The Great American Story: The New Nation

The Great American Story: The New Nation

Author: Hillsdale College April 8, 2026 Duration: 37:34

On this episode of The Hillsdale College Online Courses Podcast, Jeremiah and Juan discuss the ratification of the Constitution before introducing Wilfred McClay.

Americans have overcome many challenges throughout our history, including the American Revolution, the Civil War, the Great Depression, two World Wars, and the Cold War. Studying the great stories from our past inspires us to preserve the blessings of liberty in our day. Now you can study these stories with Hillsdale College.

Hillsdale’s free online course, “The Great American Story: A Land of Hope,” explores the history of America as a land of hope founded on high principles. In presenting the great triumphs and achievements of our nation’s past, as well as the shortcomings and failures, it offers a broad and unbiased study of the kind essential to the cultivation of intelligent patriotism.

After declaring independence from Great Britain, the Americans faced two monumental tasks. First, they had to defeat the mightiest military power in the world. Second, they had to establish a government capable of unifying the nation and securing their rights.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.


The Hillsdale College Online Courses Podcast delivers the core of a classical liberal arts education directly to your preferred listening app. Hosted by Online Learning Directors Kyle Murnen and Juan Davalos, this series transforms the college's foundational mission into an accessible audio format. Each episode serves as a lecture or discussion drawn from Hillsdale's complete, free online courses, covering enduring topics in history, government, culture, and the principles of a free society. You'll hear in-depth explorations of the ideas, events, and figures that have shaped Western civilization and American institutions, all presented with the clarity and depth of a classroom setting. The podcast is designed for lifelong learners seeking substantive content beyond the headlines, offering structured education through the convenience of an audio feed. Listen for thoughtful commentary that introduces each course's themes, followed by the full lecture material, allowing you to engage with rigorous academic content on your own schedule. This is more than a series of talks; it's a curated curriculum aimed at fostering a deeper understanding of the philosophical and historical foundations necessary for informed citizenship and personal enrichment.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

The Hillsdale College Online Courses Podcast
Podcast Episodes
The Great American Story: The Culture of Democracy and Its Shadow [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:08
On this episode of The Hillsdale College Online Courses Podcast, Jeremiah and Juan discuss the debate between republicanism and aristocracy before introducing Wilfred McClay. Americans have overcome many challenges throu…
The Great American Story: The Experiment Begins [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:15
On this episode of The Hillsdale College Online Courses Podcast, Jeremiah and Juan discuss the questions that dominated the politics of the Early Republic before introducing Wilfred McClay. Americans have overcome many c…
The Great American Story: The Revolution of Self-Rule [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:14
On this episode of The Hillsdale College Online Courses Podcast, Jeremiah and Juan discuss the intellectual foundations of the Deceleration of Independence before introducing Wilfred McClay. Americans have overcome many…
The Great American Story: Beginnings [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:03
On this episode of The Hillsdale College Online Courses Podcast, Jeremiah and Juan discuss the legacy of Christopher Columbus before introducing Wilfred McClay. Americans have overcome many challenges throughout our hist…
The Great American Story: Introduction [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:29
On this episode of The Hillsdale College Online Courses Podcast, Jeremiah and Juan introduce the course "The Great American Story: A Land of Hope". Americans have overcome many challenges throughout our history, includin…
Constitution 101: The Progressive Rejection of the Founding [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:42
On this episode of The Hillsdale College Online Courses Podcast, Jeremiah and Juan discuss the progressive view of government before introducing Ronald J. Pestritto. The United States Constitution was designed to secure…
Constitution 101: Secession and Civil War [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:02
On this episode of The Hillsdale College Online Courses Podcast, Jeremiah and Juan discuss executive authority and secession before introducing Kevin Portteus. The United States Constitution was designed to secure the na…
Constitution 101: Slavery and the Roots of the Secession Crisis [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:09
On this episode of The Hillsdale College Online Courses Podcast, Jeremiah and Juan discuss whether or not the American Founding supported slavery before introducing Kevin Portteus. The United States Constitution was desi…
Constitution 101: Property, Morality, and Religion [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:29
On this episode of The Hillsdale College Online Courses Podcast, Jeremiah and Juan discuss whether or not the government should legislate morality before introducing Thomas West. The United States Constitution was design…