The American Dream Reconsidered:
250 Years After the Declaration of Independence—A Report Card

As the United States celebrates the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, this year’s conference will explore the nation’s ongoing struggle to fulfill its founding promise of liberty and equality for all. The Declaration articulated powerful ideals of freedom and self-government that reverberated around the world, but from the start, access was limited by a host of factors. The history of American democracy has been an ongoing struggle over who counts as “the people” and whose voices get to be heard at the ballot box. Over the past 250 years, even as the nation has made great strides, it continues to fall short of the ideals articulated in the Declaration. Hard-won gains have also eroded in recent years as political polarization has sharpened across the country. This conference will offer an opportunity to reflect on the unfinished project of American democracy as the country celebrates its 250th birthday—in effect, a report card on how successfully the country is living up to its self-proclaimed ideals. By examining central issues at the heart of contemporary American society, these panels will invite our community to consider what has been achieved, what is at risk, and how the ideals of the Declaration of Independence might yet be more fully realized in the decades ahead.