Origins of the First Amendment

Origins of the First Amendment

The First Amendment of the US Constitution is just forty-five words long, but its impact has drastically shaped American life. For much of American history, the First Amendment was narrow, unevenly applied and frequently ignored, especially for those challenging the status quo. The First Amendment tells a larger story about who gets to speak, who gets to be heard, and how a nation decides where freedom ends and danger begins.


Our guest this week is Michael Hattem, historian of the American Revolution whose newest work titled The Declaration of Independence: A Concise History will be published in the fall of 2026.


Edited by Aidan Lonergan. Produced by Tom Delargy. Senior Producer is Freddy Chick.


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All music from Epidemic Sounds.


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Episoder(422)

Sherman's March: Invading the South

Sherman's March: Invading the South

General William Tecumseh Sherman's famous invasion of the Confederacy in 1864 has become American legend... but what did Union troops do along their route and how consequential was it to the final def...

10 Sep 55min

America's Worst President

America's Worst President

What makes a bad President? Who was the worst of all time? In this episode from the archive, Don is joined by Professor Jeremi Suri, author of The Impossible Presidency and co-host of This Is Democrac...

7 Sep 32min

The People's Founding Father

The People's Founding Father

Signatory of both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, James Wilson was a sitting Supreme Court justice when he died. So why is he missing from popular history?From inspiring the phra...

3 Sep 40min

The Truth About the Louisiana Purchase

The Truth About the Louisiana Purchase

We're all taught in school about the Louisiana Purchase, supposedly the greatest bargain in American history. Napoleon's deal with the Americans is widely remembered as a triumph for the United States...

31 Aug 43min

Did Lee's Surrender End the Civil War?

Did Lee's Surrender End the Civil War?

When and where did the Civil War end? Was it really over when Lee surrendered at Appomattox?Don is joined for this episode by Caroline E. Janney, Professor at the University of Virginia and author of ...

27 Aug 40min

Why Did Reconstruction Fail?

Why Did Reconstruction Fail?

Over the course of this series, we've discussed the extraordinary promise of Reconstruction, as well as the relentless attacks these efforts came under. In this final episode, we're stepping back from...

24 Aug 49min

The Fire That Changed New York

The Fire That Changed New York

On March 5 1911, 146 people died in a fire that lasted just 18 minutes. This event was to change the history of New York, and has an ongoing impact in each of our workplaces.Don is joined for this epi...

20 Aug 45min

Reconstruction Era: Terror in the South

Reconstruction Era: Terror in the South

Reconstruction promised freedom and political equality, but how quickly did that promise begin to unravel? Why did white Southern resistance become so violent, and why did Northern support for Reconst...

17 Aug 43min

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