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Who's Your Founding Father?: One Man’s Epic Quest to Uncover the First, True Declaration of Independence
A centuries-old secret document might unravel the origin story of America and reveal the intellectual crime of the millennia in this epic dive into our country’s history to discover the first, true Declaration of Independence. In 1819 John Adams came across a stunning story in his hometown Essex Register that he breathlessly described to his political frenemy Thomas Jefferson as “one of the greatest curiosities and one of the deepest mysteries that ever occurred to me…entitled the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence. The genuine sense of America at that moment was never so well expressed before, nor since.” The story claimed that a full 14 months before Jefferson crafted his own Declaration of Independence, a misfit band of zealous Scots-Irish patriots, whiskey-loving Princeton scholars and a fanatical frontier preacher in a remote corner of North Carolina had become the first Americans to formally declare themselves “free and independent” from England.
Composed during a clandestine all-night session inside the Charlotte courthouse, the Mecklenburg Declaration was signed on May 20, 1775—a date that’s still featured on the state flag of North Carolina. A year later, in 1776, Jefferson is believed to have plagiarized the MecDec while composing his own, slightly more famous Declaration and then, as he was wont to do, covered the whole thing up. Which is exactly why Adams always insisted the MecDec needed to be “thoroughly investigated” and “more universally made known to the present and future generation.” Eleven U.S. Presidents and many of today’s most respected historical scholars agree.
Now, with Who’s Your Founding Father?, David Fleming picks up where Adams left off, leaving no archive, no cemetery, no bizarre clue or wild character (and definitely no Dunkin’ Donuts) unexplored while traveling the globe to bring to life one of the most fantastic, important—and controversial—stories in American history.In 1819 John Adams came across a stunning story in his hometown Essex Register . He breathlessly described it to his political frenemy Thomas Jefferson as “one of the greatest curiosities and one of the deepest mysteries that ever occurred to me…entitled the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence. The genuine sense of America at that moment was never so well expressed before, nor since.” The story claimed that a full 14 months before Jefferson crafted his own Declaration of Independence, a misfit band of zealous Scots-Irish patriots, whiskey-loving Princeton scholars, and a fanatical frontier preacher had joined forces in a remote corner of North Carolina to become the first Americans to formally declare themselves “free and independent” from England.
Composed during a clandestine all-night session inside the Charlotte courthouse, the Mecklenburg Declaration, aka the MecDec, was signed on May 20, 1775—a date that’s still featured on the state flag of North Carolina. About a year later, in 1776, Jefferson is believed to have plagiarized the MecDec while composing his own, slightly more famous Declaration, and then, as he was wont to do, covered the whole thing up. Which is why Adams always insisted the MecDec needed to be “thoroughly investigated” and “more universally made known to the present and future generation.” Eleven U.S. Presidents and many of today’s most respected historical scholars agree. Now, with Who’s Your Founding Father?, David Fleming picks up where Adams’ investigation left off. Fleming leaves no archive, cemetery, bizarre clue, conspiracy theory, or wild character unexplored as he travels the globe and shines new light on one of the most fantastic, important—and controversial—stories in American history.
Composed during a clandestine all-night session inside the Charlotte courthouse, the Mecklenburg Declaration was signed on May 20, 1775—a date that’s still featured on the state flag of North Carolina. A year later, in 1776, Jefferson is believed to have plagiarized the MecDec while composing his own, slightly more famous Declaration and then, as he was wont to do, covered the whole thing up. Which is exactly why Adams always insisted the MecDec needed to be “thoroughly investigated” and “more universally made known to the present and future generation.” Eleven U.S. Presidents and many of today’s most respected historical scholars agree.
Now, with Who’s Your Founding Father?, David Fleming picks up where Adams left off, leaving no archive, no cemetery, no bizarre clue or wild character (and definitely no Dunkin’ Donuts) unexplored while traveling the globe to bring to life one of the most fantastic, important—and controversial—stories in American history.In 1819 John Adams came across a stunning story in his hometown Essex Register . He breathlessly described it to his political frenemy Thomas Jefferson as “one of the greatest curiosities and one of the deepest mysteries that ever occurred to me…entitled the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence. The genuine sense of America at that moment was never so well expressed before, nor since.” The story claimed that a full 14 months before Jefferson crafted his own Declaration of Independence, a misfit band of zealous Scots-Irish patriots, whiskey-loving Princeton scholars, and a fanatical frontier preacher had joined forces in a remote corner of North Carolina to become the first Americans to formally declare themselves “free and independent” from England.
Composed during a clandestine all-night session inside the Charlotte courthouse, the Mecklenburg Declaration, aka the MecDec, was signed on May 20, 1775—a date that’s still featured on the state flag of North Carolina. About a year later, in 1776, Jefferson is believed to have plagiarized the MecDec while composing his own, slightly more famous Declaration, and then, as he was wont to do, covered the whole thing up. Which is why Adams always insisted the MecDec needed to be “thoroughly investigated” and “more universally made known to the present and future generation.” Eleven U.S. Presidents and many of today’s most respected historical scholars agree. Now, with Who’s Your Founding Father?, David Fleming picks up where Adams’ investigation left off. Fleming leaves no archive, cemetery, bizarre clue, conspiracy theory, or wild character unexplored as he travels the globe and shines new light on one of the most fantastic, important—and controversial—stories in American history.
320 pages, Hardcover
Published May 16, 2023
61 people are currently reading
672 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews
June 20, 2023
If you're familiar with the Charlotte area at all and it's history, then you should at least have heard about the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence. It's a fascinating story that until now, hasn't been given its due, like other famous historical events.
David Fleming has breathed new life into this tale and will have you believing that something momentous did happen in May of 1775. I, being a Charlotte native, learned quite a bit about places and events in this town that made me appreciate it even more. He also uses humor effectively throughout, making this a fun read.
A definite recommend.
David Fleming has breathed new life into this tale and will have you believing that something momentous did happen in May of 1775. I, being a Charlotte native, learned quite a bit about places and events in this town that made me appreciate it even more. He also uses humor effectively throughout, making this a fun read.
A definite recommend.
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December 23, 2022I hadn't heard about the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence before, a document supposedly older than the official US Declaration of Independence that was signed in May 20th 1775, the year before the official one signed on August 2nd 1776. Fleming does sleuthing work trying to follow the trail of this controversial document, which most scholars consider fraudulent, and does so in an entertaining way that is very readable and at times humorous.
