People Matter

Dear John,

How would you summarize the Declaration of Independence ([link removed]) in as few words as possible? It’s a question worth pondering as we celebrate the Fourth of July.

Here is how I would summarize the Declaration in just two words: People matter. People have inherent dignity—we’re created equal, “endowed” with “unalienable” rights that belong to us as human beings. People are made to live freely and pursue a good life, what the writers of the Declaration called “happiness.” People are entitled to participate in the ordering of the political community through their own consent. People are designed to govern themselves, not to be ruled over by outside forces in which they have no say. And people are worth sacrificing for—worth the mutual pledge of “our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.” People matter.

As we celebrate American independence this year, we can look forward to the big 250th “Semiquincentennial” celebration in 2026, just three short years from now. America 250 will be an opportunity for all of us to renew our commitments to our fellow Americans. How can we best elevate the Declaration of Independence in our own day? How can we teach its truths to the rising generation? How can we celebrate the value and dignity of the people in our respective corners of America? How can we stand up for freedom and opportunity? What will we “mutually pledge” to one another in our own critical hour?

As we celebrate this week and also look ahead to 2026, I would be delighted to hear from you. You can email me at [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) .

On behalf of the board and staff of the Jack Miller Center, I wish you a safe and happy Fourth of July.

All the best,
Hans Zeiger
President, Jack Miller Center
[email protected] (mailto:[email protected])
jackmillercenter.org
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About the Jack Miller Center
The Jack Miller Center is a nationwide network of scholars and teachers committed to educating the next generation about the foundational texts and ideas of the American political tradition.

We have three strategies to pursue this mission:
1. build and sustain a community of scholars in the fields of American political thought and history;
2. restore the teaching of American citizenship in K-12 schools that centers on the country’s history, the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, and other foundational texts in the American tradition; and
3. partner with organizations and philanthropists to advance civic education that is grounded in America’s founding principles and history.

We are building a movement of educators and citizens to advance the principles of equality, liberty, and opportunity that lie at the heart of the American political tradition.

Learn more at www.jackmillercenter.org ([link removed])

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The Jack Miller Center
[email protected]
484-436-2060

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