Episode 27: The Spirit of '76

Missing Pages · Jul 3, 2026 · 1h 13m

I try my best to resist Romanticism and hagiography when discussing American history. It is vital to discuss history honestly, with warts and all. But, this season is really putting me to the test, especially this episode. The idea of these amateur militias standing up to the greatest army in the world, surviving trials and setbacks along the way, added together with the brutal stoicism of Washington and the conflicted genius of Jefferson, it can be difficult to look at this without a glint of the Romantic. Still, despite my clear bias and occasional dip into admiration this episode, I…