Not being that well-versed in US history, I can't say I was convinced the MecDec isn't fake as the evidence wasn't weighty for me. But I certainly learnt a lot, and I always appreciate that about historical periods I don't know much about. And I liked Fleming's very conversational and engaging narration, his mishaps and his successes on his search, and how mindful he is of keeping his readers "in place" as he leads them through the journey, not ahead, not behind, and definitely not lost.
I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Not being that well-versed in US history, I can't say I was convinced the MecDec isn't fake as the evidence wasn't weighty for me. But I certainly learnt a lot, and I always appreciate that about historical periods I don't know much about. And I liked Fleming's very conversational and engaging narration, his mishaps and his successes on his search, and how mindful he is of keeping his readers "in place" as he leads them through the journey, not ahead, not behind, and definitely not lost.
I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
October 26, 2023
I loved this book. Fleming writing as a journalist and not a trained historian makes this book fun and exceptionally readable while taking us through his thoroughly researched treatise on the validity of the Neck Deck. I am a skeptic no more. (it doesn't hurt that he takes shots at Thomas Jefferson every chance he gets)
June 15, 2024
The information concerning the Mecklenburg Declaration was very engaging. However, to get this information, the reader (or listener) had to wade through meaningless anecdotes. I found the author’s tone condescending, in what C.S. Lewis would refer to as chronological snobbery, which I find to be very annoying when someone is attempting to read their “enlightened viewpoints” from their cultural time into past historical events. Nevertheless, I largely agreed with the author’s findings and found the subject matter interesting.
August 7, 2023
Who's Your Founding Father? One Man's Quest to Uncover the First True Declaration of Independence. David Fleming. Hachette Books, 2023. 320 pages.
Wow! Never, ever have I thought that I would enjoy a book written by a sports guy, an ESPN guy no less. David Fleming has proven me wrong. This book is up there with Shakespeare Was A Woman as one of my favorite reads of 2023. Like that book, Who's Your Founding Father? takes an iconoclastic swing at a cherished and honored institution and totally backs it up. As a teacher, I loved challenging students' long held misconceptions and "elementary school teacher lies."
The challenged institution here is Thomas Jefferson's Declaration of Independence. No, not the truth that we should be celebrating July 2nd instead of July 4th (as John Adams felt). Whaaattttt?! Yes, the D of I was approved on July 2. The signers took the next two months to sign it, and some of the men who voted for it never signed it, and some of the signers never voted for it. July 4th is just considered the day that it was made public. The question here is, was there an earlier Declaration of Independence that Jefferson plagiarized? Fleming presents a solid case that there was.
This is something that Americans don't know, and, in fact, various people have actively engaged in suppression and destruction of evidence over the last two hundred years in order to protect Jefferson's reputation. Oh, how the mighty have fallen! Jefferson once existed at the summit of the American pantheon: thinker, architect, author, statesman. Today, his rampant hypocrisy and petty nature have chipped away at his reputation. He railed against the evils of slavery, but his whole life and fortune were made possible by slavery. He preached against race-mixing and how it would destroy society, but he had a decades-long relationship with the enslaved Sally Hemings, his dead wife's half-sister. Even during his lifetime, however, he was frequently attacked. Critics called his architecture style imitative and derivative. Fellow Congressmen remembered him as being dull, uninterested, and uninvolved, contributing nothing to Congressional debates and discussions. During the Revolution, he was accused of cowardice while other founders bravely served.
So, what did he plagiarize? On May 20, 1775, a group of 27 Scots-Irish Presbyterian leaders met at the county courthouse in Charlotte North Carolina to draft a declaration of independence from Great Britain, severing all ties. The document was then sent to Philadelphia where the congressmen assembled replied that it was too early and ignored it. Or did they? Whole passages appear verbatim in Jefferson's D of I. Unfortunately, fire destroyed some of the evidence of the Mecklenburg D of I in 1800, and, despite overwhelming credible evidence of its existence, it has been intentionally erased from history, except in North Carolina. John Adams was even unaware until about 1819 when he questioned Jefferson in letters and wrote about it to others. Jefferson, of course, deflected or ignored the questions, but he did say that he was always tasked with "synthesizing" and "harmonizing" numerous inspirations and never tasked with writing an "original" document.
Who's solid evidence should thoroughly convince the reader of the truth about the "Meck Deck," and it is an incredibly fun and entertaining book as well.
Wow! Never, ever have I thought that I would enjoy a book written by a sports guy, an ESPN guy no less. David Fleming has proven me wrong. This book is up there with Shakespeare Was A Woman as one of my favorite reads of 2023. Like that book, Who's Your Founding Father? takes an iconoclastic swing at a cherished and honored institution and totally backs it up. As a teacher, I loved challenging students' long held misconceptions and "elementary school teacher lies."
The challenged institution here is Thomas Jefferson's Declaration of Independence. No, not the truth that we should be celebrating July 2nd instead of July 4th (as John Adams felt). Whaaattttt?! Yes, the D of I was approved on July 2. The signers took the next two months to sign it, and some of the men who voted for it never signed it, and some of the signers never voted for it. July 4th is just considered the day that it was made public. The question here is, was there an earlier Declaration of Independence that Jefferson plagiarized? Fleming presents a solid case that there was.
This is something that Americans don't know, and, in fact, various people have actively engaged in suppression and destruction of evidence over the last two hundred years in order to protect Jefferson's reputation. Oh, how the mighty have fallen! Jefferson once existed at the summit of the American pantheon: thinker, architect, author, statesman. Today, his rampant hypocrisy and petty nature have chipped away at his reputation. He railed against the evils of slavery, but his whole life and fortune were made possible by slavery. He preached against race-mixing and how it would destroy society, but he had a decades-long relationship with the enslaved Sally Hemings, his dead wife's half-sister. Even during his lifetime, however, he was frequently attacked. Critics called his architecture style imitative and derivative. Fellow Congressmen remembered him as being dull, uninterested, and uninvolved, contributing nothing to Congressional debates and discussions. During the Revolution, he was accused of cowardice while other founders bravely served.
So, what did he plagiarize? On May 20, 1775, a group of 27 Scots-Irish Presbyterian leaders met at the county courthouse in Charlotte North Carolina to draft a declaration of independence from Great Britain, severing all ties. The document was then sent to Philadelphia where the congressmen assembled replied that it was too early and ignored it. Or did they? Whole passages appear verbatim in Jefferson's D of I. Unfortunately, fire destroyed some of the evidence of the Mecklenburg D of I in 1800, and, despite overwhelming credible evidence of its existence, it has been intentionally erased from history, except in North Carolina. John Adams was even unaware until about 1819 when he questioned Jefferson in letters and wrote about it to others. Jefferson, of course, deflected or ignored the questions, but he did say that he was always tasked with "synthesizing" and "harmonizing" numerous inspirations and never tasked with writing an "original" document.
