Important Speeches and Documents in the Formation of America: Ratification of The US Constitution
Ben Martin outlines the process of the ratification of the United States Constitution. Because of his work not only on…
Ben Martin
Veteran
Policy Expert
Community Leader
Colorado
Ben Martin is a patriotic historian, West Point graduate, and former Army Ranger who teaches American founding heritage through programs on the Federalist Papers, founding documents, and the Revolutionary War.
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Biography
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Ben Martin is a West Point graduate and former Army Ranger who has dedicated his post-military career to preserving and teaching American founding history. As a patriotic historian, he brings the stories of the Revolutionary War and the Founding Fathers to life through engaging educational presentations and community programs.
Martin's expertise spans the full breadth of the American founding era. He has presented comprehensive series on the Federalist Papers, examining essays 1-85 in detail and explaining their relevance to contemporary constitutional debates. His Revolutionary War coverage includes detailed accounts of major battles from Lexington and Concord through the Siege of Yorktown, with particular attention to Washington's leadership and the strategic decisions that shaped American independence.
A specialist in founding documents and speeches, Martin has analyzed the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, Washington's Farewell Address, and Lincoln's most significant orations including the Lyceum Speech, Cooper Union Address, and Gettysburg Address. His presentations connect historical principles to modern civic challenges, helping audiences understand why the founders' wisdom remains relevant today.
Martin has been one of the most frequent guests on the Kim Monson Show, appearing over 50 times since February 2019. His monthly historical segments have covered the Federalist Papers, important speeches and documents of the American founding, year-long Revolutionary War series, and explorations of key founding figures including Washington, Franklin, Lincoln, Patrick Henry, and Samuel Adams. He is known for his ability to make complex historical material accessible and engaging while drawing meaningful connections to contemporary American life.
Based in Colorado, Martin continues to teach America's Heritage classes and speaks to community groups about the founding principles that shaped the nation. His military background as a West Point graduate and Army Ranger informs his understanding of leadership, sacrifice, and the martial aspects of the Revolutionary War.
Articles by Ben Martin
Important Speeches and Documents in the Formation of America: Three Key Figures in Ratification of the U.S. Constitution
If we don’t understand the vision of the American Idea, we cannot love the American Idea. In this Op-Ed patriotic…
Important Speeches and Documents in the Formation of America: George Washington as President
Historian Ben Martin continues his Important Speeches and Documents in the Formation of America series with George Washington as President.
Important Speeches and Documents in the Formation of America: George Washington, Commander in Chief
Historian Ben Martin continues his Important Speeches and Documents in the Formation of America series with George Washington as Commander…
Important Speeches and Documents in the Formation of America: George Washington
Historian Ben Martin begins his Important Speeches and Documents in the Formation of America series with George Washington.
Episodes
58 appearancesDecember 25, 2025
The True Story of St. Nicholas and Washington’s Christmas Miracle
Community Stories & Local Heroes
“Had Washington done nothing before or after those 10 days from 25 December 76 to 3 January 77, he would still go down in history as one of history's great commanders.”
April 17, 2025
250th Anniversary of Patriots Day and Irish Independence Parallels
Culture, Community & Civil Society
Irish independence and the 250th anniversary of Patriots Day explored with Colonel Bill Rutledge and Ben Martin. April 17, 2025.
“This year, it is a very special Patriots Day because it is the 250th anniversary of Patriots Day and the start of the American Revolution, or as it is sometimes called, the War for American Independence.”
“And the only reason the Americans lost, because they had built these great fortifications in the middle of the night, was that they ran out of ammunition.”
“Well, a Pyrrhic victory is when you may win the battle, but you lose so many people that it really wasn't worth the effort.”
December 30, 2024
Christmas History and Washington’s Revolutionary Crossing
Culture, Community & Civil Society
Bill Federer traces Christmas origins. Ben Martin recounts Washington's Delaware crossing. December 30, 2024.
