John Adams: The Declaration of Independence

[@Degan1000]

This declaration is very good and all, but man this swivel chair is pure genius.

[@frankkolton1780]

It's been said that Declaration as originally penned had the line - "the pursuit of life, liberty, and a swivel chair" but was reworded by the Congress because they didn't know what a swivel chair was.

[@firemangan2731]

@@frankkolton1780 Eyyyy ERB fan! ✋🏼

[@bradleydavies4781]

Comfortable too .

[@johnnymaximum3828]

@@frankkolton1780 a man can get some serious work done in a swivel chair. i would go so far as to say the chair wrote the declaration and jefferson just held the feather

[@philosopherpresident4896]

Indeed.

[@edwardanugent]

No other country had such as these three great men. God did Bless America.

[@mewing2425]

I feel that Jefferson was not simply referencing the chair but more importantly the actual document when he says,” I went through a number of variations. This is by far the most successful; simplest is always the best.” Great writing.

[@The1stImpish]

Franklin shows his mastery of diplomacy here. When he sees he has somewhat upset Jefferson, he naturally shifts to a different topic, one where he can pile Jefferson with compliments and allow him to explain how his chair works. "Talk in terms of the other person's interest. The royal road to a person's heart is to talk about the things he or she treasures most. If we talk to people about what they are interested in, they will feel valued and value us in return." -Dale Carnegie, the Fifth Way to Make People Like You, from his book: How to Win Friends and Influence People.

[@Jjb-gk4ce]

Jonathan Johansson probably a fortune cookie

[@godscommandmentsaretruthis2837]

I'm so glad for this series. I can now see that Washington was the "sword," Adams the "voice," and Jefferson the "pen" of the Revolution. Our first three Presidents were incredible men. We owe them a debt of gratitude, along with all the other signers of the Declaration of independence, and those who spilt their blood so we could be free.

[@spencerarnot]

@Free Bible Prophecy Book Reg6 Dot Com And Franklin was the “oil” or lubricant necessary to make the engine of democracy run smoothly.

[@ezekielbrockmann114]

Madison was what then?

[@godscommandmentsaretruthis2837]

@@ezekielbrockmann114 I think history has labeled Madison correctly as the "father of the Constitution." Closely related to Madison is another unsung hero I've recently come to like and respect- Roger Williams of Rhode Island. As you might know, his philosophy on the wall of separation between church and state had a huge influence on Jefferson and Madison when the latter crafted the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

[@ezekielbrockmann114]

@@godscommandmentsaretruthis2837 I know of Roger Williams, the veritable Founder of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. A true American Hero. I was unaware - and still am - of his influence on Thomas Jefferson and (by proxy) John and Abigail Adams. His exile from Massachusetts is a legendary story, presumably we'll known by the Adams Family, yes? Broadly yet accurately speaking, the Readership of the Federalist Papers is all-too-often ignored when talking about Independence and the Framers of the Constitution, says I. The literacy of the commoners who read the conflicting papers and leaflets of the day are altogether underheralded, says I. The thirst for Liberty at the time cannot be understated. Aye!

[@stephenwright8824]

@@ezekielbrockmann114 The Puritan fathers of my state of Massachusetts, then the misnamed "Commonwealth" of Massachusetts Bay (Colony), were so pi**ed at Williams for so vocally advocating the separation of church and state, they made it legal here to shoot any Rhode Islander a Massachusetts person saw. That law wasn't repealed until something like 1980.

[@countessD84]

Say all you want about Jefferson, you gotta love him for inventing the swivel chair.

[@msshadows38]

yaasss

[@timmullens9479]

Jefferson claims that slavery is'an abomination' butt there is no immediate solution - yet until he died, he owned slaves... seems a little hypocritical .?

[@napoleonlovecraft439]

Where would said slaves go if he released them? Just something to think about.

[@alexcapon3620]

These men were conflicted and flawed individuals. It is said that Jefferson himself was certain that he would be condemned to hell for owning slaves.