Who's solid evidence should thoroughly convince the reader of the truth about the "Meck Deck," and it is an incredibly fun and entertaining book as well.
December 2, 2025
A really fun read for any Charlotteans. I loved learning about landmarks and statues around the city dedicated to this revolutionary period of history and how the country’s first declaration of independence has been challenged and celebrated over time. I hope to attend future MecDec Days!
January 24, 2024
I really wanted to like this book, and I did for the first chapter, Fleming’s writing style is casual and conversation, but after some time it gets to be tedious. There were many parts of the story that could’ve been pared down, chapter 13 was unnecessary.
While the colonial and revolutionary war history of the Charlotte area and North Carolina was interesting, Fleming went on too many tangents. He’s a journalist parading as a historian, which is revealed in the incorrect information he wrote and general assumptions he made about people without anything to back it up. One example was that he mentioned one of the MecDecer’s Scots-Irish Presbyterian ancestor’s wanting to leave Ireland, unhappy with his Roman Catholic landlord in the early 1700’s - Catholics couldn’t own land under British rule until 1778 (https://www.parliament.uk/about/livin....). Which made me wonder, what else he could be getting wrong? He also had a journalistic tendency to embellish the story a bit, for example his description of the Battle of Charlotte recreation at Rural Hill and how the locker room and reading room is at the British National Archives in Kew. Which again, made me wonder what else he was embellishing?
It’s clear Fleming has a passion for the topic, but the story fell flat to the point I was actively looking forward to being done with the book. His bibliography is poorly formatted, which makes fact checking more difficult.
While the colonial and revolutionary war history of the Charlotte area and North Carolina was interesting, Fleming went on too many tangents. He’s a journalist parading as a historian, which is revealed in the incorrect information he wrote and general assumptions he made about people without anything to back it up. One example was that he mentioned one of the MecDecer’s Scots-Irish Presbyterian ancestor’s wanting to leave Ireland, unhappy with his Roman Catholic landlord in the early 1700’s - Catholics couldn’t own land under British rule until 1778 (https://www.parliament.uk/about/livin....). Which made me wonder, what else he could be getting wrong? He also had a journalistic tendency to embellish the story a bit, for example his description of the Battle of Charlotte recreation at Rural Hill and how the locker room and reading room is at the British National Archives in Kew. Which again, made me wonder what else he was embellishing?
It’s clear Fleming has a passion for the topic, but the story fell flat to the point I was actively looking forward to being done with the book. His bibliography is poorly formatted, which makes fact checking more difficult.
February 9, 2025
My husband gave me this book for Christmas, and I was immediately interested in reading it. Now that I have completed it, I’d like to visit Charlotte to see some of the places that author David Fleming references in the book. Though Charlotte is in fairly close proximity to me, I’ve never known much about its rich Revolutionary War history. That was one part of this read that most intrigued me…along with Fleming’s descriptions of the Scots-Irish settlers of the Carolinas that I am likely descended from.
My hope, after reading this humorous but well researched account of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence, is that this history will not again be lost, covered up, or denied, especially as our nation approaches the 250-year anniversary of American independence. But I also hope that Thomas Jefferson really did have more redeeming qualities than what this and another book I previously read about him have revealed. Credit for American independence was certainly due to many more people than just him!
My hope, after reading this humorous but well researched account of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence, is that this history will not again be lost, covered up, or denied, especially as our nation approaches the 250-year anniversary of American independence. But I also hope that Thomas Jefferson really did have more redeeming qualities than what this and another book I previously read about him have revealed. Credit for American independence was certainly due to many more people than just him!
November 20, 2023
I learned a lot about the MecDec, and laughed a lot in the process. I am a North Carolinian, and I never knew this story. I believe it is American History for everyone. And the added bonus’ are the reveals about some of our presidents starting with TJ, then Taft, Wilson, Eisenhower, Ford, and a few others who had parts to play in memorializing the MecDec, or not. I need to plan a road trip to Charlotte to visit some of the 200 plus year old places David Fleming took us, and also to see the more recent statue of Captain Jack.
September 26, 2023
Loved this book… a book club pick that I probably would have missed otherwise. It’s history but told in such an engaging way that it is never dull or boring. Also I learned some really cool things about the Revolutionary War period in Charlotte, NC. This really turns a lot of what we think we know about the Declaration of Independence upside down. Highly recommend!
June 7, 2024
Being a North Carolina native - you would think I would have heard of the Meck Dec, but alas, my education has let me down. So I was delighted when I picked up this book and discovered the shocking history of the Scots-Irish settlers and their disillusions with the British rule resulting in the first deceleration of independence. I did in fact have "Meck Dec Face."
February 13, 2023
Quick Summary: An alternate history extension
My Review: Who's Your Founding Father?: One Man's Epic Quest to Uncover the First, True Declaration of Independence by David Fleming was equal parts diverting and intriguing.
As a self-proclaimed history buff and fan of National Treasure-esque perspectives, I was elated to happen upon this book. I was not disappointed by what I found. In chasing down history via a road less traveled vehicle, Fleming informed readers about the land of Dunkin' Donuts, the Adams-Jefferson standoff, the MecDec document and his inspired quest for clarity, and so much more.
Uncovering truths, perceived plots of conspiracy, alleged plagiarism, and fraud were deep in this historical extension.
My Final Say: This book is strongly recommended. It will appeal to history sleuths and origin story detectives alike.
Rating: 5/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: T/YA and up
Thank you to the author, to the publisher, and to NetGalley for providing access to this title in exchange for an honest review. The words I have shared are my own.
My Review: Who's Your Founding Father?: One Man's Epic Quest to Uncover the First, True Declaration of Independence by David Fleming was equal parts diverting and intriguing.
As a self-proclaimed history buff and fan of National Treasure-esque perspectives, I was elated to happen upon this book. I was not disappointed by what I found. In chasing down history via a road less traveled vehicle, Fleming informed readers about the land of Dunkin' Donuts, the Adams-Jefferson standoff, the MecDec document and his inspired quest for clarity, and so much more.
Uncovering truths, perceived plots of conspiracy, alleged plagiarism, and fraud were deep in this historical extension.
My Final Say: This book is strongly recommended. It will appeal to history sleuths and origin story detectives alike.
Rating: 5/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: T/YA and up
Thank you to the author, to the publisher, and to NetGalley for providing access to this title in exchange for an honest review. The words I have shared are my own.
May 21, 2024
Such an interesting piece of history! Just got a little long for me at the end.