“So Washington's response to all of this, you know, when you think, oh, he's depressed, he can't do anything and stuff like that, his response is, we're going to win. So they fight the first battle of Trenton, and he uses as his challenge and password victory or death. That's how important he thought this was, you know, to turn the whole scope of the war around.”
“And to underline the seriousness with Washington regarding this operation, he established those words, victory or death, to make every one of his soldiers understand how critical this was.”
December 24, 2024
Christmas Origins and Washington’s Revolutionary Triumph
Constitution & Rule of Law
“So it shows how selfless he was as a leader.”
“So they fight the first battle of Trenton, and he uses as his challenge and password victory or death.”
November 27, 2024
Revolutionary War Conclusion and Pilgrim Origins of Self-Government
Constitution & Rule of Law
Ben Martin chronicles the Revolutionary War's final campaigns and Scott Powell reveals the Pilgrims' five achievements. November 27, 2024.
“But they believed in our country, and they believed it was their duty to do the things they did.”
“to be part of this movement, this revolution, to actually build something better than what had ever been seen before, a government of the people, by the people, and for the people, self-government, something that had really never been done successfully throughout the 5,000 or 6,000-year written history of the world.”
March 14, 2024
Washington, Lincoln, and the Enduring Lessons of President’s Day
Civic Engagement & Grassroots
Ben Martin and Scott Powell explore Washington and Lincoln's enduring legacy and warnings on President's Day. March 14, 2024.
“If destruction be our lot, we ourselves must be its author and finisher. As a nation of free men, we must live through all times or die by suicide.”
“Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports.”
February 19, 2024
Why Washington and Lincoln Still Matter Today
Civic Engagement & Grassroots
Ben Martin and Scott Powell explore the enduring lessons of Washington and Lincoln, revealing their relevance to today's challenges. February 19, 2024.
“This is a great celebration day in American history. And even though we see so much negativity in our daily news, today, let's put that all aside and celebrate this great day and our two greatest American presidents and be honored and happy that we're Americans.”
May 17, 2023
Lincoln’s Awakening on Slavery and the Fight for Food Freedom
Constitution & Rule of Law
Ben Martin on Lincoln's 1850s awakening and Trent Loos on the Supreme Court's Proposition 12 food ruling. May 17, 2023.
“Lincoln always detested slavery, but he never took any serious public stance on the slavery issue before the 1850s. It was inconceivable to Lincoln that slave labor could ever effectively compete with the labor of free men. And he expected that it would naturally die out on its own, just like the founders did.”
April 25, 2023
Lincoln’s Political Journey, Medical Freedom Rights, and the Debt Ceiling Battle
Civic Engagement & Grassroots
Ben Martin explores Lincoln's law career, Matt Dark discusses medical freedom, and Wade Miller analyzes debt ceiling negotiations on April 25, 2023.
“Of those men who have overturned the liberties of republics, the greatest number have begun their career by paying an obsequious court to the people, the commencing demagogues and ending tyrants.”
March 20, 2023
Lincoln’s Political Rise and the Fight Against 15-Minute Cities
Civic Engagement & Grassroots
Ben Martin, Randall O'Toole, Roger Mangan. March 20, 2023.
“Washington is the mightiest name of earth, long since mightiest in the cause of civil liberty, still mightiest in moral reformation. On that name a eulogy is expected. It cannot be. To add brightness to the sun or glory to the name of Washington is alike impossible.”
February 27, 2023
Lincoln’s Lessons on Internal Threats, Second Amendment Under Attack, and the Subsidized Housing Industrial Complex
Colorado Politics & Policy
Ben Martin, Randall O'Toole, Ty Winter, Roger Mangan. February 27, 2023.
“I respectfully call him the father of our second founding. He, like the father of our first founding, George Washington, kept our nation together in the most trying of crises. Both, in their own time, defeated the nefarious forces of that age old and successful strategy of divide and conquer.”
December 27, 2022
Washington’s Farewell Address Remains America’s Essential Guidebook
Ben Martin examines Washington's Farewell Address, Jeffrey Tucker exposes COVID lockdown origins. December 27, 2022.
