THE NOT OLD BETTER SHOW, SMITHSONIAN ASSOCIATES INTERVIEW SERIES

🇺🇸 The Declaration of Independence had more drama than most of us were ever taught.

Robert Watson joins The Not Old – Better Show to share the edits, arguments, risks, and forgotten voices behind America’s founding document. 📜

Women. Enslaved people. Indigenous communities. Printers. Dissenters. Patriots with everything to lose.

This is 1776 with the curtain pulled back.

Smithsonian Associate Dr. Robert Watson, Distinguished Professor of American History at Lynn University, reveals the lesser-known stories, surprising twists, and forgotten voices behind the most iconic document in U.S. history.

Drawing from a wealth of primary sources—including letters, diaries, newspapers, and diplomatic communiqués—Watson reconstructs the debates, drafts, and drama that surrounded the creation of the Declaration of Independence. Focusing on the influence of women, enslaved individuals, and Indigenous peoples, Watson brings to light the varied cast of often-forgotten characters and perspectives that shaped the American experiment in his book, Declaration: The Story of American Independence. Along the way, he explores the document’s philosophical roots, its political impact, and the enduring struggle to realize its lofty promises of liberty and equality.

Learn more about Watson’s new book Declaration: The Story of American Independence, available at Apple Books.

Dr. Robert Watson, a Distinguished Professor of American History at Lynn University, recently published his 50th book, Declaration: The Story of American Independence, which coincides with the nation’s upcoming 250th anniversary. 
Dr Robert Watson will be appearing at Smithsonian Associates and you can check out the Smithsonian Associates website for more information.