May 23, 2023
This should be required high school reading! Not only for its wealth of carefully researched information, but also for what it uncovers about the lengths people will go to to conceal the truth, which is disturbing to be sure. Full disclosure, I am a Mecdec descendant(Matthew McClure) and have listened to the stories of my family history since I was a little girl, so I can attest to the veracity of extensive family lore on this topic. I have no doubt that it’s the truth! Even if I didn’t, Fleming’s exhaustive search for just that truth makes this book a real page turner, and the stories, omg!! I laughed till I cried! What a lot of fun this book is!!!! Thank you for your passion and prose.
October 5, 2023
A thoroughly engaging book that I did not expect to like so much - or at all. The author adds just enough humor & personal touches to bring history to life
October 22, 2023
In May of 1775, the county of Mecklenburg in North Carolina (county seat: Charlotte), declared independence from England. That's right--more than a year before THE Declaration of Independence was "written" by Thomas Jefferson (quotation marks for sarcasm, intentional). This "Meck Dec" though is very poorly known, even for me who has lived in Mecklenburg County 3 times, for a grand total of 19 years. Yes, I did know that the date was on the state flag, but I erroneously assumed that was the date North Carolina had become a state (although given that that was before 7/4/1776, that assumption doesn't hold up to scrutiny). The only time I ever heard about the Meck Dec prior to this audiobook was once when I was on a very long walk through an unfamiliar neighborhood, and there was a mural painting on the underside of an overpass about it. I then promptly forgot, as there was nothing else that ever reinforced this information.
Also, you may be wondering, yes, the Meck Dec was delivered to Philadelphia after a long, harrowing ride through dangerous lands by "Captain Jack" (quotation marks as this was a nickname). So yes, Thomas Jefferson was aware of it and did have access to it. And yes, he seems to have lifted full parts of the Meck Dec to use in his own Declaration. Much later, when John Adams ran across an article on the Meck Dec, he asked Jefferson who dismissed the entire idea because of course, those idiot Southerners couldn't have possibly ever had the time or brain power to think of things like "liberty" and "freedom." Jefferson seemed to think that was all the proof he needed that the Meck Dec couldn't have existed.
And it's true that the authenticity had been doubted numerous times over the years, but usually in the full face of evidence, not due to the lack thereof (although the document itself no longer exists.) Several doubters have even contributed to the missing evidence, as documents mysteriously disappeared after they looked at them.
Yes, I had wondered about the names of major roads in Charlotte like "Freedom Drive" and "Independence Boulevard" but honestly, I annoyingly assumed since Charlotte is such a young city (yes, the settlement has been around since the mid 1700s but not as a city) that these roads/parks/schools/libraries were named in a rather lazy fashion, possibly around the Bicentennial, and as I didn't think there was any real history in Charlotte to speak of, I assumed those names signified nothing more than that we were in America. I was so wrong. The very surroundings in Charlotte are trying to tell Charlotteans every day about the very cool history of the city.
This book was very funny, too. The author has an irreverence that keeps the book from feeling staid or boring. And the narration was quite sharp and also funny (although I don't agree with his pronunciation of "Charlottean" but it may have more than one pronunciation.) I learned so many, many fun facts. Such as that President Taft ate a 12 ounce steak for breakfast every morning. I wish this book had existed to read during my own tenure in Mecklenburg County so that I could more easily visit the Charlotte History Museum and historic sites related to the Meck Dec. Super highly recommended for anyone living there, but also for anyone interested in early American history (unless you are a Jefferson fan as he comes across very, very badly. I know, not hard to do these days, but I do now think, more than ever, that was was a colossal ass.)
I borrowed this digital audiobook from the library via Libby.
Also, you may be wondering, yes, the Meck Dec was delivered to Philadelphia after a long, harrowing ride through dangerous lands by "Captain Jack" (quotation marks as this was a nickname). So yes, Thomas Jefferson was aware of it and did have access to it. And yes, he seems to have lifted full parts of the Meck Dec to use in his own Declaration. Much later, when John Adams ran across an article on the Meck Dec, he asked Jefferson who dismissed the entire idea because of course, those idiot Southerners couldn't have possibly ever had the time or brain power to think of things like "liberty" and "freedom." Jefferson seemed to think that was all the proof he needed that the Meck Dec couldn't have existed.
And it's true that the authenticity had been doubted numerous times over the years, but usually in the full face of evidence, not due to the lack thereof (although the document itself no longer exists.) Several doubters have even contributed to the missing evidence, as documents mysteriously disappeared after they looked at them.
Yes, I had wondered about the names of major roads in Charlotte like "Freedom Drive" and "Independence Boulevard" but honestly, I annoyingly assumed since Charlotte is such a young city (yes, the settlement has been around since the mid 1700s but not as a city) that these roads/parks/schools/libraries were named in a rather lazy fashion, possibly around the Bicentennial, and as I didn't think there was any real history in Charlotte to speak of, I assumed those names signified nothing more than that we were in America. I was so wrong. The very surroundings in Charlotte are trying to tell Charlotteans every day about the very cool history of the city.
This book was very funny, too. The author has an irreverence that keeps the book from feeling staid or boring. And the narration was quite sharp and also funny (although I don't agree with his pronunciation of "Charlottean" but it may have more than one pronunciation.) I learned so many, many fun facts. Such as that President Taft ate a 12 ounce steak for breakfast every morning. I wish this book had existed to read during my own tenure in Mecklenburg County so that I could more easily visit the Charlotte History Museum and historic sites related to the Meck Dec. Super highly recommended for anyone living there, but also for anyone interested in early American history (unless you are a Jefferson fan as he comes across very, very badly. I know, not hard to do these days, but I do now think, more than ever, that was was a colossal ass.)
I borrowed this digital audiobook from the library via Libby.
April 14, 2023
As an author who published a mystery novel about the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence–Deadly Declarations–I thought I knew quite a bit about the MecDec story, but David Fleming reveals surprising details about the backstory–the reasons for what happened that day in Charlotte on May 20, 1775–and how and why, for many years thereafter, MecDec naysayers tried to debunk the story and hijack the narrative, but how others wouldn't let the story die. His humor, attention to detail, and set-the-record-straight approach were refreshing. Though at times I had to catch my breath–it felt like I was riding shotgun on a first in freedom roller coaster ride–I loved the way the author bit into the Meck Dec story and wouldn't let go. With no surviving original MecDec document, neither side in the MecDec debate can prove the other side is wrong, but with a narrative like this that exposes the motives and credibility of the players involved, David Fleming helps remind even the most hardened skeptics that oral history matters.
