About this episode

This episode explores the Declaration of Independence's symbolic role as the founding text of the United States and its reverence among the public.

The engrossed copy of the Declaration of Independence is on display at the National Archives building in Washington, DC. Millions of visitors flock to see it and the other Charters of Freedom. But how did it end up there and why do people approach it with religious reverence? In this episode, we explore how the Declaration took on its symbolic role as the founding text of the United States. Pauline's Book Show Notes: https://www.benfranklinsworld.com/403 EPISODE OUTLINE 00:00:00 Introduction 00:06:30 Introducing Mary Beth Norton 00:07:17 American Scripture: Pauline Maier 00:10:00 Graduate School with Pauline Maier 00:13:36 The State of Historians' Thinking in the 1990s 00:15:23 Other Declarations of Independence 00:21:08 Thomas Jefferson's Drafting of the Declaration 00:23:44 Why Create a Parchment Copy of the Declaration? 00:28:24 How the Declaration Became American Scripture 00:30:32 The Impact of American Scripture 00:32:10 Situating the Declaration in the American Revolution 00:35:39 The Role of the Parchment Copy Today 00:40:12 Closing Thoughts on Pauline Maier RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODES 🎧 Episode 141: A Declaration in Draft 🎧 Episode 155: Pauline Maier's American…

People in this episode

Host: Liz Covart

Guest: Mary Beth Norton

Topics covered

• Declaration of Independence
• American scripture
• historical significance
• Thomas Jefferson
• symbolism in history

Keywords

• Declaration of Independence
• American scripture
• Pauline Maier
• Thomas Jefferson
• National Archives

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: The Declaration of Independence

Places: National Archives building, Washington, DC

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