The Declaration nearly collapsed before it was signed.Historian Tom McMillan joins Why Wars Happened to reveal the secret debates, bitter fights, and forgotten figures behind 1776. It wasn’t destiny — it was chaos, compromise, and near failure.⏱ Timestamps00:00 – Welcome to Why Wars Happened00:48 – Meet historian Tom McMillan01:48 – The American Revolution: setting the stage02:59 – Declaration of Independence: complexities & controversies06:31 – Key figures: Adams, Jefferson, Dickinson15:21 – The votes leading to independence23:01 – Researching sources & challenges27:06 – Richard Henry Lee’s forgotten legacy29:54 – Jefferson & Adams’ roles in shaping the Declaration39:08 – Editing the Declaration of Independence43:31 – Upcoming book projects & reflections#1776 #DeclarationOfIndependence #FoundingFathers #AmericanRevolution #WhyWarsHappened