Hosted by the University of Illinois Chicago College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, featuring a speech by Illinois America 250 Commission Chair Gabrielle Lyon.
Declarations of Independence: Who Are The People? is an interdisciplinary, day-long public program that will highlight the scholarship, creative production, and teaching of UIC’s faculty and graduate students as we grapple with the myriad meanings of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. Many consider this event and the subsequent revolution is considered a defining moment for the creation of the United States, an expression of the nation’s democratic ideals, and a model for revolutionary movements around the world. For the 250th anniversary, UIC’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences will host notable historians, legal scholars, and political theorists to join our colleagues in robust conversations about who constitutes the nation and the state of Illinois, and how freedom has been understood and experienced since the eighteenth century. The symposium will also feature interactive activities and opportunities for students and community members to contribute to the discussion.
Several themes guide this LAS Faculty Research Symposium:
Declarations in history—at the time of the Declaration of Independence, what was the impact on the sovereign nations that inhabited the land? Who was a citizen or non-citizen? How did migrants and settlers understand what it meant to be an independent nation? How did the American declaration influence those beyond the U.S.?
Declarations in perspective—what is the role of memory and commemoration today? Who is the “we” in “We the People”? How do we understand challenges to freedom and independence in the current national context? How do we teach through differing theoretical and methodological lenses?
This event is part of Illinois America 250, "an inclusive, statewide commemoration that uplifts local stories, places and programs, builds pride and showcases how Illinoisians bring the ideals of Declaration of Independence to life."
Attendees can join in-person or virtually. Registration is required: https://las.uic.edu/events/declarations-of-independence/
PROGRAM
9:00 AM Welcome from Dean Lisa A. Freeman
9:10 AM Illinois Humanities Executive Director Gabrielle Lyon
9:15 AM Conversation 1: Martha Jones & Desmond King
10:30 AM Break
10:45 AM "The People: Law, Citizenship, State" UIC Faculty Panel
12:30 PM Lunch & interactive exploration
2:00 PM Conversation 2: Doug Kiel & Christy Pichichero
3:15 PM Break
3:30 PM "The People: Sovereignty, Land, Revolution" UIC Faculty Panel
4:45 PM Break
5:00 PM Keynote Address: Jelani Cobb