“For a great leader to voluntarily give up power and return to private life is almost unprecedented in the annals of history. He understood his duty, that his duty came first, that it was his to make sure that the American people would go on after he was gone.”
“Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness.”
November 23, 2022
The End of the Revolutionary War and the Fight for Individual Liberty
Ben Martin recounts the final battles of the Revolutionary War while Jay Davidson analyzes the 2022 election and Republican messaging. November 23, 2022.
“Most of them had to leave a job. These weren't pikers for the most part. The guys that led, the officers that were in our Revolutionary War, most of them were very successful business people or farmers. They had a profession before this started, but they gave it all up to be part of this movement, this revolution, to actually build something better than what had ever been seen before.”
October 26, 2022
Revolutionary War Turning Points and the Battle for Classical Education
Ben Martin traces Revolutionary War turning points while Steve Peck and Kim Gilmartin discuss Colorado school choice battles. October 26, 2022.
“And the thing that's really important, Kim, to understand about all this stuff is that all of these things weren't just easy things to do. And we're going to talk about throughout this thing about turning points in this Revolutionary War, things that could have not happened. And had they not happened, we could have lost the war easily. And by losing the war, we would have lost our country, and we wouldn't have the country we have today.”
“But his heart was in the right place and his virtues were in the right place. And he listened to his subordinates, too. I mean, He turned out to be a heck of a general. I don't know if anybody else could have done that.”
September 28, 2022
Constitutional Sheriffs and the Tenth Amendment’s Defense of Liberty
Sheriff Richard Mack discusses his Supreme Court victory against the Brady Bill. Ben Martin explores the Constitution on September 28, 2022.
“To our founders, liberty is a responsible exercise of freedom. Animals could be set free, but liberty can only be applied to humans who have reason and a conscience to differentiate between bad and good.”
September 6, 2022
Divine Providence and Revolutionary Courage: From Washington’s Battles to the Fight Against Critical Race Theory
Ben Martin on Washington's New York campaign; Doug Groothuis exposes critical race theory's Marxist roots. September 6, 2022.
“Had Washington done nothing before or after those 10 days, he still would be regarded as one of history's best commanders.”
“We can't even comprehend a lot of those sacrifices. But it's just amazing what they did. And we're the beneficiaries of all that. Those guys didn't ask for anything. They just did what they needed to do to become free.”
July 6, 2022
The Declaration of Independence and the American Creed
Ben Martin and Doug Groothuis explore the Declaration of Independence and American exceptionalism. July 6, 2022.
“The assertion of that principle at that time was the word fitly spoken. He's borrowing this from the Bible, which has proven to be an apple of gold to us. The Union and the Constitution are the picture of silver subsequently framed around it. But the picture was made not to conceal or destroy the apple, but to adorn and preserve it.”
June 23, 2022
Founding Warriors and the Battle for Liberty
Ben Martin recounts Lexington, Concord, and Bunker Hill. Ron Hanks outlines his Senate platform. June 23, 2022.
“Those weapons are not only to protect us personally, but they're also to protect us from an overreaching government.”
April 11, 2022
Pre-Revolutionary War Founders and BioBiden Labs in Ukraine
Ben Martin on pre-Revolutionary founders and British tyranny. Jill Vecchio on U.S. biolabs in Ukraine. April 11, 2022.
“We have to remember that at that time, the British were our governors, were our government, and they were working against us. And, you know, that's why when you said, we can feel that today, it's the same kind of thing. You feel like the government is working against you.”
March 22, 2022
The Contributions of America’s Pre-Revolutionary Founders and Colorado’s Election Integrity Crisis
Historian Ben Martin explores pre-revolutionary founders, Holly Kasun reveals Colorado election anomalies. March 22, 2022.
“But a young George Washington, a young Daniel Morgan, and maybe a little bit young, but a mature Benjamin Franklin, they were contributing, making major contributions to us throughout their lifetime. And this is just contextualizing what they did as younger people.”
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