This year, July 4th is the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, which set in motion all of American history as we know it. But the author of the Declaration, Thomas Jefferson, intended it to be a statement as much about the past as the future of his new country. In order to understand how the Declaration shaped the next 250 years, we must understand the history from which it emerged. The document 's origin was, in fact, a wartime statement of rebellion by thirteen disparate colonies trying to unite against the world’s foremost superpower - against all odds.

About Craig Gallagher:

Craig Gallagher is an Assistant Professor of History at Colby-Sawyer College, where he teaches American and European history. He holds a Ph.D. in history from Boston College, and previously taught at both New England College and Saint Anselm College.