America at 250: The Legacy of the Declaration of Independence

Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King, Jr. both argued that the proper foundation for civic education is the belief that America has a moral essence derived from the principles of the Declaration of Independence. America’s history and purpose—it’s past, present, and future—is the story of our struggle to live up to those principles. Our conversation with center around three documents that demonstrate that an American is not just a citizen or an abstract concept, but a certain kind of human being, a person whose mind and heart have been profoundly shaped by the principles contained in the Declaration. These words still resonate 250 years later for teachers, students, and citizens: “We hold these truths to be selfevident, that all men are created equal.”

This program will be conducted as a discussion, utilizing primary source documents as the only readings with the Professor facilitating the conversation. Teachers will receive a Letter of Attendance at the conclusion of the seminar.