Lexington, Concord, and the Making of the Continental Army

Summary

Podcast Summary: Hillsdale College Podcast Network Superfeed
Episode: Lexington, Concord, and the Making of the Continental Army
Date: April 30, 2026

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Overview

In this episode, host Larry O'Connor (WMAL) welcomes Dr. Matthew Spalding—Vice President for Washington Operations and Dean of the Van Andel Graduate School of Government at Hillsdale College—to reflect on America’s journey to independence. The conversation delves into the origins and importance of the Continental Army, the democratic dynamics leading up to the Declaration of Independence, and modern efforts to commemorate America's 250th birthday through patriotic initiatives like the Freedom Trucks.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Formation of the American Military Pre-Independence

• The hosts highlight that the U.S. had organized an army, navy, and marines before officially declaring independence in July 1776.
  • "Before we were a country, we had a military. And I think that's significant for who we are." (B, 02:34)
  • Dr. Spalding notes:
    "George Washington and the U.S. Army declared independence before we did as a country... They're already out there. They're in the field. They're already engaging in warfare." (C, 03:21)
• War and military organization predated legal formalities, showing the tangible momentum toward self-government.

2. The People Led, Congress Followed

• The American move toward independence was grassroots; the populace pushed their representatives, not vice versa.
  • "It's not like we on July 5, 1776, said, well, Congress has said we're declaring independence, so I guess we're gonna have to follow along. No, they were following the people. We had sort of already gotten there." (B, 04:36)
  • Dr. Spalding ties this to Jefferson's idea:
    "He [Jefferson] called [the Declaration] an expression of the American mind... expressing something that is already out there and been going on for the last two years" (C, 05:05)
• Comparison with monarchies: In contrast to Old World traditions—where rulers unilaterally made decisions—American leaders drew legitimacy from responding to the people's wishes.
  • "In our form of government, our representatives are supposed to follow where we lead them." (B, 05:34)

3. Democratic Deliberation in 1776

• The hosts detail complex, time-consuming debates in the Continental Congress.
  • Instructions percolated up from county militias to colonies, leading delegates.
  • "North Carolina, for instance, gets the first early instructions in... April of 1776, support independence. And that kind of begins this snowball effect." (C, 06:40)
  • "A lot of these counties, local militias and things, are sending instructions to their delegates at the Continental Congress. It's actually a phenomenal thing." (C, 07:44)
• This process was “deliberative and thoughtful,” but also sometimes slow to match the speed of events.

4. The Enduring "Special Relationship" With Britain

• The ongoing friendly ties between the U.S. and U.K. are discussed, especially poignant as King Charles and Queen Camilla visit Washington.
  • "We have a very keen and important argument with England about rule and American liberty and freedom. But we also always recognize... we are the inheritors of this great British tradition, the rule of law." (C, 10:30)
• Historical note: John Adams, a revolutionary leader, became the first ambassador to Britain, signaling high-minded reconciliation after conflict.

5. American Exceptionalism—Equality Over Bloodline

• Contrasts are drawn between American and British systems of status and government.
  • "That's what makes it radical about the founding... That's the beginning point. That's what makes it exceptional. And that's what's still true today." (C, 11:50)
  • The U.S. presidency's lack of hereditary status and openness to immigrants is contrasted with the genealogical inheritance of British royalty.

6. Patriotism and Public Memory—The Freedom Trucks

• Dr. Spalding shares updates on the "Freedom Trucks," a fleet of mobile museums bringing the story of the Revolution to communities across America.
  • "You take America in a key museum about the core chronology and events of the revolution out to school kids, to NASCAR races, to conventions out in the country." (C, 13:25)
  • The response has been deeply positive, revealing enduring patriotism, especially in "Mid America."
  • "You're reminding people you're reviving something that I think they're actually wanting to hear, wanting to see... It's a great moment for our country to recapture that sense of patriotism." (C, 14:24)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Dr. Spalding on the Army’s Early Role:
  "George Washington and the U.S. Army declared independence before we did as a country. They're already out there. They're in the field." (C, 03:21)

• On Democratic Roots:
  "Congress is hemming and hawing at the same time Washington is going to war." (C, 07:15)

• On Equality vs. Bloodline:
  "Our liberties, our rights, our freedoms do not depend upon who our parents were, where we came from. It has to do with this document, the Declaration of Independence." (C, 11:50)

• Reviving Patriotism:
  "It's really heartening to think that on the one hand, you take this museum out to people to see it... But you're reminding people you're reviving something that I think they're actually wanting to hear, wanting to see." (C, 14:04)

• Larry O’Connor’s Lighter Note:
  "We had no hard feelings on our side because we won. But they're still a little bitter." (B, 09:48)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 01:12 — Introduction of Dr. Matthew Spalding and context for America’s 250th
• 03:14–04:36 — Military organization before the Declaration of Independence
• 05:02–06:26 — The “American mind” and grassroots political momentum
• 07:15–08:26 — The deliberative (and sometimes slow) political process of independence
• 09:29–11:05 — Reflections on current ties with Britain, John Adams as ambassador
• 11:05–11:50 — Discussion of American exceptionalism and equality
• 12:52–15:11 — Freedom Trucks, public engagement, and the living memory of America’s founding

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Conclusion

This episode provides a thoughtful, engaging exploration of America’s path to independence, emphasizing how unity, grassroots democracy, and pioneering spirit manifested even before the Declaration of Independence. The discussion underscores the enduring nature of American principles and the importance of keeping patriotism alive through public education and commemoration initiatives like the Freedom Trucks.

Dr. Spalding and Larry O’Connor blend historical rigor with current events and light-hearted moments, making this a meaningful listen for those reflecting on what it means to be American, both then and now.

Transcript

[A]

This show is a part of the Hillsdale College Podcast Network. If you like what you hear, please subscribe to your favorite. You'll get brand new episodes of all your favorite shows sent right to your device and you'll help us know that you're out there listening. Never miss another episode by going to Podcast Hillsdale. Edu subscribe. That's Podcast Hillsdale. Edu subscribe or click the Follow or Subscribe button on Apple podcasts, Spotify or YouTube. To celebrate 250 years of freedom, Hillsdale College's Matthew Spalding, along with professors From Hillsdale in D.C. sit down with Larry O' Connor of WMAL to discuss the truths that make this country great. This is Hillsdale on the Hill.

[B]

It has been our great honor and privilege all year long to celebrate and honor the birth of our nation, the United States of America, with an intriguing conversation every couple of weeks with somebody from Hillsdale College's Van Andel Graduate School of Government right here in Washington, D.C. and when we're really lucky, we get the man himself, Dr. Matthew Spalding, Vice President for Washington Operations, Dean of that school, and also the author of the Making of the American Mind, the Story of Our declaration of independence. Dr. Spalding, always great to talk with you. Thanks for joining us.

[C]

Great to be with you. Morning, Larry. Morning, Bethany.

[B]

It is the semi quincentennial celebration, by the way, but I still like to just call it America's 250, by the way. You know, we've been having these conversations since January. We'll keep going throughout the year. If you'd like to catch up, you go back and you can find all of these in podcast form at Hillsdale's website. And I believe we have them featured at WMAL as well, because we are still sort of building a story here historically on how we got here from there. And I want to start and we've got a couple of things that we want to discuss here with regard to where we were in April of 1776 and some other issues going on there real fast. I did an event last night with an organization called our Community Salutes, where we go and make a big event around all of the high school graduates who choose not to go to college or et cetera, but they instead enlist in the armed services. And we did a big focus on America's 250. And I made note of it and it started it's funny, it didn't really hit home to them that last year we celebrated the 250th birthday of the army and the Navy and the Marines a full year before we actually declared independence. And I'd love for you to, if you don't mind, just reflect on that for a moment, that before we were a country, we had a military. And I think that's significant for who we are, especially considering how that military is engaged right now overseas.

[C]

No, I think that's actually a great point. And we forget about these things too often. We think in these academic terms where we say, think of the Declaration as this legal, technical document, when in many ways, it was the culmination of a whole series of events that even go back to 1774 with the First Continental Congress, but really develops out of that. And you've already got the war essentially going. Remember Lexington, Concord was in a year ago, In April of 75, you get Washington already appointed Commander in Chief. In June, you get the Army. He begins to create a navy and some Marines. So this. This war is now fully developed and proceeding such that, you know, about 250 years ago now, you're actually transitioning already into a war. The army already exists. Washington is already commanding the army. The Union. The. This phrase we use historically to describe this Union of colonies already exists well before the Declaration of Independence. Indeed. I always like to say that George Washington and the US army declared independence before we did as a country. Yeah, they're already out there. They're in the field. They're already engaging in warfare. So that's a very important point.

[B]

By the way, Dr. Spock, if I could spin off of Andrew Breitbart's Rest His Soul, his famous observation that politics is downstream from culture. In a way, the American. It's not like we on July 5, 1776, said, well, Congress has said we're declaring independence, so I guess we're gonna have to follow along. No, they were following the people. We had sort of already gotten there.

[C]

No, that's exactly right. And my book is called the Making of the American Mind, which is a reference to what Jefferson said of the Declaration. He called it an expression of the American mind. By the time you get to July 4th and declaration, he is expressing something that is already out there and been going on for the last two years. All these ideas, the debates, all these things going on. Colonies are starting to get cast, motions to support independence. You've got an army already in place. The British are already going to war. At this point, whether we want to

[B]

go to war with the British or not, we are. They decide it. Yeah. You know, and it also just. Again, just to reflect on this idea quickly, because it is very different. You know, that's sort of the idea of a constitutional republic utilizing democracy, where the king in the monarchies and in the old world, they would decide, yeah, we're going to go to war with France now, and you all have to follow what the king says. But in our form of government, our representatives are supposed to follow where we lead them. We tell them what we want them to do, and they do it. That's how it's supposed to be. That's why when you hear somebody like a. Well, for instance, President Trump, when he wins an election against all odds, you hear from so many of the voters, well, I just like him because he says the things that I think he actually, you know, he's focusing on the issues I care about. That's how it's supposed to be.

[C]

No, that's right. In the case of the beginnings of America, this actually explains a lot of the back and forth, because at this time 20 years ago, the Continental Congress is heavily divided. They're deciding what to do. Events are moving faster than they are because they're debating whether we go independent or not. They're having these debates in Continental Congress, and they're waiting. A lot of these colonies are waiting for instructions from their colonies. Yeah, they're not just deciding this themselves. So North Carolina, for instance, gets the first early instructions in, you know, in April of 1776, support independence. And that kind of begins this snowball effect. But it takes them a while. April, May, June, it's not until you get to the end of July when they have the votes to proceed.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

So but they're debating it. Congress is hemming and hawing at the same time Washington is going to war.

[B]

We're also having this phenomenon where you've got the members of the Continental Congress in Philadelphia meeting April 1776, and some of them say, I don't know how I'm supposed to vote on this. Their state. Well, their colonial legislatures, I should say. They're meeting, they're debating it, and now they're coming up and they're giving instructions to these congressmen in Philadelphia, right?

[C]

That's right. And a lot of these counties, local militias and things, are sending instructions to their delegates at the Continental Congress. It's actually a phenomenal thing. We speak of the Fairfax resolves or the Halifax resolves. Well, these are local counties who are countywide sending instructions to the state and the colony, which in turn is sending instructions to the delegates. So it's this amazing democratic process of. It's Very deliberative and thoughtful. But they're having a hard time keeping up. And that starts once it starts moving in the spring of 76, one starts things moving along. It starts moving pretty rapidly. It's got to keep up with events.

[B]

Hold that thought. We're moving rapidly as we always do on this program, Dr. Spalding. We're speaking with Matthew Spalding, Hillsdale College here in D.C. we're going to continue the conversation about where we were 250 years ago. And also an update on the Freedom Trucks. I know everybody loves these Freedom Trucks. They're all over the place. So we're going to tell you about the Freedom trucks, how effective they're being and when you can catch up with the Freedom truck as well. That's all coming up in a moment. By the way, we're having this conversation about our 250th anniversary of declaring independence from England at a time when the king and his queen are in town. They just touched down yesterday. King Charles and Queen Camilla. And, you know, no hard feelings, I guess. Dr. Matthew Spaulding. But it is kind of interesting here, while we're celebrating this, he's here and sort of acknowledging the relationship. We always say it's their special relationship. And as well it is. But it is interesting after all these years to be able to see the President of the United States and the first lady having afternoon tea at the White House.

[C]

Yes, I was at a dinner last night, actually sitting next to one of the British party, Lady Churchill, Spencer Churchill. And the question of the American Revolution. It didn't really come up, shall we say? Yes, well, but we had no hard

[B]

feelings on our side because we won. But they still a little bitter. Well, it is significant. I kind of want to rub it

[C]

in a little bit, but I didn't do that.

[B]

You know me, Dr. Spalding. This is what it's like when Dr. Spalding and I get together. And even during like a Redskins game or something, I just keep wanting to ask him questions and I go all over the place. It is significant, is it not, that our first ambassador to the royal crown, to King George's court, was none other than John Adams, the most firebrand, you know, to hell with England. We have to declare independence. Of all of the Founding fathers, that was significant in that we wanted to send a signal that, you know, yes, we declared independence, but we're still family.

[C]

No, absolutely. And it's very significant in the sense that we have a very keen and important argument with England about rule and American liberty and freedom. But we Also always recognize and still recognize the extent to which we are the inheritors of this great British tradition, the rule of law, all that came through that long history to us is very important. So this special relationship, frayed as it is and sometimes changing over time, is really grounded in that historical reality, really goes back to the founding itself.

[B]

I also love the fact that, you know, the legacy of the American presidency and those who sit and live in the White House. Here we've got a president who is the child of immigrants, although his mother, I believe, was Scottish, his father was of German descent, or historically ancestrally not direct from Germany. But then he's married the first lady, who's sitting in the place where Martha Washington would be. Or Abigail Adams is an Eastern European first generation immigrant.

[C]

Right.

[B]

But they are connected to George and Martha Washington in a way and will represent them in a way that upholds the American spirit and ideals. That has nothing to do with bloodline King Charles. Still, it's all about bloodline. He can connect his family and his heritage and his genealogy back to King George iii.

[C]

No, that's right. And those differences, which were the key differences in 1776, are still apparent today. You're exactly right. I mean, what is different about America, what's special about America, what's exceptional is precisely that our liberties, our rights, our freedoms do not depend upon who our parents were, where we came from. It has to do with this document, the Declaration of Independence, which in a very radical turn, which is on the one hand also very ancient, and goes back historically to the great traditions, both Christian and classical. We are all created equal. We have an equal status as human beings. And that's what makes it radical about the founding. That's the beginning point. That's what makes it exceptional. And that's what's still true today. That's why. You ever notice if people come here to this country, people in this country don't go to, say, Russia or China. They come to America. That's why. That's why. And it's still true today.

[B]

You know, we always say that this is the place to be, right here in Washington, D.C. if you're gonna go anywhere for this 250th birthday, you want to be in Washington. Not everybody can come to the Mall. Not everybody can see these monuments. Dr. Spalding. And that's why you were part of this initiative for The Freedom trucks, 11 mobile units, excuse me, six mobile units. A fleet of museums that basically bring the National Mall to neighborhoods in the contiguous lower 48. Can you give us an update on how these are going over and how.

[C]

No, they're just great. We just had, I think, the fifth truck on the Mall last. Last week. And I just got back from Hillsdale, Michigan, where one of the freedom trucks was at our college campus for three days. So these trucks are traveling all over the country, stopping as wherever they can as quickly as possible. And the idea is you take America in a key museum about the core chronology and events of the revolution out to school kids, to NASCAR races, to conventions out in the country. And you know what's striking? I come back here to Washington, D.C. we're in the bubble, as we like to say. You know, you forget how much Mid America is still patriotic and still loves the country. I mean, we had a truck parked in Hillsdale, southern Michigan, north of the Ohio border, and thousands of people came and there were all sorts of kids. People were thrilled about this. The local police and the fire departments from cities came around. And so it's really heartening to think that on the one hand, you take this museum out to people to see it, which they don't normally get this, which is very important. But you're reminding people you're reviving something that I think they're actually wanting to hear, wanting to see, because they've not seen and heard this defense of America and reminder about it for a long time. This is a great moment for our country to recapture that sense of patriotism. And the mobile museums were designed to help do that. Just in the same way that the Freedom train was in 1976.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

How do you recapture this moment and remind people about their country?

[B]

We gotta leave it there. Always a great conversation. Dr. Matthew Spalding, again, he is the Vice President for Washington Operations, Dean of the Van Andel Graduate School of Government at Hillsdale College. And his book the Making of the American Mind is a must read. Thank you. Dr. Spalding. Always good to talk to you.

[C]

Good to be with you, Larry. Talk to you next time.

[A]

Thanks for listening to Hillsdale on the Hill, presented by Hillsdale College. To learn more about the Van Andel Graduate School of Government and Hillsdale's work in our nation's Capital, visit Hills D.C. hillsdale.

[B]

Edu.

[A]

That's D.C. hillsdale. Eduardo.