Was 1776 the most important year in modern history? And how much of today's supposedly secular Western world still owes its values to Christianity?In this episode of History’s Last Stand, Dr Michael F. Bird welcomes Andrew Wilson, author of Remaking the World: How 1776 Created the Post-Christian West, for a fascinating exploration of the year that changed everything.From the American Declaration of Independence and Adam Smith's The Wealth of Nations to the Industrial Revolution and the rise of atheism, Wilson reveals how seven extraordinary transformations converged to create the modern world.But the conversation goes deeper. Were universal human rights really self-evident? What did Benjamin Franklin change in Thomas Jefferson's Declaration of Independence? And did Christianity leave such a profound imprint on Western civilisation that even its critics continue to think in Christian categories?The conversation also explores the emergence of modern unbelief, the influence of Voltaire, David Hume and the Marquis de Sade, and the surprising relationship between Protestantism and paganism in contemporary culture.Discover why understanding 1776 may be the key to understanding the modern West.History’s Last Stand, hosted by Dr Michael F. Bird, brings the extraordinary events, personalities and ideas of history to life.
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Released on 12 Nov 2026