446 The Declaration of Independence at 250

250 years after its signing, the Declaration of Independence remains an unfinished document. Its famous assertion "that all men are created equal" and endowed with unalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness stands not as a settled truth, but as a call every generation of Americans must answer on its own terms.

What did the founders mean by "all men are created equal?" Who did they believe was eligible to pursue life, liberty, and happiness? And how are the generations living in the United States today thinking through their own answers?

Four historians join us to explore these questions. Robert Parkinson and Steve Sarson draw on their new books to help us understand what it meant in 1776. Anthea Hartig and Virginia Scharff show us how two 250th anniversary museum exhibitions use objects to make the Declaration's living legacy tangible, and to remind us that its promises have always been claimed not just in words, but in action.Rob's Book | Steve's Book | Smithsonian Exhibit | Autry ExhibitShow Notes: https://www.benfranklinsworld.com/403 EPISODE OUTLINE00:00:00  Introduction00:00:44 Celebrating the Declaration of Independence00:03:50 The Declaration As An Ongoing Experiment00:04:14 Anthea Hartig on the National Museum of American History00:05:30 Virginia Scharff on the Autry Museum of the American West00:07:58 Robert Parkinson on Understanding the Declaration00:19:17 Steve Sarson on the Declaration's Philosophical Argument00:21:10 The Original Meaning of the Declaration00:34:47 Conclusion00:41:16 The Massachusetts Historical Society's Declaration ExhibitRECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODES🎧 Episode 018: Our Declaration🎧 Episode 141: A Declaration in Draft🎧 Episode 394: The Pursuit of Happiness🎧 Episode 415: The Many Declarations of Independence🎧 Episode 439: When the Declaration of Independence Was News in 1776🎧 Episode 440: Jefferson's Cut GrievanceSUPPORT OUR WORK🎁 Make a Donation to Ben Franklin’s WorldREQUEST A TOPIC📨 Topic Request Form📫 liz@benfranklinsworld.comWHEN YOU'RE READY🗞️ BFW Gazette Newsletter 👩‍💻 Join the BFW Listener Community🌍 Join the History Explorers ClubTAKE THE QUIZ🧭 Discover How You Explore History (under 2 minutes)👉 https://www.benfranklinsworld.com/quizLISTEN 🎧🍎 Apple Podcasts 💚 Spotify 🎶 Amazon Music🛜 PandoraCONNECT🦋 Liz on Bluesky👩‍💻 Liz on LinkedIn🛜 Liz’s WebsiteSAY THANKS💜 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts💚 Leave a rating on Spotify*Book links are affiliate links. Every purchase supports the podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices