On this week’s episode of Dave Does History, we head back to the sweltering summer of 1776 and the most famous group project in American history. With independence already voted on, the task of putting it all into words fell to Thomas Jefferson. But as Dave explains, writing the Declaration of Independence was anything but simple.

From Jefferson’s philosophical struggles to the brutal edits made by Congress, this episode dives into what was included, what was removed, and why it mattered then and still matters now. We’ll hear about Franklin’s key revision, the moral compromises that shaped the final draft, and the heroic ride of Caesar Rodney, whose muddy arrival tipped the scales toward freedom.

Join us as we explore the drafting, the debates, and the bold language that became America’s founding promise. It’s not just about what they said. It’s about what they dared to believe could be true.