September 12, 2024
I felt that the author was offering his opinion about whether it was real or not. You’re to believe some people because of their title in the community but not others who have a similar title. Not a fan of this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 19, 2023
My thanks to both NetGalley and the publisher Hachette Books for an advanced copy of this book on an event that could change what we think about the founding of the United States.
The nice thing about being American is that most Americans have no real sense of history. Either through the failure of our educational system, or because of growing up in states that Whitewash uncomfortable bits of history only a few things are really known to most people. The Declaration of Independence is one of these things. Celebrated in books, Broadway musicals poems, even Schoolhouse Rock, most Americans know about the Declaration, and why July 4th is so important. However to paraphrase the Simpsons, they lied to us in song. The true tossing off of the yoke of tyranny of America and Britain might have happened in a small town in North Carolina, a year and couple of months before the big meeting in Philadelphia. An event that John Adams felt deserved more investigation, and one he poked at his friend/enemy Thomas Jefferson at in a few letters, snidely stating that Jefferson might have borrowed some idea from these previous rebels. And investigation that David Fleming so many years later decided to take up, and find out when the torch of freedom was properly lit, and what was the truth in the case of the Dual Declarations. Who's Your Founding Father?: One Man’s Epic Quest to Uncover the First, True Declaration of Independence is both a history of America and a biography of a document that might change the way that Americans are taught their own history. At least in some states.
David Fleming had heard about the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence, also known as the MecDec for some time but it wasn't until a crack on the head in a tomb for a former president that Fleming decided he needed to know more. The MecDec was supposedly written on May 20 1777 in North Carolina. A group of, well calling them independent thinkers is a little simple, but mix of freedom loving, religious, whiskey loving, with some Scots- Irish, and a few political thinkers had declared themselves free of Britain and its rules. And more importantly taxes, especially taxes on marriage. A year later Thomas Jefferson wrote a Declaration that seem to as comic book writers call it was an homage to the MecDec, but less open minded people would call plagiarized from it. Fleming starts his quest in New England, but soon is traveling all over interviewing a diverse group of people, and building a very solid case for the MecDec.
A very funny, very interesting and very eye opening story one a subject I have read about, but never really put together in my head. This is not like the novel Night Probe by Clive Cussler, where it turns out the United States has owned Canada for years, this is is well written well researched account of an event that many people, ex-presidents, historians and documentarians feel was a real event. Fleming travels to many states and archives, finds family histories, and even gets a pastor to commit a crime with him in his search. Actually I am just kidding about that, but he was going to ask. The people he meets are a very mixed assortment of Americans, and that is what I liked most. They all seemed interested in helping, pitching in finding springs, and places where the original original Founding Fathers met in North Carolina, sharing family stories, and keeping the dream alive. The writing is good, very personable and humorous, but with quite a bit of tension. Plus there are plenty of facts, and a real sense of mystery to the history. A very exciting read.
The more one reads this book, the more the reader becomes invested in the story. A book that would be a very good gift for Father's Day, especially if the person is into history. Or alternate history.
The nice thing about being American is that most Americans have no real sense of history. Either through the failure of our educational system, or because of growing up in states that Whitewash uncomfortable bits of history only a few things are really known to most people. The Declaration of Independence is one of these things. Celebrated in books, Broadway musicals poems, even Schoolhouse Rock, most Americans know about the Declaration, and why July 4th is so important. However to paraphrase the Simpsons, they lied to us in song. The true tossing off of the yoke of tyranny of America and Britain might have happened in a small town in North Carolina, a year and couple of months before the big meeting in Philadelphia. An event that John Adams felt deserved more investigation, and one he poked at his friend/enemy Thomas Jefferson at in a few letters, snidely stating that Jefferson might have borrowed some idea from these previous rebels. And investigation that David Fleming so many years later decided to take up, and find out when the torch of freedom was properly lit, and what was the truth in the case of the Dual Declarations. Who's Your Founding Father?: One Man’s Epic Quest to Uncover the First, True Declaration of Independence is both a history of America and a biography of a document that might change the way that Americans are taught their own history. At least in some states.
David Fleming had heard about the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence, also known as the MecDec for some time but it wasn't until a crack on the head in a tomb for a former president that Fleming decided he needed to know more. The MecDec was supposedly written on May 20 1777 in North Carolina. A group of, well calling them independent thinkers is a little simple, but mix of freedom loving, religious, whiskey loving, with some Scots- Irish, and a few political thinkers had declared themselves free of Britain and its rules. And more importantly taxes, especially taxes on marriage. A year later Thomas Jefferson wrote a Declaration that seem to as comic book writers call it was an homage to the MecDec, but less open minded people would call plagiarized from it. Fleming starts his quest in New England, but soon is traveling all over interviewing a diverse group of people, and building a very solid case for the MecDec.
A very funny, very interesting and very eye opening story one a subject I have read about, but never really put together in my head. This is not like the novel Night Probe by Clive Cussler, where it turns out the United States has owned Canada for years, this is is well written well researched account of an event that many people, ex-presidents, historians and documentarians feel was a real event. Fleming travels to many states and archives, finds family histories, and even gets a pastor to commit a crime with him in his search. Actually I am just kidding about that, but he was going to ask. The people he meets are a very mixed assortment of Americans, and that is what I liked most. They all seemed interested in helping, pitching in finding springs, and places where the original original Founding Fathers met in North Carolina, sharing family stories, and keeping the dream alive. The writing is good, very personable and humorous, but with quite a bit of tension. Plus there are plenty of facts, and a real sense of mystery to the history. A very exciting read.
The more one reads this book, the more the reader becomes invested in the story. A book that would be a very good gift for Father's Day, especially if the person is into history. Or alternate history.
August 15, 2023
This book, a must-read for any American history buffs (especially the American Revolution), traces the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence, in which a group of angry, courageous, rebel North Carolina colonialists declared themselves free and independent from England May 20, 1775, a year before the Declaration of Independence was written and signed in Philadelphia on July 4, 1776.
I can’t recall ever hearing about this North Carolina document, and I have ancestors who lived in North Carolina the time it was written. It was never brought up in my university American history class that focused on that period of time. I visited Charlotte, North Carolina too, where this document originated, and had no clue during that stay what took place in that spring of 1775. So much history disappears over time, or as the reader discovers, is purposely pushed into the shadows and blocked from view to most Americans, except the people of North Carolina, who proudly and defiantly have been celebrating their declaration of independence since it was written. This book now makes me wonder how much more history about the American Revolution has been ignored.