[@timmullens9479]

maybe but I think Adams was the greater stateman

[@FriedGold8942]

Jefferson, what a boss. He's sitting in his chair like I do when I'm shit-faced drunk and casually throws Franklin and Adams a document of worldly importance and a swiveling chair to boot.

[@MrUndersolo]

He looks like a grad student being evaluated for his PhD.

[@richieb6020]

@@MrUndersolo That would be a strong dissertation committee lol Franklin and Adams.

[@AnhTrieu90]

Two founding fathers geek out over a swivel chair. John Adam: My god, these nerds!

[@lelandmedvison8825]

Hey...nerds rule the world. Have any doubt? Ask Steve Jobs and Bill Gates.

[@TransoceanicOutreach]

Steve Jobs is dead, and died because he WASN'T a nerd, he was a stupid hippy who thought he cure cancer through diet. Bill Gates, although a nerd, does not rule anything, not even the company he founded.

[@heno02]

@@TransoceanicOutreach And Bill Gates would never have had the success he had wheren't it for his mother sitting on the board at IBM, getting him the juicy contracts during Microsofts humble beginnings, aswell as giving him access to learn first hand about computing playing around with hundred thousand dollar mainframes when he was younger.

[@sinatra222]

UltraMato shut up, this has nothing to do with John Adams.

[@Bramo2003]

I think Adam is a nerd to

[@aleksanderhiller7506]

Two young idealists and one seasoned pragmatic. Franklin's role in the shaping of the US as a a sovereign nation can not be underestimated.

[@UlikemeandUknowit]

Not only a declaration of our independence, but of the RIGHTS OF ALL MEN.

[@kevinpetroff5486]

Adore this series. Remember...this document is for every American. Not just you. We all have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Remember that.

[@maxhalsted5381]

indeed and every American citizen needs to be reminded of that

[@MutatedPizzaBoi]

Alright that's a wrap on our declaration, btw this swivel chair thing is crazy!

[@tigqc]

It would be like if somebody from the 90s was shown the first iPhone.

[@scouttroop291]

the house chair swivel too Jefferson possession ha ha well thought out indeed to face what too come much is to be thought out for all men

[@connerclark7478]

Jefferson was so down with revolutions, he invented a revolving chair.

[@beatleboy9020001]

i love how non chalant jefferson is, "meh well its what i believe"

[@GeometricMason]

I love how the conversation went from "Self Evident" as opposed to "Sacred and Undeniable" to the swivel chair.

[@BOTzerker]

+Anjelus LOL Likewise! Safer to compliment Jefferson on the chair than the Declaration!

[@VincentGuillotine]

When you think about it, it's actually a genius social tactic by Benjamin Franklin. He knew that Thomas Jefferson poured his heart and soul into the Declaration, and the proposed changes were eating at him and causing him great frustration and anguish. By switching the topic from the writing and war to admiring Jefferson's invention, Franklin was able to lighten the mood and to show Jefferson that they were still allies through all of this.

[@IDBTitanosaurus]

Beautiful.

[@LouJuan]

Well, the conversation did swivel that direction.

[@EddieVBlueIsland]

Actually it is a common mathematical expression - so as to appeal to universal truth - since mathematics after Newton became "sacred" and only de-throned in the 19th & 20th centuaries.

[@noahbawdy3395]

I love how the three of them discus without offence, the words and how others may react to them. Even though they do not agree with the views others may hold, they do understand the importance of using words that all may agree upon. It is outstanding. We could use more men able to check their egos like this.

[@tomsimpson5896]

Three men who dedicated their lives to the founding of our nation.

[@pepesilvia79]

"We hold these truths to be SELF EVIDENT that all men are created equal." Ben Franklin FTW! But seriously, three brilliant men reading over what is arguably the most genius American document to ever be written. Gives me chills.

[@MarkTitus420]

This whole series needs to be shown on History Channel for the upcoming 4th.

