Is the Declaration Dead at 250? Considering the Historical Legacy of the Declaration of Independence

To what extent do the principles of the Declaration of Independence live on in the age of Donald Trump? In the wake of the 2024 election, the Declaration’s grievances circulated online as evidence of the United States’s foundational anti-monarchical politics even as the newly inaugurated President declared that he would “restore truth and sanity to American history” by, in part, emphasizing the “unparalleled legacy of advancing liberty, individual rights, and human happiness.” The meaning of the Declaration of Independence remains very much contested 250 years after it was written. As we prepare to engage this text as a community for the 2026 Humanities Symposium, join experts from the History Department in a conversation about the historical legacies of the Declaration of Independence, its significance at the time, and its relevance today. Panelists include Dr. Janna Haider on citizenship and the law, Matt Mulcahy on the early Republic, and Dr. Oghenetoja Okoh on the global significance of the Declaration. The panel will be moderated by Dr. Andrew Israel Ross.

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