Letter from the Editors
Such men need no trophies; they ask no splendid mausolea. We are their monuments; their mausolea is their country, and her growing prosperity the amaranthine wreath that Time shall place over their dust. Well may the Genius of the Republic mourn. If she turns her eyes in one direction, she beholds the hall where Jefferson wrote the charter of her rights; if in another, she sees the city where Adams kindled the fires of the Revolution. To no period of our history, to no department of our affairs, can she direct her views and not meet the multiplied memorials of her loss and of their glory.
from the Executive Order [on the deaths of Thomas Jefferson and John Adams]
It is one of the great ironies of history that Thomas Jefferson and John Adams died within hours of one another on July 4, 1826, the 50th anniversary Jubilee of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Neither man knew the other was dying, and newspapers reported that Adams’ last words were “Jefferson still lives.”
This year, the chimes of our celebrations mingle with mourning bells again as we remember the great American historian Gordon Wood, lost to us recently in a tragic accident. Wood’s work on American history, and his presence as a part of this project has loomed so large that it is hard to imagine he will not be here to celebrate the 250th.
But history is long, and when great men and women are lost, their ideas are not. This project has sought to demonstrate that and to persuade us all that we﹘all of us﹘are their living monuments. It is a good time to recall that with a mingled sense of pride and duty.
This Month's Further Reading and Listening
As we reach the end of the A Call to Liberty Project, we urge you to explore previous issues you might not have read. We also offer you some large-scale ways to continue your learning. We have shared many clips from Gordon Wood and Jack Greene’s long discussion of the Declaration over the past two years. Perhaps now is the right time to watch the whole thing? We’ve also pointed you to two books of material collected from the Founding, as well as reminded you of the ever-growing digital pamphlet collection, The Pamphlet Debate on the American Question in Great Britain, 1764-1776. In addition, you’ll find essays by Peter Onuf and Samuel Fleischacker that remind us of the connections between the American Founding and the thought of Adam Smith.
Countdown to the Declaration
New material every month as we explore the Declaration's past, present, and future.
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months to go
Liberty and Tyranny
Conditions of Revolution: Sic Sometimes Tyrannis
What sustains liberty? Does the Declaration offer a model for future political resistance to tyrants?
War & Peace
Declaring War—and Loyalty
The Declaration did not just declare American independence, but implicitly declared war on England. What happens to the voices of loyalists in the shadow of the revolution?
Law & Constitutionalism
Constitutional Tourism: Australia’s America
What is the constitutional importance of the Declaration of Independence?
Philosophy and Theology
Men Will Be Men: Religious and Enlightenment Ideas in the Declaration
Shifts in our prevailing philosophies and theologies seem to make the Declaration’s ideals little more than a pleasant fiction. Is the Declaration's ideal of lasting importance for religious and philosophical thinkers?
War & Peace
War: The Dreaded Enemy of Liberty
The American Revolution and subsequent constitution of the newly-formed United States reflected some of the key ideas of liberalism—natural rights, government by consent, and limits on state power. Can war be contained by liberal ideals?
Education
Reviving Civic Education through Conversation
Education is increasingly technological and individualized. Can this be conducive to producing citizens who share a common set of political ideals?
Find the full list of months, including archived and upcoming themes, on our Countdown page.
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Liberty Fund offers a rich set of educational programs. These include Socratic-style conferences, thought-provoking books, and engaging online resources focused on the understanding and appreciation of the complex nature of a free and responsible society.