On July 4, 1776, fifty-six men signed a document that would change the world. But what did they actually mean by "all men are created equal" — and what does it mean now, on the 250th anniversary of those famous words? A Nigerian pastor reflects on the most consequential sentence in human governance.
Read Full Article →Civil War
On November 19, 1863, Abraham Lincoln spoke for two minutes at a military cemetery in Pennsylvania. Edward Everett had spoken for two hours before him. Only one of those speeches is remembered.
The Founding
Twelve thousand men. Bitter cold. No boots. No food. No certainty. The winter of 1777–1778 at Valley Forge was the moment America almost ended — and the moment it truly began.
Civil Rights
250,000 people. A hot summer day in Washington. A preacher from Atlanta. And seventeen minutes that changed the moral arc of American history forever.
Sacred Music
Most people know Handel's Messiah. But what exactly is an oratorio — and why is it the perfect form to tell the story of a nation? A guide for curious listeners.
From Nigeria
I have never visited America. But I have watched Hillsdale College's 18-episode documentary on American history more than once. This is the story of how that changed my life.
America 250
Two hundred and fifty years of the greatest political experiment in human history. What has America achieved? What has it failed? And why is it still worth celebrating — and holding accountable?
Every article connects to a movement
Read the history. Then hear the music.
Each blog post is inspired by a specific movement in the oratorio. Stream all 21 movements now.