[@logannedervelt6040]

Franklin and Adams really did compliment each other well. This scene shows a good example of that. Franklin is able to persuade a little more easily and pivots to other conversations and thoughts rather quickly. Adams is very serious but also honest and appreciative of hard work. While Franklin is spinning in the chair Adams can’t take his eyes off of the document and looks over at Jefferson once again, thinking to himself what a masterpiece it is

[@ericlinck6664]

To be a fly on the wall when the Declaration of Independence was written would be a priceless experience! 🇺🇸🦅🇺🇸🦅🇺🇸🦅🇺🇸🦅🇺🇸🦅🇺🇸

[@ellacroft3201]

Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. We fought for these ideals, we shouldn't settle for less. These are wise words, enterprising men quote them, don't act surprised, you guys, 'cuz I wrote 'em.

[@ellacroft3201]

YaaAAOO

[@babu5367]

Тhis mоviе is nоw avaаaailаble tо watсh hеrе => twitter.com/19625a3f48e759628/status/795841266034438144 John Аdаms The Declaаration oоf Independeeеencе

[@dchen8874]

But Hamilton forgets His plan would have the government assume state’s debts Now, place your bets as to who that benefits: The very seat of government where Hamilton sits!

[@ellacroft3201]

Lornia Novus not true!

[@Mike-lp2sc]

Oh, if the shoe fits, wear it If New York's in debt, why should Virginia bear it?

[@dogleg]

Those guys signed their death warrant with that document. Luckily....things worked out. Brave men.

[@Egilhelmson]

Except for John Hancock and Samuel Adams, who were already under sentence of death for smuggling. In abstentia, of course.

[@clintcalvert9250]

Luckily? Zero luck was involved. Tenacity and a belief greater than one’s self propelled it into existence

[@robrussell5329]

As Franklin said as all realized that there would be war, "We all now need to hang together, or most certainly, we will hang separately."

[@williamlukesinclair1315]

Jefferson: “I’ll not make peace with George while he calls himself king”

[@DorkKnight99]

This entire comment section smacks of the pulpit.

[@Cjnw]

#ICXCNIKA *intensifies*

[@RollOnToVictory]

when good, intelligent Agnostics, Atheists and Religious men work together toward a common goal what do you get? The Declaration of Independence

[@hunterlee6286]

I’m pretty sure literally none of them were atheist

[@Jamhael1]

@@hunterlee6286 the majority of them loathed the idea of organized religion, and many loathed Christianity itself as the exclusive source of Human morality. Hell, one of them tried to rewrite the Bible removing the prejudicial, homicidal and oppressive parts from it!

[@jasonkinzie8835]

@@hunterlee6286 Thomas Jefferson was probably a deist.

[@taegotkash]

@@Jamhael1 Jefferson right?

[@Jamhael1]

@@taegotkash I believe so it is him, but I can be wrong. Check this information well.

[@davecrupel2817]

If the man who discovered electricity (in a sense) approves your invention with a smile, you know you done good.

[@CaliganVoid]

In no sense. That was not the point of the experiment.

[@mdg140]

Jefferson: "Well, it's what I believe.." (modern translation: "Well, screw them..")

[@HSMiyamoto]

Adams was a lawyer, and you can see it in his character.

[@jcrewjim]

This scene shows the diplomatic genius of Benjamin Franklin. Franklin knew how to read a room.

[@derrickstorm6976]

There's a lot better scenes on his intellect though, this is him just repeating what he has said before

[@anthonypalermo6385]

What an interesting time to have been alive.

[@50srefugee]

Franklin, the newspaper man and editor, no mean wordsmith himself, wields his most terrible and painful weapon--the blue pencil. His praise of Jefferson's swivel chair is soothing syrup for the agonies he knows he is inflicting. "This is a marvelous invention, Mr. Jefferson," he says, speaki ng of more than the chair. Jefferson replies in kind, "Yes, I went through a number of variations." For "variations", read "drafts".

[@SparkHoundCam]

Jefferson has swag

[@anthonypalermo6385]

Thats because hes played by the one true king, Stannis the Mannis!

[@jrrrm3]

Exactly. Jefferson would study for the WHOLE DAY every day as a student and read hundreds of books.

[@htf5555]

life, liberty and pursuit of swivel chairs.

[@50srefugee]

"swivel chairs" equals "happiness". Yeah, not far wrong.

