Federalist Radio Hour

‘The Making Of The American Mind’: A Deep Dive Into The Declaration Of Independence

Jan 6, 2026
Matthew Spalding, Vice President of Washington Operations and dean at Hillsdale College, explores the significance of the Declaration of Independence. He discusses the founders' sacrificial spirit, revealing how Jefferson and others shaped a collective voice. Spalding emphasizes the Declaration's theological roots and its role in American values like life and liberty. He also critiques modern cynicism and advocates for recovering the founders' principles to enhance civic education, urging a return to self-governance ahead of the Declaration's 250th anniversary.
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INSIGHT

Declaration As Expression Of A Shared Mind

  • The Declaration captures a shared "American mind" rather than just Jefferson's solo ideas.
  • Matthew Spalding argues the document grew from debate, committee edits, and a broader civic tradition.
ANECDOTE

Hancock's Bold Signature And Franklin's Quip

  • John Hancock signed boldly and joked the king could read his name without spectacles.
  • Benjamin Franklin quipped, "We must all hang together, or we most assuredly will all hang separately."
INSIGHT

Reason And Revelation Together

  • The founders mixed classical reason and Christian revelation when framing rights and government.
  • Spalding highlights God appears four times in the Declaration, juxtaposed with the King of England.
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