Journalist David Fleming thoroughly researched and investigated the 1775 Mecklenburg Declaration: the people who and why they wrote it, the place from which it evolved, what happened to the original document, the various people who denied its existence and what they did to quell it, and why and how it fell off the radar. His brilliant research shows you what is involved in finding and examining facts.
What really stunned me was learning that Thomas Jefferson, who eloquently composed the 1776 declaration, more than likely plagiarized the 1775 North Carolina document. What a bombshell that is. It was also disturbing to learn that North Carolina’s location as part of the south also played a factor in downplaying, overlooking and disregarding this important document. What amazed me as well is that there were 11 presidents who acknowledged the existence and importance of the Mecklenburg Declaration. Who knew.
Fleming wrote this book for the everyday American. He infuses some lively humor and comments throughout. The beginning of the book really gripped me and is the best part of the book. By the middle when he wrote about a battle that took place in Charlotte during the Revolution, I quickly lost interest. Luckily the rest of the book kept my interest, but not as much as the beginning.
It’s a complicated story with so many facts, details, and twists and turns that I did get lost a bit and thought the original 1775 document was still with us, which it isn’t. I would have liked the author to have summarized the highlights of all his findings in a final chapter and tie it all together so the reader walks away thoroughly grounded with the complete story after journeying on such a wild, crazy ride.
This book really opened my eyes. I think North Carolina deserves more credit than it has received for the important part it boldly played in declaring independence from England before any other colony and should be considered the cradle of American democracy, not Philadelphia.
I can’t recall ever hearing about this North Carolina document, and I have ancestors who lived in North Carolina the time it was written. It was never brought up in my university American history class that focused on that period of time. I visited Charlotte, North Carolina too, where this document originated, and had no clue during that stay what took place in that spring of 1775. So much history disappears over time, or as the reader discovers, is purposely pushed into the shadows and blocked from view to most Americans, except the people of North Carolina, who proudly and defiantly have been celebrating their declaration of independence since it was written. This book now makes me wonder how much more history about the American Revolution has been ignored.
Journalist David Fleming thoroughly researched and investigated the 1775 Mecklenburg Declaration: the people who and why they wrote it, the place from which it evolved, what happened to the original document, the various people who denied its existence and what they did to quell it, and why and how it fell off the radar. His brilliant research shows you what is involved in finding and examining facts.
What really stunned me was learning that Thomas Jefferson, who eloquently composed the 1776 declaration, more than likely plagiarized the 1775 North Carolina document. What a bombshell that is. It was also disturbing to learn that North Carolina’s location as part of the south also played a factor in downplaying, overlooking and disregarding this important document. What amazed me as well is that there were 11 presidents who acknowledged the existence and importance of the Mecklenburg Declaration. Who knew.
Fleming wrote this book for the everyday American. He infuses some lively humor and comments throughout. The beginning of the book really gripped me and is the best part of the book. By the middle when he wrote about a battle that took place in Charlotte during the Revolution, I quickly lost interest. Luckily the rest of the book kept my interest, but not as much as the beginning.
It’s a complicated story with so many facts, details, and twists and turns that I did get lost a bit and thought the original 1775 document was still with us, which it isn’t. I would have liked the author to have summarized the highlights of all his findings in a final chapter and tie it all together so the reader walks away thoroughly grounded with the complete story after journeying on such a wild, crazy ride.
This book really opened my eyes. I think North Carolina deserves more credit than it has received for the important part it boldly played in declaring independence from England before any other colony and should be considered the cradle of American democracy, not Philadelphia.
February 14, 2024
The premise of the book is pretty silly. But the author has little interest in historical truth or context.
His main objective seems to be following the fashion to dump all over Thomas Jefferson. He puts so many lies in the book about Jefferson, one doesn't know where to begin. I guess the worst one is asserting that DNA testing proved Jefferson fathered at least 6 kids by Sally Hemmings, when what DNA testing indicates is that Hemmings' last child was fathered by one of at least 25 Jeffersons living in the vicinity of Monticello and that Hemmings' 1st child was not fathered by any Jefferson.
Regarding his premise, that Mecklenburg Co., NC declared independence a year ahead of time in response to Lexington & Concord, rather what they almost certainly did do--the Mecklenburg Resolves (a quite forceful and more reasonable existing document)...regarding this premise, Flemming consistently screws with the reader by implying evidence that really isn't evidence. He never provides any careful detail of anything and omits so much that is relevant. This was such a big deal according to him, yet no one saw fit to mention it in a contemporary letter or diary or newspaper article--at least none that survive. It is probably all a misunderstanding stemming from people ~40 years after the event trying to recreate the Mecklenburg Resolves from memory.
Every event Flemming describes is distorted from its historical context in one or more ways. For instance, the Battle of Charlotte was the daring initiative of Wm. R. Davie, yet Fleming's rendering of it leaves him out.
I don't believe I have ever read a book quite this worthless. Flemming adds fuel to the fire of the thought that "journalists" are a tribe who likes to lie...but are too lazy or stupid to get into law school. There are so many bad histories by journalists, but this could be the worst.
His main objective seems to be following the fashion to dump all over Thomas Jefferson. He puts so many lies in the book about Jefferson, one doesn't know where to begin. I guess the worst one is asserting that DNA testing proved Jefferson fathered at least 6 kids by Sally Hemmings, when what DNA testing indicates is that Hemmings' last child was fathered by one of at least 25 Jeffersons living in the vicinity of Monticello and that Hemmings' 1st child was not fathered by any Jefferson.
Regarding his premise, that Mecklenburg Co., NC declared independence a year ahead of time in response to Lexington & Concord, rather what they almost certainly did do--the Mecklenburg Resolves (a quite forceful and more reasonable existing document)...regarding this premise, Flemming consistently screws with the reader by implying evidence that really isn't evidence. He never provides any careful detail of anything and omits so much that is relevant. This was such a big deal according to him, yet no one saw fit to mention it in a contemporary letter or diary or newspaper article--at least none that survive. It is probably all a misunderstanding stemming from people ~40 years after the event trying to recreate the Mecklenburg Resolves from memory.
Every event Flemming describes is distorted from its historical context in one or more ways. For instance, the Battle of Charlotte was the daring initiative of Wm. R. Davie, yet Fleming's rendering of it leaves him out.
I don't believe I have ever read a book quite this worthless. Flemming adds fuel to the fire of the thought that "journalists" are a tribe who likes to lie...but are too lazy or stupid to get into law school. There are so many bad histories by journalists, but this could be the worst.
May 30, 2023
So I actually didn’t know the Mecklenburg Declaration existed until I started this book so I found this all so fascinating! There’s just so much history we either aren’t taught or that has just been lost to, well, history.
