The Making of the American Mind with Dr. Matthew Spalding

In this episode of, Jamison is joined by Dr. Matthew Spalding, a distinguished constitutional scholar and Dean of the Van Andel Graduate School of Government at Hillsdale College. They discuss Dr. Spalding’s award-winning book, The Making of the American Mind, which provides a clause-by-clause commentary on the Declaration of Independence. Spalding argues that while many Americans "venerate" the Declaration, few truly understand its deep philosophical and theological roots. The conversation explores the transition from instinctive patriotism—a natural love for one’s home—to reflective patriotism, which is rooted in a deep understanding of the nation’s founding principles. Spalding describes the Declaration as a "symphony" of legislative logic that synthesizes reason and revelation, drawing from Greek, Roman, and Christian traditions to establish the "laws of nature and of nature's God". For Christian educators, the episode offers profound insights into using storytelling and historical truth to help students transcend themselves and "know" the country they are called to love. Ultimately, the Declaration is presented as the "electric cord" that unifies all Americans through its timeless, universal claim that all are created equal.