The Revolutionary Words that Forged America-The Definitive Guide to the Declaration of Independence

The Declaration of Independence — Recitation & Background - AMERICA 250/SEMIQUINCENTENNIAL

On America 250/Semiquincentennial, learn why understanding the Declaration of Independence is important, especially in these tumultuous times when patriotism is at an all-time low.  Discover why the Second Continental Congress decided to have a Declaration of Independence and how a committee of five of Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman and Robert Livingston were chosen to draft it.  Explore why John Adams insisted that Thomas Jefferson draft it, and how the Committee and the Second Continental Congress changed Jefferson's draft.  Hear the entire Declaration of Independence, the most profound words written in the English language that were approved by the Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776. Most Americans have never read the entire Declaration of Independence and have a elementary grade level understanding of it. Most remember the soaring words of the second paragraph (“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 the are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness”), and maybe the last clause (“we mutually pledge our to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor”), and have not reviewed in any detail the remainder of the 1320 words. The rest is not just taxation without representation. There were 27 grievances listed by the Founding Fathers, of which taxation without representation is but one.  In addition to the amazing, stirring words we are familiar with, and with the exceptions of John Hancock, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and Benjamin Franklin, nearly no one knows the entire roster of the signers of the Declaration of Independence.  The full roster of the signers is John Adams, Samuel Adams, Josiah Bartlett, Carter Braxton, Charles Carroll of Carrolton, Samuel Chase, Abraham Clark, George Clymer, William Ellery, William Floyd, Benjamin Franklin, Elbridge Gerry, Button Gwinnett, Lyman Hall, John Hancock, Benjamin Harrison, John Hart, Joseph Hewes, Thomas Hayward, Jr., William Hooper, Stephen Hopkins, Francis Hopkinson, Samuel Huntington, Thomas Jefferson, Francis Lightfoot Lee, Richard Henry Lee, Francis Laws, Philip Livingston, Thomas Lynch, Jr., Thomas McKean, Arthur Middleton, Lewis Morris, Robert Morris, John Morton, Thomas Nelson, Jr. , William Paca, Robert Treat Paine, John Penn, George Read, Caesar Rodney, George Ross, Dr. Benjamin Rush, Edward Rutledge, Roger Sherman, James Smith, Richard Stockton, Thomas Stone, George Taylor, Matthew Thorton, George Walton, William Whipple, William Williams, James Wilson, John Witherspoon, Oliver Wolcott, and George Wythe. Listen at your leisure to the amazing Declaration of Independence. Read the entire Declaration of Independence here: https://patriotweek.org/2021/07/24/the-declaration-of-independence-september-11/ [https://patriotweek.org/2021/07/24/the-declaration-of-independence-september-11/] To learn more about the Declaration of Independence & Patriot Week, visit www.PatriotWeek.org. Our resources include videos, a TV series, blogs, lesson plans, and more. Check out Judge Michael Warren’s book The Revolutionary Words that Forged America - The Definitive Guide to the Declaration of Independence (Republic Books 2026), at Amazon, or other major online retailers. It reviews the Declaration of Independence line-by-line. Join us!

America 250/Semiquincentennial - Celebrating America's 250th Birthday

Learn how the Declaration of Independence is unique in world history and why it and America are worth celebrating. Understand that it announces our Founding First Principles of the rule of law, unalienable rights, limited government, the Social Compact, equality, and revolution (the right to alter or abolish an oppressive government).  Explore highlights of the 28 grievances, including the King’s refusal to assent to colonial laws, including suppressing the slave trade, the King’s destruction of the North Carolina courts, the suppression of the right to jury, the Parliament’s and King’s subversion of self-government by declaring Parliament had the authority to legislate for the colonies in all cases whatsoever (the Declaratory Act), and the suspension of colonial legislatures. The hosts also explore their FAVORITE items about why America is the greatest country in world history, including historical figures, sports, foods, bourbon, authors, monuments, movies, TV shows, and so much more. Did we say bourbon? Check out Judge Michael Warren’s book, The Revolutionary Words that Forged America - The Definitive Guide to the Declaration of Independence (Republic Books 2026), available on Amazon or other major online retailers. Revolutionary Words is a deep dive, line-by-line review of the Declaration of Independence. Read the entire Declaration of Independence here: ⁠⁠https://patriotweek.org/2021/07/24/the-declaration-of-independence-september-11/⁠⁠ [https://patriotweek.org/2021/07/24/the-declaration-of-independence-september-11/] To learn more about the Declaration of Independence & Patriot Week, visit www.PatriotWeek.org. Our resources include videos, a TV series, blogs, lesson plans, and more.