But I’m so glad this book exists! It covers a lot of ground and gives so much (interesting) information! I learned so much and I really enjoyed this!! Especially the writing style.
The level of comedy contained in these pages was not something I was expecting from such serious nonfiction but I definitely was not disappointed!! I laughed my way through this and had a grand time!
I just wish I hadn’t been having such a hard time with allergies/concentration right now. I really had to take my time with this and would occasionally lose focus while reading and have to come back. That is entirely my own fault, not the book’s. I wish I had read this in a better season when my brain is more open to absorption. But even though this took me a bit, I really did enjoy my time with it!
Highly recommend if you’re looking for a good little historical number! And thank you to Hachette Go for sending both a finished copy and an arc my way in exchange for an honest review!
But I’m so glad this book exists! It covers a lot of ground and gives so much (interesting) information! I learned so much and I really enjoyed this!! Especially the writing style.
The level of comedy contained in these pages was not something I was expecting from such serious nonfiction but I definitely was not disappointed!! I laughed my way through this and had a grand time!
I just wish I hadn’t been having such a hard time with allergies/concentration right now. I really had to take my time with this and would occasionally lose focus while reading and have to come back. That is entirely my own fault, not the book’s. I wish I had read this in a better season when my brain is more open to absorption. But even though this took me a bit, I really did enjoy my time with it!
Highly recommend if you’re looking for a good little historical number! And thank you to Hachette Go for sending both a finished copy and an arc my way in exchange for an honest review!
January 13, 2024
Who’s Your Founding Father? By David Fleming
Fleming provides a fun read and history of a revolutionary time in North Carolina that all Americans should celebrate. Brave and bold, mostly Scot Irish Presbyterians, from the Charlotte area created, signed the first American Declaration of Independence and sent copies of the document to the Continental Congress not quite ready to sever our ties with the mother country. That ride by Captain Jack is another part of our American history to be celebrated.
Once the revolution did start across the entire country the southern patriots played a large role in our fight for freedom.
Here is how history is written (more so how it is sometimes maligned) through the ages. Several Presidential visits to Charlotte to celebrate the May 20 anniversary of the signing of the document are covered.
There is an endearing story of President Washington and a little girl!
There is the ‘shade’ from John Adams to Thomas Jefferson on the curious document with very similar key wording that preceded by 15 months Jefferson’s famous declaration.
My only regret is that the book did not contain illustrations or photos. The statue or painting of Captain Jack’s ride would be a treasured addition!
Fleming provides a fun read and history of a revolutionary time in North Carolina that all Americans should celebrate. Brave and bold, mostly Scot Irish Presbyterians, from the Charlotte area created, signed the first American Declaration of Independence and sent copies of the document to the Continental Congress not quite ready to sever our ties with the mother country. That ride by Captain Jack is another part of our American history to be celebrated.
Once the revolution did start across the entire country the southern patriots played a large role in our fight for freedom.
Here is how history is written (more so how it is sometimes maligned) through the ages. Several Presidential visits to Charlotte to celebrate the May 20 anniversary of the signing of the document are covered.
There is an endearing story of President Washington and a little girl!
There is the ‘shade’ from John Adams to Thomas Jefferson on the curious document with very similar key wording that preceded by 15 months Jefferson’s famous declaration.
My only regret is that the book did not contain illustrations or photos. The statue or painting of Captain Jack’s ride would be a treasured addition!
August 15, 2023
David Fleming gives us the stories that our high school history teachers didn’t tell us when we want to (have to, maybe??) of the early development of our United States.
The book has some humorous things in the years up to and then after the “US” was made. The first chapter –“Dun’ With Thomas Jefferson” is a model of what the book has. Not the drinking but to events at the time. And in an early chapter, we have a piece of how the US about. The author mixes NASCAR and churches.
There are some unusual piece of history in the middle chapters. There’s a “South” Paul Revere (chapter 7) and a note about Covid.
And then there's Battle of Charlotte that was 20 minutes long.
All of the material in the book is anchored by a lot of notes and books and other ata that those things happened.
The last chapter gets us to the fattest president. And there’s the short pice on the president whose time in office went to 1963.
It’s a book about history put into a very different view of what historians don’t write. It’s not the book for a high school or college history course, but it’s more than just history as comedy.
The book has some humorous things in the years up to and then after the “US” was made. The first chapter –“Dun’ With Thomas Jefferson” is a model of what the book has. Not the drinking but to events at the time. And in an early chapter, we have a piece of how the US about. The author mixes NASCAR and churches.
There are some unusual piece of history in the middle chapters. There’s a “South” Paul Revere (chapter 7) and a note about Covid.
And then there's Battle of Charlotte that was 20 minutes long.
All of the material in the book is anchored by a lot of notes and books and other ata that those things happened.
The last chapter gets us to the fattest president. And there’s the short pice on the president whose time in office went to 1963.
It’s a book about history put into a very different view of what historians don’t write. It’s not the book for a high school or college history course, but it’s more than just history as comedy.
May 27, 2023
While I found a good portion of this quite interesting as it’s not a topic I knew anything about previously, the way it was shared was less than interesting for the majority of this book. It’s quite slow paced but I get the feeling it wasn’t supposed to be. More of it was boring than I was prepared for. I skimmed more of it than I wanted to - but I found a good portion of each chapter to feel pretty irrelevant to the topic and I just didn’t want to read it.
I received both an eGalley through NetGalley and a physical ARC from Hachette Books and I thank them for it. Now that I’m introduced to this topic I’m intrigued and will be conducting further research into the MecDec because I am so curious about it! This book provides a good chunk of information on it, but as I said it was kind of a boring journey and I feel other sources would be more enjoyable (for me anyway).
I still recommend this as a jumping off point if you, like me, have never heard of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence.
I received both an eGalley through NetGalley and a physical ARC from Hachette Books and I thank them for it. Now that I’m introduced to this topic I’m intrigued and will be conducting further research into the MecDec because I am so curious about it! This book provides a good chunk of information on it, but as I said it was kind of a boring journey and I feel other sources would be more enjoyable (for me anyway).
I still recommend this as a jumping off point if you, like me, have never heard of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence.
July 5, 2025
Decided to read this one on July 4th... because, July 4th, right?
I didn't know the backstory of the Mecklenburg Declaration-- a group of men from Scotland and Ireland generally who settled into North Carolina-- and created their own Declaration about a year before the real one was drafted. There was some conversation between John Adams and Thomas Jefferson regarding it. The understanding is that when this was done in May 1775, it was heavily borrowed re: plagiarized by our founding fathers in similar fashion to declare our independence from England.
