About this episode

Professor David Armitage discusses the international and domestic legacy of the Declaration of Independence.

The National Constitution Center recently published The Promise of America: Reflections on Our Enduring Ideals (Simon & Schuster), a keepsake collection of essays bringing together leading thinkers from across perspectives to reflect on the ideals at the heart of the American experiment and what those principles have meant across generations of American life. In this episode, Professor David Armitage discusses his essay, “The Declaration’s Influence Around the World,” which explores the document’s international legacy as a powerful blueprint for collective rights and national self-determination, and its ever-evolving domestic legacy as a touchstone for individual rights and human equality. Julie Silverbrook, chief content and learning officer at the National Constitution Center, moderates. Resources David Armitage, “The Declaration’s Influence Around the World” National Constitution Center, The Declaration of Independence Lemuel Haynes, “Liberty Further Extended” (1776) Vermont Declaration of Independence (1777) French Declaration of the Rights of Man (1789) Haitian Declaration of Independence (1804) Venezuelan Declaration of Independence (1811) Greek Declaration of Independence…

People in this episode

Host: Julie Silverbrook

Guest: David Armitage

Topics covered

• Declaration of Independence
• international legacy
• collective rights
• national self-determination
• individual rights
• human equality

Keywords

• Declaration of Independence
• David Armitage
• collective rights
• national self-determination
• individual rights
• human equality
• American ideals

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: National Constitution Center

Books & works: The Promise of America: Reflections on Our Enduring Ideals, The Declaration of Independence, Liberty Further Extended, Vermont Declaration of Independence, French Declaration of the Rights of Man, Haitian Declaration of Independence, Venezuelan Declaration of Independence, Greek Declaration of Independence, Belgian Declaration of Independence, New Zealand Declaration of Independence

More episodes of We the People

• Justice Stephen Breyer on The Promise of America: Reflections on Our Enduring Ideals · June 4, 2026 · 59 min
• Michael Auslin on National Treasure · May 21, 2026 · 59 min
• Jonathan Adler and Stephen Vladeck Debate the Use of the “Shadow Docket” on the Roberts Court · May 14, 2026 · 1h 7m

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the We the People podcast page.