The Ideas at the Heart of the Declaration and the Constitution

As the nation marks its 250th anniversary, the National Constitution Center convenes three of the country’s leading scholars for a timely and reflective conversation on the founding principles that continue to shape American constitutional democracy. David Blight, Robert P. George, and Annette Gordon-Reed will explore the enduring ideas at the core of the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution—including equality, liberty, the pursuit of happiness, and government by consent—and examine how those principles have been debated, interpreted, and contested over time. Moderated by Thomas Donnelly, lead scholar at the National Constitution Center, this conversation invites audiences to engage deeply with the ideas that launched a nation, and to consider how our shared constitutional story continues to unfold.

Explore the America at 250 Civic Toolkit: https://constitutioncenter.org/america-at-250

Visit our media library to discover more online classes, podcasts, and Town Hall conversations: https://constitutioncenter.org/news-debate/media-library

Follow the National Constitution Center on social media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/constitutionctr/

X: https://x.com/ConstitutionCtr

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/constitutionctr/

Sign up for our newsletter: https://visitor.r20.constantcontact.com/manage/optin?v=001isJLcA0NBDU2D_HGg2ohDtUUbfEfE-Gpl9t1---7rRBAsT4f5B7IV2UbsNZFPIVvYFY1ZtLK4zENNfTuda3Z_WJBoefPS8mnvM8KMyfAOq4%3D