Randall Jahnson

Like how one signer lost all his wealth during the war and died penniless.

Or how another refused to recant his position after signing the Declaration, even though it would have saved the lives of his sons, who had been captured by the British.

Fascinating, important stories.

But as we've explored a lot on the show, that's only one part of America's origin.

It caused a lot of commotion.

And a year after it was published, the 1776 Commission was founded under the first Trump administration with the stated goal of, quote, promoting patriotic education and a true understanding of American history, countering narratives like the 1619 Project, and advising on the 250th anniversary of independence.

It's not earth-shattering to say that history is political.

It always has been.

Where we choose to start the story, what narratives dominate, who we include.

That's coming up after a quick break.

For Kathleen Duvall, if there's any unifying thread or metanarrative in the American story, it's a belief that all the debates and disagreements over the years over who is American and what America is have been crucial to our democracy.

Ron is on the board of directors for the Heritage Museum in Montgomery County, Texas.

He's helping plan his local 250 celebration.

Ron is well aware that Texas is not one of the original 13 colonies, though he did point out that Texas beef helped feed the revolutionary army.

all these places that joined the U.S.

as time went on became part of the American story.

And for him, that's what this anniversary represents too, the many, many perspectives that make up this country, north to south, east to west, and even beyond our borders.

And he says knowing that history isn't just important.

It's also fun.

This is not to be naive or make light of the real differences in how people are thinking and talking about history right now, or the fact that people feel conflicted about whether we should even be celebrating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence when the very democracy it heralded feels shaky.