat and historian. Since 2022, he has served as Director of Relations with the Holy See and Director of the Pious Society of the Holy Places at Spain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Among his many diplomatic appointments, he served as Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Spain in Lima, Peru, and previously as Counselor at the Embassy of Spain to the United States in Washington, D.C. Dr. Quintero has been a Fellow at Harvard University's Weatherhead Center for International Affairs, a Corresponding Member of the Spanish Royal Academy of History, and a Corresponding Member of the Colombian Academy of History. In addition to his diplomatic and academic achievements, he has lectured and published extensively on the history of the relationship between Spain and the United States. His books include: 1) "Bernardo de Gálvez: Spanish Hero of the American Revolution," which received the Distinguished Book Award from the Society for Military History, 2) "Spain and the American Revolution: New Approaches and Perspectives (The Revolutionary Age)." His forthcoming book's working title: "Spain and the Global Struggle for U.S. Independence" ▶️Other Related AAR Interviews: COMING SOON ****************** ▶️About Featured Image: Image of Adel Aali (program host) and his guest, Dr. Gonzalo Quintero, superimposed on the Betsy Ross flag, along with the cover image of Dr. Quintero's book "Bernardo de Gálvez: Spanish Hero of the American Revolution". ***** 🧭 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Explore AAR⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🖼️ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Image Gallery⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🗂️⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Thematic Collection⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📝 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Take the AAR IQ Quiz⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ***** 🔔 Follow AAR: 🎞️ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🎞️🎧 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📰⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠AAR's Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ***** 📑 Video Chapters: 00:00 Selected Highlights 01:38 Guest Introduction 3:47 Spain After 1763 10:26 Spain and the Colonies 12:52 Bernardo de Gálvez 26:53 A Chance to Hurt Britain 29:36 Secret Aid 34:18 Spanish Support 36:13 Spain Enters the War 38:37 A Global Conflict 41:02 Gálvez Goes to War 44:21 Spain and Yorktown 48:29 Why No Alliance? 56:59 Gálvez Remembered 1:01:52 Spain Forgotten 1:06:20 Just One Point ***** 📽️This video is made with Filmora. ☑️Image Attributions: All images are in the Public Domain 🎵Music Attributions: "Yankee Doodle" in our videos: ►⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Choral, U.S. Army Band (Public Domain) ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ We incorporate parts of this fabulous performance in the beginning and end of our videos. ✅⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe to our YouTube channel ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🫶⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support AAR⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: We appreciate your⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠financial support ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠of our program⁠⁠⁠. *****

  8. Jun 3

    Religion and the Revolution: Why the Founders Rejected a National Church | S1E22 AAR

    The Founders rejected a national church. Not because religion was unimportant, but because they feared it could divide and destroy the fragile new republic. The American Revolution was fought by Protestants, Catholics, Jews, and even pacifist groups that struggled over whether to support the war. This conversation challenges some of the most common assumptions about religion, religious freedom, and America's founding. 📄 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Interview transcript & takeaways: https://analyzingamericanrevolution.com/religion-and-the-revolution-why-the-founders-rejected-a-national-church/ 🚩About My 218th Guest: Dr. Kate Carté Dr. Kate Carté is a Professor of History at Southern Methodist University, where she specializes in early American and Atlantic history. Her research and teaching interests center on the role of religion in the early modern Atlantic world, especially as it intersects with political and economic developments. Dr. Carté has published extensively on these subjects, including the following books that we discuss in this interview: --"Religion and the American Revolution: An Imperial History", and --"Religion and Profit: Moravians in Early America" ▶️Other Related AAR Interviews: ►Moravians in The Austrian Empire Dr. Jonathan Singerton: Habsbrug Monarchy ****************** ▶️About Featured Image: Image of Adel Aali (program host) and his guest, Dr. Kate Carté, superimposed on the Betsy Ross flag, along with the cover image of Dr. Carté's book "Religion and the American Revolution: An Imperial History". ***** 🧭 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Explore AAR⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🖼️ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Image Gallery⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🗂️⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Thematic Collection⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📝 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Take the AAR IQ Quiz⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ***** 🔔 Follow AAR: 🎞️ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🎞️🎧 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📰⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠AAR's Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ***** 📑 Video Chapters: 00:00 Selected Highlights 01:56 Guest Introduction 03:30 Colonial Religious Landscape 06:33 Religious Geography of the Colonies 09:31 Established Churches and Toleration 16:35 Moravians and the Great Awakening 26:52 Religion and the British Empire 33:42 Why Britain Accepted Diversity 41:50 Religion and Revolutionary Allegiances 48:11 Catholics, Jews, and Citizenship 50:51 Quakers, Moravians, and War 53:00 Religion After the Revolution 1:05:06 Just One Point ***** 📽️This video is made with Filmora. ☑️Image Attributions: All images are in the Public Domain 🎵Music Attributions: "Yankee Doodle" in our videos: ►⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Choral, U.S. Army Band (Public Domain) ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ We incorporate parts of this fabulous performance in the beginning and end of our videos. ✅⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe to our YouTube channel ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🫶⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support AAR⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: We appreciate your⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠financial support ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠of our program⁠⁠. *****

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AARevolution.net is not your basic U.S. History 101! We are not about chronicling the American Revolution, storytelling or mythologizing. In Analyzing American Revolution (AAR), professors analyze the American Revolution from many different angles in in-depth interviews with host, Adel Aali. AAR is a production of History Behind News (HbN), in which Adel has interviewed 197 professors (and counting) about U.S. and world history. And now Adel brings that experience to interview and analyze scholars of the American Revolution.

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