Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the Declaration of Independence. That a slaveholder would articulate the foundational commitments of the American creed to human equality and rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness highlights a paradox at the heart of the American project. That paradox prompts us to better understand the mind of Jefferson, but also to make sense of the Declaration for ourselves. What does it mean for a truth to be “self-evident”? Must one be religious to accept that humans are “endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights?” What is the content of these rights, and their relationship to self-government? This small-group discussion will explore these questions and more, drawing on both the Declaration and two of Jefferson’s letters.

Join us for a unique opportunity to dig into the actual "words that changed the world" with leading scholars from the Jack Miller Center network!

Location: Independence Visitors Center, Liberty View Ballroom