America 250 Archives

American Democracy Minute’s Brian Beihl Reads the full original text of the Declaration of Independence

July 3, 2026July 3, 2026

Host Brian Beihl reads a transcription of the original Declaration of Independence on July 2, 2026 in celebration of the United States' 250th birthday. Feel free to share this recording with others. A reminder that the text includes racist descriptions of Native Americans.

Throwing Off Despotism: For Independence Day, a Portion on the Declaration of Independence

July 2, 2026July 3, 2026

For July 4th, while we can't read the entire Declaration of Independence in 90 seconds, we read a portion which includes the passage: "But 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." Happy Independence Day.