1776 in the Classroom: Exploring the Ideas Behind the Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence proclaimed powerful ideals about liberty, equality and the right of people to govern themselves — and the meanings of these notions has been debated, interpreted and tested ever since.
As Duke celebrates the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the milestone offers a chance to look beyond 1776 and revisit the ideas that helped shape the nation.
The following Trinity College courses explore the intellectual roots, global revolutions, philosophical debates and human experiences that surround the meaning of independence. Together, they show that the Declaration of Independence was the opening line of an ongoing 250‑year conversation.
Courses exploring the meaning of independence
What is Critical Theory? An Introduction | LIT 314
Critical theory asks us to interrogate the very moral and political ideals — such as liberty and equality — proclaimed in the Declaration of Independence. This course introduces students to foundational texts and concepts in the history of critical theory, examining how scholars question and reinterpret key ideas such as freedom, capitalism, subjectivity, colonialism, race, violence, and secularism. In doing so, students learn how critical approaches open space to rethink and reimagine core concepts that shape social and political life.
The American Revolution was not an isolated event but part of a wider wave of upheaval that reshaped the Atlantic world. This course examines the interconnected revolutions in the United States, France, Haiti and Latin America, highlighting how ideas about freedom and self-rule circulated across borders and how women, enslaved people and Indigenous communities shaped revolutionary change.
Democracy: Ancient and Modern | CLST 275
A democratic theory of legitimacy — “consent of the governed” — is an idea enshrined in the Declaration, with roots in ancient democracy. This course examines where that idea came from and whether modern democracy lives up to it by comparing the democratic practices of ancient Athens with those of the modern United States. By examining questions about citizenship, participation, equality, rhetoric and political responsibility, students explore whether modern democracies fulfill or depart from the ideals that first emerged in the classical world.
International Conflict Resolution* | POLISCI 168CNS
The Declaration of Independence marked the birth of a new nation through conflict and the assertion of sovereignty. But once independence is declared and sovereignty secured, how do nations manage disputes without returning to tyranny or war? This course examines the origins of armed conflict and the theories and practices used to resolve it, with special attention to strategic interaction, international law, and third-party mediators. Through historical and contemporary case studies, students explore the causes and endings of violence in both interstate and intrastate conflicts.
*Reserved for first-year students in the Peace or War? Constellation.
Being Human: Exploring Our Boundaries in Literature | ITALIAN 171CN
The Declaration of Independence famously states that “all men are created equal,” raising enduring questions about who has historically been excluded from that claim. This course explores how literature and other forms of imaginative media grapple with the boundaries of the human and the consequences of denying humanity to others. Through works ranging from Kafka to modern science fiction, students confront moments in history when societies restrict humanity in contexts such as colonialism, war, migration and technological change. By examining these narratives, the course considers how culture reflects, challenges and reshapes our understanding of what it means to be human.
Freedom and Responsibility* | PHIL 123FS
Thinkers such as John Locke helped shape the Declaration of Independence’s theory of natural rights and liberty. The course offers an intensive introduction to Western philosophical ideas about freedom, moral responsibility and what it means to live an ethical life. Through readings from Luther, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Marx, Kant and Jack London, students explore conflicting visions of freedom that have shaped the modern world and consider how liberty can coexist with social obligations and competing concepts of goodness.
*Open only to students in the Focus Program.
