Declaration of Independence and Self-Government with Matthew Spalding | BRI Scholar Talk
In this episode of BRI Scholar Talks, Matthew Spalding, professor at Hillsdale College and dean of the Van Andel Graduate School of Government, joins host Tony Williams to examine the principles, structure, and enduring meaning of the Declaration of Independence. Drawing from his book The Making of the American Mind, Spalding explains how the Declaration tells a unified story of America’s founding by weaving together historical events, political debate, and philosophical argument into a coherent statement of national purpose.
The discussion examines the Declaration as a deliberate political and legal document shaped by debate within the Continental Congress. Spalding highlights its foundation in natural law, the five self-evident truths of the second paragraph, and the often-overlooked list of grievances that forms the core argument against British tyranny.
