As we speak is the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
Through the years, I’ve written numerous posts and articles on the American Revolution and the beliefs of the Declaration of Independence and the American Founding. Some have apparent persevering with relevance to such points as id politics, nationalism, immigration, the function of slavery in American historical past, and extra. Notably related, given latest political developments, are the varied items on the liberal universalist beliefs of the Founding and their opposition to ethno-nationalism.
This submit is an enlargement of final yr’s comparable compendium.
I hope the hyperlinks are helpful, and stir reflection on the rules of the Declaration. Until in any other case famous, all of those items have been printed as posts on the Volokh Conspiracy weblog. I put them in chronological order:
“The Declaration of Independence and the Case for Non-Ethnic Secession,” July 4, 2009. Why the American Revolution was completely different from most fashionable independence and secession actions.
“Frederick Douglass on Immigration,” April 10, 2014. A dialogue of Frederick Douglass’s nice 1869 speech on how American beliefs require openness to immigration.
“The Declaration of Independence and the Case for a Polity Based mostly on Common Rules,” July 4, 2017.
“The Universalist Rules of the Declaration of Independence,” July 4, 2019. Why it issues that the Declaration elevates common liberal rules over racial, ethnic, and cultural particularism.
“The Case In opposition to the Case In opposition to the American Revolution,” July 4, 2019. A rebuttal to longstanding claims – superior by critics on each proper and left – that the Revolution did extra hurt than good.
“Slavery, the Declaration of Independence and Frederick Douglass’ ‘What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?'”, July 4, 2020. Douglass’s well-known speech sheds mild on a few of America’s best evils – but in addition on the nice good finished by the Revolution and Founding. I feel Douglass’s speech could be the greatest-ever Fourth of July oration.
“Juneteenth and the Universalist Rules of the American Revolution,” June 19, 2021. Why there isn’t a inconsistency in celebrating each July 4 and the abolition of slavery. Certainly, the 2 are mutually reinforcing.
“Immigration and the Rules of the Declaration of Independence,” July 4, 2021. This piece explains why the beliefs of the Declaration and the Founding require free migration rights.
“Juneteenth Celebrates a Nice American Achievement,” June 19, 2023. An extension of a few of the key factors made in my 2021 Juneteenth submit, linked above.
“The Declaration of Independence Promotes Particular person Liberty Greater than Collective Self-Dedication,” July 4, 2023. The “liberty” the Declaration advocates is extra about particular person freedom than the facility of majorities to rule over the remainder of society, or the facility of ethnic teams to rule “their” territory.
“The Case In opposition to Nationalism,” Nationwide AffairsWinter 2024 (with Alex Nowrasteh). This text is a extra common critique of nationalism. But it surely features a part explaining why nationalism is inimical to the beliefs of the Declaration and the Founding.
“Trump vs. the Declaration of Independence,” July 4, 2025. A number of gadgets on the Declaration of Independence listing of grievances in opposition to George III additionally apply to Trump at this time, most notably on immigration, commerce, and deportation with out due course of. Like King George, he’s “unfit to be the ruler of a free individuals.”
“Gordon Wooden on America as a “Creedal Nation” Open to all Races and Ethnicities,” Nov. 22, 2025. My evaluation of a speech by the best historian of the American Founding discussing the common nature of the beliefs of the Founding.
“1776 All-Stars: Why George Mason Is Extraordinarily Underrated,” Cause, July 2026. My dialogue of the contributions of an important Founding Father.
“My Home Judiciary Subcommittee Testimony In opposition to the “Preserving a Sharia-Free America Act,” Feb. 9, 2026. Abstract of my testimony earlier than the US Home of Representatives Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on the Structure and Restricted Authorities, explaining why discrimination in opposition to immigrants based mostly on their speech and faith is unconstitutional and opposite to the beliefs of the Founding. The testimony itself is offered right here.