[@ericminchey4193]

“No good decision was ever made in a swivel chair.”- General George S. Patton

[@JOHNSmith-pn6fj]

I think it was Custer who said that, while drawing up his plans for a march to the Little Bighorn.

[@lane1776]

genius document ever, anywhere

[@crb4059]

The self evident truth is that Franklin , Adams took great liberty to amend the Declaration that Jefferson painstakingly put together. He was frustrated by their changes. Adams when as far to say that the document was just a rehashing of the oral debates that were made over independence and was just a mere formality.

[@AbrahamLincoln4]

Emancipation is my values.

[@mysticdragonwolf89]

The history of the swivel chair can be traced back to at least 1505, when German pediatrician Martin Löffelholz von Kolberg designed a chair that could twist and adjust its height. However, Thomas Jefferson is often credited with inventing the modern swivel chair in 1775. According to the story, Jefferson wanted a more convenient chair for working with paperwork at his desk, so he took apart an English-style Windsor chair and reassembled it with an iron spindle and casters. Jefferson was so pleased with his invention that he took it with him to his plantation in Monticello, Virginia in 1776, where some say it helped him write the Declaration of Independence.

[@freedomsorator2217]

“When a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.”

[@1chish]

This documentary is actually quite accurate in its use of language because many colonials came from rural areas of the Great Britain and the West Country 'burr' in the accent shows this. And of course they were at this point British and used the King's English. American accents and Mr Webster came some years after ...

[@Egilhelmson]

No, American accents were described by Webster, not dictated. The American accent was the standard upper middle class accent of England, as of about 1750. The English accent then diverged from their previous version, while most American accents froze in place, although adding vocabulary. Only Jefferson should have had the West Country burr, as that was where the Virginia cavaliers and their tenants came, while Adams and Franklin were born and bred New Englanders, descended from East Anglians.

[@1chish]

@@Egilhelmson Well I am not sure you are 100% correct but its an interesting point. However as someone who was born in the West Country, worked in Somerset and moved to East Anglia (Ipswich area) some 20 years ago I was struck how similar that West Country and Anglian (Suffolk and Norfolk) accent actually is. Yes East Anglians use words in a different order but the 'burr' I mentioned is certainly there. I think my main point (which I may have expressed poorly) was that all these gentleman whether born English or born British American would have been raised hearing the natural burr of the West Country (even Hampshire area) because that is where the original and following families came from. And apparently the East Anglian 'burr'... !

[@TheWelvarend]

Maybe next time, a higher resolution output? It is at best difficult to enjoy a masterful performance at 240p.

[@Nebulasecura]

This was uploaded 13 years ago

[@UlikemeandUknowit]

No man can give you rights. You have a RIGHT to life, to liberty, and the the pursuit of Happiness, If any takes those rights away, It does not mean you have no rights, but that your rights were taken away. This may seem like an insignificant iota, but its a huge difference. This document did not grant rights to americans but recognized that all men were born with rights which could only be infringed upon.

[@pacman5698]

Doing some research I have discovered the main misconception many people in my nation have is that they all think the Founding Fathers were all about a common goal and we're like the treehouse club in many 90's kids cartoons were they got along all the time and agreed with tons of ideas. To say the least, they didn't. Duels nearly came about due to the feuds they have.

[@jmitterii2]

Sometimes its forgotten. But I don't think it truly is. There were duels fought, and Hamilton later died from one. Our first constitution failed miserably, the Articles of Confederacy 1777-87, 10 years, and it flopped. The convention for the initial constitution we use today was finally adopted. And has been amended several times since. the constitution in which Washington became the first president under the new constitution. It's first subsequent amendment the 11th, in 1794, 1791-94 the Whisky rebellion in which Washington actually took the field to aid in putting down. Britain again invaded with the US failed attempt to invade Canada in the war of 1812, and Washington DC being burnt to the ground. And the entire thing fell apart 87 years after the revolutionary war started 1775, in a massive civil war 1861. 1890 to 1930 the coal wars and other industrial war among the oligarch barons of industry, their hired "law" men, and the workers attempting to unionize were constantly under shootouts and massacres. An impoverished backwater, through most of 1930-40's nearly collapsing, with a hidden coup by the oligarch class to use retired General Smedley Butler to lead a fascist coup should communism supplant the failed oligarchy system; fortunately the retired general wanted nothing to do with it and told agencies and congress about the plotting. It's an understatement that we the founding fathers and that any time since, that we've gotten along smoothly, we've had anything but a placid history in our short history of just 2 centuries. In those relatively short 242 years, our nation has had more lives than a dozen cats.

[@aubreyt.copeland5019]

I’m trying to figure out which is the most impressive. The Declaration, or the chair?

[@LEGOMANIAC419]

If Stannis Baratheon has his swivel chair, he'd have kicked the Boltons six ways to Sunday.

[@TheClone3000]

thank you!

[@UlikemeandUknowit]

indeed, it is stated that they are "SELF-EVIDENT" meaning, noone grants them, they are, with-in themselves, evident.

[@randomlyentertaining8287]

I do like that they mentioned the slavery issue and put it as it should be understood. "Let's first become independent. Then we can deal with this slavery issue." You can't save the girl if you're still chained up in the corner.

[@mr.raslyon6626]

Yeah, it was dealt with by Grant, Lee, Jackson, Pickett, Sherman, etc...

[@jculver1674]

College educated Americans didn't used to think that they were inherently better than those of less education, nor did they think they were entitled to anything. In my experience (and I'm a college graduate), many of them do these days, and that's why the term "snobs" is accurate. Our Founding Fathers were well-educated, but many of them were also hard-working farmers. Most college students today would laugh at the idea of becoming farmers.

[@justinmcclung6030]

%90 of college education s are useless. In fact I've found people whom have been to college to be more dense and indoctrinated.. You can learn more about life working MacDonald s or cutting grass than you can in four years of college.. and some liberal professor s are there for that very purpose, indoctrination..

[@kevinzhang3313]

And some of them were farmers and well educated like John Adams(As a lawyer). From my experience, college educated people are NOT snobs, they seek to be open minded. It is honestly frustrating how the spoiled brats, snobs and egotistical fools become the highlight of what a college grad is! Of course some people want that to be true. Imagine doing what you feel you must do and some fool coming in and screaming "YOU THINK YOURE BETTER THAN EVERYONE ELSE?!?! MOVE OUT OF YOUR MOMS HOUSE, GET LIFE EXPERIENCE." Yes friend, most of us did, a long time ago and we work every day to open our minds and gain more experience into the real world and in America. Thats what being educated is - a mindset.

[@AniPieface]

Oh, I thought annata12 was saying that the Declaration was inappropriately granting rights. I just realized what that huge line of text was really saying. Thanks for clarifying.

[@Fatherofheroesandheroines]

Jefferson was such an unusual man. He was forced to maintain slaves due to the convention of his place but he never wanted them. Odd but he was an odd man with a brilliant mind and a great man.

[@Egilhelmson]

The economics of his place and time, and that as a businessman he was incompetent, and would have died bankrupt except that he was who he was, and none of his creditors would push it. Washington was able to free all his slaves at his death (although not his wife’s), but Jefferson’s estate was empty, and it was a miracle that the Sally Hemings children were able to be freed.

[@WiseGuy5674]

...And how 'bout this Goddamn sweet chair, huh??!!

[@robrussell5329]

Despite the swelling music, the Founders did not consider the Declaration to be a great document for the ages. It was simply announcing the secession of the thirteen colonies from The Crown. Declarations were how things were announced back then. Many copies were made and delivered to towns across the colonies to be read in the public square. Nobody at the time thought to keep a protected copy. The one at the Library of Congress was found in a desk drawer several years later. Despite all jargon about Freedom (from Jefferson's hand), the initial reason for the secession from the Crown was "taxation without representation." All the colonies originally wanted were seats in Parliament. The King ignored those requests, although several members of Parliament saw what might happen, and supported the colonies request for seats. The beauty of the Declaration of Independence is that it talks about Freedom, words more powerful than even the authors knew (although I suspect Franklin knew where all this was leading...)

