Forging a New Nation

The Declaration of Independence’s 250th anniversary in 2026 is certain to be a time of national reflection. This founding document 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 the world was ruled by monarchs and emperors, these claims of rights and equality were nothing short of revolutionary. During the last 250 years, Americans have routinely turned to the declaration to define themselves as a people and a nation.

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. This initiative encourages perspectives from a wide variety of disciplines, departments, and schools and aims to catalyze new connections between UR’s five schools. 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 rights and equality, including a Faculty Round Table in February, and a Student Short Film Festival in April.

To learn more about applications of the Declaration of Independence through American history, please check out Dr. Mack's short article recently published in The Conversation.