Fleming goes on a fact-finding mission to understand this story in it's entirety. I appreciate the ambition and am happy for knowing this corner of history not found in textbooks however the humor grated on me after a while. I get the lighthearted quest side of the book and he's clearly academically-minded, so what's with the goofiness found in between the pages?
The MecDec is something to know and understand in how it provided for our future in the United States. Who were THOSE guys?
I didn't know the backstory of the Mecklenburg Declaration-- a group of men from Scotland and Ireland generally who settled into North Carolina-- and created their own Declaration about a year before the real one was drafted. There was some conversation between John Adams and Thomas Jefferson regarding it. The understanding is that when this was done in May 1775, it was heavily borrowed re: plagiarized by our founding fathers in similar fashion to declare our independence from England.
Fleming goes on a fact-finding mission to understand this story in it's entirety. I appreciate the ambition and am happy for knowing this corner of history not found in textbooks however the humor grated on me after a while. I get the lighthearted quest side of the book and he's clearly academically-minded, so what's with the goofiness found in between the pages?
The MecDec is something to know and understand in how it provided for our future in the United States. Who were THOSE guys?
May 13, 2023
We need Mr. Fleming to edit all the history books and give them this wonderfully funny, east to ready, and accurate historical facts! I loved this book.
I'd known NOTHING about the MecDec until I read this. What fascinating history and to know that it was slowly being lost, but, it seems like it's becoming relevant again. Very well written and the historical sources are spot on. I mean the author went to England to try to find evidence of the existence of this document.
Many truths about the Founding Fathers and their lives, that sometimes go against the 'common knowledge' that we were taught about them. Not altogether bad people, but products of the times. Some spots were fast paced and others were a bit slow. In my opinion, that's kind of like history!
Thanks for an informative book that gave me more history about the formation of the United States that I didn't even know I was missing!
I'd known NOTHING about the MecDec until I read this. What fascinating history and to know that it was slowly being lost, but, it seems like it's becoming relevant again. Very well written and the historical sources are spot on. I mean the author went to England to try to find evidence of the existence of this document.
Many truths about the Founding Fathers and their lives, that sometimes go against the 'common knowledge' that we were taught about them. Not altogether bad people, but products of the times. Some spots were fast paced and others were a bit slow. In my opinion, that's kind of like history!
Thanks for an informative book that gave me more history about the formation of the United States that I didn't even know I was missing!
March 29, 2025
“In 1776, Thomas Jefferson is believed to have plagiarized the Mecklenberg Declaration of Independence, and then, as he was wont to do, covered the whole damn thing up.”
“Convinced that he had been robbed of his legacy by the conniving Jefferson, a scorned John Adams refused to attend Jefferson’s inauguration… Adams publicly labeled Jefferson, a phony whose total incapacity for leadership, government, and war would leave the Republic infinitely worse than he found it. Jefferson’s cronies, in turn, labeled Adams a hideous hermaphroditical character with neither the force and firmness of a man nor the gentleness and sensibility of a woman.”
“Jefferson indeed secretly fathered at least six children with his slave SallyHemings (who was his dead wife’s half-sister). He did this all, of course, while declaring in his only book, Notes on the State of Virginia, that racial amalgamation was a horrific, disastrous idea.”
Jefferson called Christianity “the most perverted system that ever shone on man.”
“Convinced that he had been robbed of his legacy by the conniving Jefferson, a scorned John Adams refused to attend Jefferson’s inauguration… Adams publicly labeled Jefferson, a phony whose total incapacity for leadership, government, and war would leave the Republic infinitely worse than he found it. Jefferson’s cronies, in turn, labeled Adams a hideous hermaphroditical character with neither the force and firmness of a man nor the gentleness and sensibility of a woman.”
“Jefferson indeed secretly fathered at least six children with his slave SallyHemings (who was his dead wife’s half-sister). He did this all, of course, while declaring in his only book, Notes on the State of Virginia, that racial amalgamation was a horrific, disastrous idea.”
Jefferson called Christianity “the most perverted system that ever shone on man.”
October 15, 2023
Thank you NetGalley for a free review copy!
Fleming is amongst a more and more vocal group of new historians who are taking a hard look at the Founding Fathers and finding a heck of a lot of propaganda that holds up these rich white men as saviors and ignores all of the work done by everyone else. Here, Fleming specifically traces through the record to find what evidence is there to support the radical theory that Jefferson plagiarized his Declaration of Independence from a document written and signed by a group of North Carolina colonialists a year before Jefferson's Declaration of Independence was signed in Philadelphia on July 4, 1776, signed by a decidedly less upper crust group of people. Classism has been baked into America from the very beginning and it is past time to take a hard look at it.
Fleming is amongst a more and more vocal group of new historians who are taking a hard look at the Founding Fathers and finding a heck of a lot of propaganda that holds up these rich white men as saviors and ignores all of the work done by everyone else. Here, Fleming specifically traces through the record to find what evidence is there to support the radical theory that Jefferson plagiarized his Declaration of Independence from a document written and signed by a group of North Carolina colonialists a year before Jefferson's Declaration of Independence was signed in Philadelphia on July 4, 1776, signed by a decidedly less upper crust group of people. Classism has been baked into America from the very beginning and it is past time to take a hard look at it.
October 28, 2023
David Fleming makes history fun!
You may think you know the story of the Declaration of Independence, but you don't. This highly entertaining and readable book proves through a preponderence of evidence that the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence existed and it predated the national declaration by 14 months. You will learn about the courageous patriots who lived near modern-day Charlotte, NC, in easy-to-comprehend chapters with plenty of humor thrown in for good measure. This book has it all: conspiracy theories, a Dunkin' Donuts obsession, US Presidents, and even a stunt designed by NASCAR promoter Humpy Wheeler. As we approach the 250th anniversary of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence and the USA, this book is a must-read! To Mr. Fleming, I say, "Well done and Huzzah!"
You may think you know the story of the Declaration of Independence, but you don't. This highly entertaining and readable book proves through a preponderence of evidence that the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence existed and it predated the national declaration by 14 months. You will learn about the courageous patriots who lived near modern-day Charlotte, NC, in easy-to-comprehend chapters with plenty of humor thrown in for good measure. This book has it all: conspiracy theories, a Dunkin' Donuts obsession, US Presidents, and even a stunt designed by NASCAR promoter Humpy Wheeler. As we approach the 250th anniversary of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence and the USA, this book is a must-read! To Mr. Fleming, I say, "Well done and Huzzah!"
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