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TACKLING CONTRADICTIONS IN
THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
AT THE NATIONAL CONSTITUTION CENTER
Program in connection with museum’s exhibition on Thomas Jefferson,
Independence Week programming
Philadelphia, PA (May 30, 2014) –“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men
are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable
Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” In just 1,337
words, the Declaration of Independence forever changed the course of the modern
world. Most individuals can recite some of the words of this famous document, but not
all. And perhaps less have paused to ponder its full and complete meaning—both in
1776 and in 2014. On the eve of the 238th anniversary of its adoption, political
theorist and Princeton professor Danielle Allen visits the National Constitution Center to
unveil her new book, Our Declaration: A Reading of the Declaration of
Independence in Defense of Equality. National Constitution Center Senior Education
Fellow Christopher Phillips will moderate.
This program will take place on Friday, June 27, 2014 at 12 p.m. Admission is FREE,
but reservations are recommended and can be made by calling 215-409-6700 or visiting
constitutioncenter.org. A book sale and signing with Allen will follow the discussion. All
program attendees will receive $5 admission to view the museum’s current feature
exhibition, Slavery at Jefferson’s Monticello.
Described as “simple, sharp and deftly executed” by Kirkus Reviews, Our Declaration
illustrates the influence of words in shaping events and the importance of equality to
democratic life. Vividly evoking the colonial world between 1774 and 1777, the book
describes the challenges faced by John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin,
Roger Sherman, and Robert Livingston—the "Committee of Five" who had to write a
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document that reflected the aspirations of a restive population and forge an
unprecedented social contract. Although the focus is usually on Jefferson, Allen also
gives credit not only to Adams and Richard Henry Lee but also to clerk Timothy Matlack
and printer Mary Katherine Goddard.
Danielle Allen is the UPS Foundation Professor in the School of Social Science at the
Princeton Institute of Advanced Studies. Allen specializes in political theory and has
published broadly in democratic theory, political sociology, and the history of political
thought. Widely known for her work on justice and citizenship in both ancient Athens and
modern America, Allen is the author of The World of Prometheus: The Politics of
Punishing in Democratic Athens (2000), Talking to Strangers: Anxieties of Citizenship
since Brown v. Board of Education (2004), and Why Plato Wrote (2010). In 2002, she
was awarded a MacArthur Fellowship for her ability to combine “the classicist’s careful
attention to texts and language with the political theorist’s sophisticated and informed
engagement.”
Christopher Phillips is Senior Education Fellow at the National Constitution Center.
Phillips received a BA in Government from the College of William & Mary. He also has a
Master of Arts in Teaching degree with a specialty in Teaching Philosophy for Children
from Montclair State University, a Masters in the Humanities from California State
University-Dominguez Hills, and a Master of Science degree in the Natural Sciences
from Delta State University. Phillips received a Ph.D. in communications from Edith
Cowan University in Perth, Australia. He is the author of six books, including Constitution
Café (2011) and the national bestsellers Socrates Café (2001) and Six Questions of
Socrates (2007). He also holds a fellowship role with the Edmond J. Safra Center for
Ethics at Harvard University.
Allen also will participate in a series of scholarly-led walking tours and discussions on
Wednesday, July 2, as part of the museum’s Independence Week festivities.
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About Slavery at Jefferson’s Monticello
Thomas Jefferson helped create a new nation based on individual freedom and selfgovernment—yet he remained a slaveholder throughout his life. On display through
October 19, 2014, this powerful, revealing, and deeply personal exhibition follows the
stories of six slave families who lived and worked at Jefferson’s plantation— the Fossett,
Granger, Gillette, Hemings, Hern, and Hubbard families—and their descendants who
fought for justice and helped bring to light their ancestors’ lives and values. Slavery at
Jefferson’s Monticello features more than 280 artifacts that represent each family’s trade
as well as personal items of Jefferson’s including a walking stick, chess set, books,
spectacles, and replica of the portable desk used to draft the Declaration of
Independence. Explore the story of slavery in early U.S. history while discovering the
struggle and the self-determination at the heart of America’s founding. Leave being
inspired to discover your own family heritage and history.
Slavery at Jefferson’s Monticello is included in the cost of general admission, which
includes the museum’s main exhibition, The Story of We the People, the award-winning
theatrical production Freedom Rising, and Signers’ Hall. General museum admission
prices are $14.50 for adults, $13 for seniors ages 65 and over, and $8 for children ages
4-12. Active military personnel and children ages 3 and under are free. Group rates also
are available. For ticket information, call 215.409.6700 or visit
www.constitutioncenter.org.
This exhibition is presented by the Thomas Jefferson Foundation at Monticello in
partnership with the National Museum of African American History and Culture. All
objects in this exhibition are from the collection of the Thomas Jefferson Foundation at
Monticello, unless otherwise noted.
Additional support for the National Constitution Center’s presentation of this exhibition
was provided by a grant from the Pennsylvania Abolition Society.
About the National Constitution Center
The National Constitution Center in Philadelphia is the Museum of We the People,
America’s Town Hall, and a Headquarters for Civic Education. As the Museum of We
the People, the National Constitution Center brings the United States Constitution to life
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for visitors of all ages and inspires active citizenship by celebrating the American
constitutional tradition. The museum features interactive exhibits, engaging theatrical
performances, and original documents of freedom. As the only institution established by
Congress to “disseminate information about the United States Constitution on a nonpartisan basis,” the National Constitution Center serves as a Headquarters for Civic
Education—offering cutting-edge learning resources including the premier online
Interactive Constitution. As America’s Town Hall, the National Constitution Center
hosts timely constitutional conversations uniting distinguished leaders, scholars, authors,
and journalists from across the political spectrum. For more information, call 215-4096700 or visit constitutioncenter.org.
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