Declaring Independence: Why 1776 Matters

On Wednesday, September 23rd, the Channel City Club hosts Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Edward J. Larson for a talk on his book, Declaring Independence: Why 1776 Matters.

Following our nation's 250th anniversary, Professor Larson offers a fresh look at how the American colonies moved from seeking reconciliation with King George III to declaring total independence in under twelve months. Historian Douglas Brinkley called Larson's work an "indispensable history to read" as the nation reaches this milestone.

Professor Larson's research shows that independence was not a foregone conclusion, but a fragile decision shaped by rapid shifts in public opinion, political maneuvering, and military pressure. He explores how radical pamphlets like Thomas Paine's Common Sense and escalating British military actions transformed loyal subjects into revolutionaries. He traces how colonial assemblies and leaders like John Adams and Thomas Jefferson built consensus across thirteen distinct colonies, while demonstrating how high political philosophy intersected directly with the gritty realities faced by Washington's troops on the ground.

We hope that you will join us for this thoughtful look back at the events that shaped our nation's founding.