[@lindajones8895]

I love this.

[@humanperson3911]

My favourite part of the Declaration of Independence is where Jefferson insists on "every man has the right to lick a giraffes right eyebrow." It really speaks to me that.

[@livingthedream0527]

Human Person and swivel about on a swivel a chair of course!

[@souperstar7050]

I tried to do that at the Zoo once and was arrested. I told them it was in the Declaration of Independence, but they didn't believe me.

[@joemckim1183]

There'll be another civil war if we don't get the right to lick the giraffes left eyebrow.

[@williamherndon4873]

The Rights Of Men In Simple Common Sense Language.........

[@nole8923]

We often don’t appreciate the fact that the country was founded by absolutely brilliant men. It was an unfortunate necessity that they had to kick the can of slavery to be resolved at a later date at an incredibly high cost. We were incredibly fortunate to be able to have our civil war without outside interference because of our geography. Otherwise we might not have survived as a nation.

[@jaredf6205]

I love Jefferson’s body language. He seems very unsure of himself, a little embarrassed even.

[@MrSharper802]

I'm building a version of the candlestand table rigth now

[@MarkTitus420]

I wonder if any Brits watch this show and what their reaction is to it. I see no comments from the opposing side here. Maybe there's nothing to be said.

[@tophatandtails]

If you ask a Brit, they will tell you that they don't even study this war in school. Hard to believe, but true.

[@steerpike66]

The British haven't owned up to their imperialism, just as the modern Americans don't own up to their imperialism. Imperiousness and self-examination are not bedfellows.

[@wolfgangamadeusmozart8772]

I am a Brit and can tell you that I consider this to be the finest tv programme I have ever seen. I have nothing but the utmost respect for those men who met in Philidelphia in the 1770s. This Programme balances between the crimes and accidents of both sides equally as well as the willful ignorance. For example, in the first episode the Bostonians are not portrayed as oppressed victims but as brutal barbarians, tarring and feather a customs officer and smashing clubs to intimidate their foe. Conversely, the British soldiers in the opening scene and throughout the trial are not portrayed as the agents of a tyrant but as men under attack, terrified for their lives in the face of a riot, frightened and confused, victims of circumstance. The delegates of the congress were petitioning the king because they believed him to be their leader, Adams defended the soldiers using English law, he saw the virtue and fairness of it. It was only when the colonist's rights as Englishmen were seen never to be returned that they abandoned the crown to seek independence. The American war of independence was a war not against Britain but to restore it's rights and freedoms enshrined in English law to the colonies. These men signed their own death warrant, I can not respect them enough, and I cannot love this programme enough for such a fair and accurate portrayal of all the parties involved.

[@timesthree5757]

@Paul Thomas that's what they were British citizens that turned against the king because they saw their right as British citizens were violated. Just think about how hard that was to do.

[@UlikemeandUknowit]

This is what the document states. We have rights, these rights are self-evident, you, the king are infringing upon our rights. The document reconized that all men, not just americans, but all men, had rights, and NO other man has the right to own another mans, Life, his Liberty, or his Pursuit of Happiness.

[@travissloan5296]

Never forget that America was not built on slavery, it was to be abolished but the only way the southern states would sign onto independence is to keep slavery.

[@newtonia-uo4889]

They would have also thrown most blacks back to Africa or South America.

[@JavierArveloCruzSantana]

I hope that you mean that the nation wasn't FOUNDED on slavery because it was most certainly BUILT on it. The US Constitution did take a step forward by forbidding LAWS against slave importation before 1808 -- the assumption being that after that year the Republic would take action against slavery (importation if not ownership) -- but the clause did NOTHING in and of itself to prevent it, much less stop it. Not until the 13th Amendment (100+ years after the Declaration of Independence) did our Nation constitutionally enshrine abolition, and then, after another 100+ years, did it try to truly abolish slavery by beginning to judicially and legally sooth slavery's ugliest anti-democratic side effects, which we as a Republic are still trying to promote to this day -- perhaps, in another 100 years, all Citizens will, indeed, be "Created Equal"!

