Q&A

Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch Discusses Heroes of 1776

May 11, 2026
Neil Gorsuch, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court and author, chats about his children’s book Heroes of 1776 and the real people behind the Revolution. He recounts daring stories like John Hart and Caesar Rodney, explains why justices write for kids, and reflects on the Constitution, judicial role, and the sacrifices that shaped American ideals.
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INSIGHT

Signing Was A Personal Devastation Risk

  • Signing for independence was a life-and-fortune risk: many signers lost homes, fortunes, or had family imprisoned.
  • Gorsuch gives examples: homes burned, sons captured, and Thomas Stockton funding shoes for troops then losing his home.
INSIGHT

Revolution Split Families And Loyalties

  • Colonial society was deeply divided: patriots, loyalists, and a large indifferent 'don't care' group.
  • Gorsuch uses Ben Franklin and his loyalist son William to show family rifts and consequences like exile to England.
ADVICE

Use The Declaration As A Guidebook

  • The Declaration's three ideas—equality, unalienable rights, and self-rule—are timeless guides to correct civic action.
  • Gorsuch urges treating the Declaration as a promissory note used by Lincoln and others to critique and advance rights.
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