Virtual Lecture - America's Birth Certificate: The Declaration of Independence

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America's Birth Certificate: The Declaration of Independence

The Declaration of Independence is a peculiar thing. It’s a literary masterpiece that was written jointly by a committee of fifty people. It’s short and punchy—just 1310 words long—but still somehow daunting and difficult to get to grips with (there’s a reason most of us have never read it in full and can only quote the first third of its second sentence). And what is it exactly? Is it a birth certificate announcing happy news, or a petition for divorce full of grievance and score-settling, or something else? Is it aimed at the American people, or King George, or someone else? Was it the first ever declaration of independence, or a cheap imitation of a genre already well established? What did people at the time make of it? What did it change? Why does it matter? In this public lecture, Richard Bell, a professor of history at the University of Maryland will tackle the fascinating origins, misunderstood purpose, and extraordinary global legacy of the Declaration of Independence.

Registration required. Registration closes one half hour prior to lecture. 

Cost: $15 per household for General Admission; $10 per household for HA Members, Military, and HA Docents

This lecture will be offered virtually by Zoom. Can’t watch the lecture live? We invite you to register; all registrants will receive a link to the recording of the lecture to watch at their convenience. The lecture recording will be available for two weeks. Live closed captioning is available for all lectures.

The information contained in the HA Virtual Lecture series represents the historical research, views and opinions of the lecture presenter and may not represent the views or opinions of Historic Annapolis, Inc.