Juneteenth — Origins, History & Meaning

Commemorate Juneteenth and reflect on its origins, history, meaning, and traditions. Learn about the prevalence and acceptance of slavery in world history (such as in Mesopotamia, Egypt, Athens, Rome, Britain, England, and Europe) and its development in the colonies and the United States. Examine the cruel and barbaric slave trade and Middle Passage across the ocean from first hand accounts. Explore how some Founding Fathers such as Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and Alexander Hamilton opposed slavery, and George Washington emancipated his slaves. Learn how Thomas Jefferson trembled for the future of the country because of slavery, and how he banned slavery in the Northwest Territory and signed the law banning the slave trade in America.  Learn how the opposition to slavery led to sharp divisions in the country, eventually exploding into the Civil War. Review how President Abraham Lincoln shifted his original position and supported the emancipation of the slaves as a wartime measure, and implemented emancipation through the first and final Emancipation Proclamations. Learn how the final Emancipation Proclamation only freed those enslaved by the Confederate States of America. Learn how many enslaved first learned of the Emancipation Proclamation for the first time on June 19, 1865 by virtue of Union General Gordan Granger General's Order No. 3 issued in Galveston, Texas after the Union army occupies the city, but only after the 25th Army Corps — primarily composed of African American Union troops — liberate Galveston. Review how slavery was finally abolished through the ratification of the 13th Amendment and treaties with Native American tribes (who held slaves) such as the Cherokee, Creek, and Chickasaw. Explore how June 19 becomes a new celebration - called Jubilee Day, Emancipation Day, and finally Juneteenth - and the celebration spread across the nation, and was finally recognized as a federal holiday in the wake of the George Floyd killing in 2021.  Listen to several Juneteenth Presidential Proclamations by Presidents George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Donald Trump, and Joe Biden. Focus on how commercialism is starting to creep into the Juneteenth celebrations. Highlights include Christina Snyder’s book Slavery in Indian Country, The Changing Face of Captivity in Early America,  Olaudah Equiano (Gustavus Vassa), the Great Awakening, chattel slavery, Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, Eli Whitney & the cotton gin, Missouri Compromise, Bleeding Kansas, Lincoln Douglas debates, "A House Divided" Abraham Lincoln speech, presidential election of 1860, Declaration of Independence, abolitionists, Fort Sumter, Civil War, Grand Army of the Republic, Horace Greeley, Gideon Wells, William Seward, Antietam, Gettysburg Address, Lincoln First Inaurual Address, Lincoln Second Inaugural Address, Richard Hofstadlter's American Political Tradition, bill of lading, General Robert E. Lee, Appotomattox Court House, CSS Shenandoah, Union General Gordan Granger General Order No. 3, and much more. To learn more about America & Patriot Week, visit www.PatriotWeek.org. Our resources include videos, a TV series, blogs, lesson plans, and more. Check out Judge Michael Warren's new book, The Revolutionary Words that Forged America - The Definitive Guide to the Declaration of Independence (Republic Books 2026).

The Revolutionary Words that Forged America-The Definitive Guide to the Declaration of Independence

Judge Michael Warren’s book, the Declaration of Independence, is available on Amazon at: https://a.co/d/0iuhtrzx The Declaration of Independence forever transforms our understanding of equality, liberty, and the proper role of government. Its revolutionary philosophical framework is the bedrock foundation of the Constitution and our system of self-government. Yet America’s most important document is largely forgotten, misunderstood, and even attacked—fueling a crisis in the American spirit that threatens the nation’s very survival. Marking its 250th anniversary, in The Revolutionary Words that Forged America, Judge Michael Warren provides a line-by-line (often word-by-word) analysis of America’s charter—its drafting, historical circumstances, underlying philosophy, and legal force. He contrasts the Founders’ beliefs and aspirations with their opposites throughout world history—including communism, fascism, royal despotism, dictatorships, and caste societies. This book also provides a sorely needed review and thorough analysis of the Declaration’s twenty-eight grievances. Without the grievances, the rest of the Declaration is just a beautiful, empty shell of wonderful poetry. Americans are rebelling against a bloody tyranny, and the grievances explain why. Many of the issues that confront the Founders in 1776 echo throughout the ages— including today. This deep and illuminating review paves the way for restoring America’s First Principles of the rule of law, unalienable rights, limited government, the Social Compact, equality, and the right to alter or abolish oppressive government. The time has come to reclaim the Declaration and save the very idea of America—and this is the definitive guide. Endorsements “As Judge Warren notes in this excellent treatise on America’s beginnings, the greatest threat to our country’s future comes from within. Too many Americans have lost touch with the vision and principles our Founding Fathers laid out in the Declaration of Independence. After 250 years, it’s more important than ever. This should be a must-read for every American.” ––Ingrid Jacques, National Opinion Columnist, USA Today “By reacquainting Americans with the Declaration of Independence, Judge Warren explains the ‘foundation of our freedoms’ and why America is truly the ‘last best hope on Earth.’ Revolutionary Words is both magisterial and accessible; timely and enduring; written for the scholar and for the citizen; and brings new life to the Declaration and new perspective to the Constitution. A remarkable revisitation of our nation’s heritage.” ––Stephen Markman, Retired Chief Justice, Michigan Supreme Court “Many authors have sought to interpret the Declaration of Independence. Most have attempted to do so by analyzing its themes and values. Only a few have addressed every word in text. None has done so with the clarity, vision, historical appreciation, and judicial perspective of Judge Michael Warren. True to the first principles of natural rights and limited government, Judge Warren has given us a standard against which other works will now be measured; and soon to be a regarded as a classic.” ––Judge Andrew P. Napolitano, TV Commentator, and New York Judge Michael Warren’s book, the Declaration of Independence, is available on Amazon at: https://a.co/d/0iuhtrzx

Memorial Day — Origins, History & Meaning

We commemorate the brave sacrifices of our fallen soldiers because they gave their last full measure of devotion for our country and liberty. Learn how Memorial Day started as a tribute to fallen Union soldiers in the Civil War. It started through many local efforts and became a national, uniform celebration with the leadership of General Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic. Explore how over time, Memorial Day was the setting for brilliant speeches and commemorations, and changed to include all war dead during World War I. Review how more recently, a 1 minute silent Moment of Remembrance has been added to Memorial Day, which occurs at 3:00 pm local time. The future of our country and freedom rests with us to carry on their supreme sacrifices, and to failure to remember that could lead to our doom. Highlights include statistics about America’s war dead, Pericles, Thucydides, Abraham Lincoln, the Gettysburg Address, David Wills, Edward Everett, Patriot Week, Leah Warren, Arlington National Cemetary, Major General John Logan, the Grand Army of the Republic, Logan’s General Order No. 11, President James Garfield, Frederick Douglass, Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, Decoration Day, John McCrae, We Shall Not Sleep, a/k/a In Flanders Fields, Mania Michael, Ladies Home Journal, Armistice Day, veterans Day, Uniform Monday Holiday Act, National Moment of Remembrance Act, Carmella LaSpanda, President Bill Clinton, and many others. To learn more about America & Patriot Week, visit www.PatriotWeek.org. Our resources include videos, a TV series, blogs, lesson plans, and more. Check out Judge Michael Warren’s new book The Revolutionary Words that Forged America - The Definitive Guide to the Declaration of Independence (Republic Books 2026) and America's Survival Guide, How to Stop America's Impending Suicide by Reclaiming Our First Principles and History at amazon, or other major on-line retailers. Join us! SUPPORT: