As America approaches its 250th birthday, Jared Taylor welcomes his father, educator and Heritage Academy founder Earl Taylor, for a thoughtful conversation on what today’s students must understand about 1776. Drawing on decades in the classroom, Earl explains why the American Revolution was unlike any other in history, not driven by terror or a quest for power, but by a belief in self government rooted in moral responsibility. Together they explore the Enlightenment ideas behind the Declaration of Independence, the importance of virtue and education in sustaining liberty, and warnings from leaders like John Adams, John Quincy Adams, and Abraham Lincoln about internal decay. The episode challenges families, schools, and students to rediscover the principles that made freedom possible and to carry that revolution of heart and mind into 2026 and beyond.

Show Notes:

1. George Washington: “A primary object should be the education of our youth in the science of government. In a republic, what species of knowledge can be equally important? And what duty more pressing than communicating it to those who are to be the future guardians of the liberties of the country?” (Source: George Washington Quote, “A primary objective should be the education of our youth in the science of government. In a republic what species of knowledge can be equally important?”)
2. To find the 250th Anniversary pocket constitution, please visit https://nccs.net.”
3. Circular Letter to the States (June 8, 1783) — Teaching American History (1783): https://teachingamericanhistory.org/document/circular-letter-to-the-states/
4. John Adams to Hezekiah Niles, 13 February 1818 — National Humanities Center (2010): https://nationalhumanitiescenter.org/ows/seminars/revolution/Adams-Niles.pdf
5. The Jubilee of the Constitution (discourse delivered April 30, 1839) — Library of Congress (1839): https://www.loc.gov/item/09021544/
6. If you want to learn more about the American Classroom podcast, please visit AmericanClassroom.Show https://americanclassroom.show/
7. To learn more about or take a tour of the great schools mentioned in this episode, visit Heritage Academy https://heritageacademyaz.com/ or Paul Revere Academy https://paulrevere.tech/
8. Sponsored by: Heritage Academy, downtown Mesa campus- http://www.hamesa.com