[@tsbilly1]

The modern world, with all the great advancements we now enjoy. Your life is immensely greater for the actions and achievements of great minds and deep thinkers. Would you rather toil in the earth, eking out a living under the servitude of others? For all of Americas faults this remains true here more than any other place in the history of our planet: You can achieve what you dream.

[@freedomsorator2217]

That whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.”

[@AlanHMartin]

Quite moving.

[@oldmanjason96]

That is not the point. These men were educated, but they had all worked extremely hard in their lifetime and built themselves a very good life cerca the revolution. Santorum is referring to that breed of college grad who whines about the job market and refuses to get dirty in order to work hard. A college degree in this age does not guarantee success, and Santorum wants people to realize that. Santorum would agree and respect this!

[@mathewparrish9377]

Definitely some civil war foreshadowing there.

[@glennxokim]

Where are Sherman and Livingston ; was there a casting shortage?

[@anonimniprofil3816]

Was it ever ''We the people''?

[@MrDonaldwalker]

we need this today

[@brmillgr]

smacks of the pulpit

[@MrDonaldwalker]

nice

[@buckeyewill2168]

Man, that Boston Latin School education Big Ben got was pretty good.

[@homertownship3441]

Franklin was from Pennsylvania.

[@buckeyewill2168]

Homer Township ....Yes, but he was born and educated in Boston.

[@finchborat]

RIP Tom Wilkinson

[@bobbykevil214]

TJ is just to cool

[@shmorpie]

...and what has become of these institutions of great minds and deep thinkers?

[@charleswilson7371]

Time to draft a new document as we should refuse the socialist BS coming.

[@brandonandreski1709]

In this show you can still see the differences in the approaches of the government and the idea behind the new experiment. I for one follow a more Jeffersonian approach to self government, where the government has limited authority but power to manage the affairs of its own scope only. Today we see this has become hindered by, as Jefferson put it, the desire for wealth over prosperity and safety over liberty. Mind you I do not believe that wealth is corruption or evil by nature but that it is a tool. In the hands of a good and moral people it can turn a desert into Eden, but in the hands of those without clear divine meaning in life, it can undo so much good as it desires only itself.

[@leeleec27]

nobody ever came between jefferson and his footwear. gasp!

[@AniPieface]

@annata12 But this document was not intended to grant rights, it served the purpose of making the King aware of the rights he was violating and thereby annulling (using your word, sorry) his authority.

[@sweenyadam]

I'm a Brit and I find John Adams very interesting. Once upon a time we were colonial and our royalty had a larger say in such things. However, our royal family are nothing more than celebrities and what's left are of our overseas territories are practically independant with british assistance. While America has its virtues, it is hardly the 'greatest nation', with it's unpopular foreign polices and the presidential system. That governmental system is one of its more dangerous exportations..

[@helicalactual]

every person has the right to stasis and the defense thereof. this is the underlying understanding for all wise "laws".

[@derrickstorm6976]

You don't even know what stasis means...

[@danielfoerster3416]

Jefferson: I nor anyone has come up with a solution to slavery Abraham Lincoln has entered the chat

[@michellekinder3051]

2 percent of the population die and half of the country was laid waste, both those who believed in slavery and those who did not. Northern troops went in and burned neutral and Northern sympathetic homes and such.

[@danmacalpinbruce2555]

amazon a u.s. company paying no tax in sends the wrong message

[@UlikemeandUknowit]

You are not grasping the concept here. Governments can recognize rights, but they cannot grant them. You always have a right to life, and if someone tried to take your life, weather it be government, or criminal, that does not mean you lost your right, no, it means your right was violated. Rights are granted to us by our "creator" or nature, or evolution, by what ever means they arrived, they are self-evident, meaning they need not be 'GRANTED' only recognized.

[@stevo728822]

Did the declaration say anything about the money system?

[@emedel5772]

No that was created by Hamilton and his centrist bank ideas later on.

[@fittergrady]

Thomas Jefferson, for all his flaws and hypocrisies (speaking chiefly of his position on slavery), is undoubtedly the greatest political genius this or any country has produced in the last three centuries.

