Forging a New Nation

In July 2026, the United States will celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, which proclaimed that “all men are created equal,” that individuals have “inalienable rights," and that governments must derive “their just powers from the consent of the governed.” When much of Afro-Eurasia was ruled by monarchs and emperors, these claims of liberty and equality were nothing short of revolutionary. Nearly 250 years later, the revolutionary ideals espoused in the Declaration continue to animate fierce discussions about America’s core values.

The Forging a New Nation initiative aims to facilitate discussions between UR faculty, staff, and students about the many applications of the Declaration of Independence throughout American history and about their relevance to our present moment. Under the stewardship of Democracy Initiative Fellow Dr. Graeme Mack (Visiting Assistant Professor, History Department), the Forging a New Nation initiative will host several events through Spring 2026 and Fall 2026 to discuss the Declaration’s role over centuries in shaping new understandings of American liberty and equality, including faculty round tables, undergraduate symposiums, and guest speakers. This initiative encourages perspectives from a wide variety of disciplines, departments, and schools and aims to catalyze new connections between UR’s five schools.