[@vonmang3524]

Virginia law prevented freeing slaves. Funny how all the moronic liberals today forget to mention that and as governor of Virginia Jefferson tried 8 times to change the laws to allow him to free the slaves he inherited.... but the democrat controlled legislature prevented him. So Jefferson died broke over paying his slaves to work for him. Democrats have always been on the wrong side of history.

[@vonmang3524]

@Open Skies Someone failed history. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_presidents_of_the_United_States

[@AmericanNohbuddy]

They were granted. The Bill of Rights were RATIFIED and two of them weren't.

[@alecluis93]

I've always wondered how comfortable all those clothes were?

[@Tempusverum]

They had no interior heating, so wool clothes and wigs would help keep them warm. Wigs also keep the lice down.

[@adriande1]

Everyone gets a rewrite

[@Norsilca]

I wonder what "School Law" is

[@tommylikethewolf]

Thomas Jefferson: Father of The Swivel Chair.

[@scottaznavourian5791]

1:25 how do u make that proclomation with all the slaves u have and the one your banging on the side.

[@GFSLombardo]

Yes they "punted" on slavery and "kicked the can down the road" to be debated and settled "at a later date". Unfortunately, the can kicking was finally stopped by a brutal CIVIL WAR because they could never figure it out politically. They were not angels, saints or hypocrites. They knew what they were doing. But they also knew that their main goal of independence from GB was not possible w/o the South (even though the North had slaves too). Never let the the good become the enemy of the perfect and vice versa. Poitics, as the old song goes, is "the art of the possible".

[@scottaznavourian5791]

@@GFSLombardo actually i find jefferson to be quite the hypicrite...he preached that he was a man off the people but he was more of an aristocrat then most of the federalists he opposed. He owned a ton of slaves but preached against slavery...i dont know how u can be more hypocritical then that

[@GFSLombardo]

@@scottaznavourian5791One mans hypocrisy is another mans pragmatism. Jefferson,conventionally considered a "genius" had to live with all of his contradictions. He dealt with problems which neither he nor his generation of aristocrats and plebeians could solve peacefully. However, he managed to do very well and became one of our greatest POTUS. 'HYPOCRISY" has never been absent from politial history, from ancient kings to the crass politicians of today."It comes with the territory"....

[@itsgodnga]

They knew something like that would be impossible to deal with at the time, and they had to make this Declaration work for everyone. What they did do was lay the legal foundation for everyone to have rights and for things like slavery to be dealt with in due time.

[@justinmcclung6030]

His wife had passed before he cohabitated with Sally Hemmings. He inherited slaves and purchased them only to reunite families.. Like Washington he treated them with relative kindness compared to other plantation owners, in fact he avoided the whip except for extreme circumstances, allowed the to garden and hunt for themselves, provided suitable quarters, and afforded them greater opportunities to earn and purchase their freedom... He was also deeply concerned about simply freeing slave who were unprepared, given the likelihood they could simply be apprehended and sold to other slave owners who might not treat them very well at all..

[@ebutuoy6701]

I can’t understand what Ben Franklin says at 2:12. can you help me? 🤔

[@PumpernickelBagels]

He says “smacks of the pulpit”

[@ebutuoy6701]

LadyLavenderGray thanks! I did not know this expression.

[@latinoislander5016]

Another way of saying "reminds one of the pulpit ".

[@RollOnToVictory]

swivel chair for the win!!!!

[@prestonhanson501]

Was Adam's brewing up some good ass beer at that time? We will never know

[@Egilhelmson]

Yes, we will, and no, he was not. His cousin Samuel Adams was the brewer.

[@larsdols3157]

You know, the thing . . .

[@andrewantretter4279]

3:30 is it just me, or is there a laugh track playing?

[@kcufmalsi]

@annata12 I also read Thomas Paine. You quote him perfectly......... I believe your comments come from his book, Rights of Man. Every American should read Thomas Paine. He's also wrote, Common Sense.

[@damianreyesavila3402]

.The Real Law House Bank Of History Book City.🇺🇸.