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Our Declaration: A Reading of the Declaration of Independence in Defense of Equality Paperback – May 4, 2015

by Danielle S. Allen (Author)
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 397 ratings
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“A tour de force.... No one has ever written a book on the Declaration quite like this one.” ―Gordon Wood, New York Review of Books

Winner of the Zócalo Book Prize
Winner of the Society of American Historians’ Francis Parkman Prize
Winner of the Chicago Tribune’s Heartland Prize (Nonfiction)
Finalist for the Zora Neale Hurston/Richard Wright Foundation Hurston Wright Legacy Award
Shortlisted for the PEN/John Kenneth Galbraith Award for Nonfiction
Shortlisted for the Phi Beta Kappa Society’s Ralph Waldo Emerson Award
A New York Times Book Review Editors Choice Selection

Featured on the front page of the New York Times, Our Declaration is already regarded as a seminal work that reinterprets the promise of American democracy through our founding text. Combining a personal account of teaching the Declaration with a vivid evocation of the colonial world between 1774 and 1777, Allen, a political philosopher renowned for her work on justice and citizenship reveals our nation’s founding text to be an animating force that not only changed the world more than two-hundred years ago, but also still can. Challenging conventional wisdom, she boldly makes the case that the Declaration is a document as much about political equality as about individual liberty. Beautifully illustrated throughout, Our Declaration is an “uncommonly elegant, incisive, and often poetic primer on America’s cardinal text” (David M. Kennedy). 35 illustrations
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Previous page
  1. Print length
    320 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Liveright
  4. Publication date
    May 4, 2015
  5. Dimensions
    5.5 x 0.8 x 8.3 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1631490443
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1631490446
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"The book is a tour de force of close textual analysis."
― Gordon S. Wood, New York Review of Books

"Our Declaration is an artful, often elegiac meditation on the meaning of Jefferson's famous words for our time. Allen brings the analytical skills of a philosopher, the voice of a gifted memorialist, and the spirit of a soulful humanist to the task at hand, and manages to do something quite rare, find new meaning in Jefferson’s understanding of equality."
― Joseph J. Ellis, author of Revolutionary Summer: The Birth of American Independence

"Our Declaration sets forth a bold thesis… Allen’s passion for each of the Declaration’s 1,337 words is admirable."
― Steven B. Smith, New York Times Book Review

"This wise and rich book is what we need in these troubled times―a robust and persuasive defense of equality and liberty grounded in our national scripture. Danielle Allen is a towering political philosopher of the democratic art of being and a force for good!"
― Cornel West, author of Democracy Matters: Winning the War on Imperialism

"Danielle Allen celebrates the Declaration of Independence by reading it closely―line by line, comma by comma―and invites her fellow citizens to do the same. The result is a richly rewarding book that demonstrates the pleasures of slow reading, the power of words to shape events, and the importance of equality to democratic life."
― Michael Sandel, author of What Money Can’t Buy: The Moral Limits of Markets

"Danielle Allen's poignant and personal reflection on the Declaration of Independence is a rare and singular work…[S]he has written a book that throws open a door to a large circle of readers: anyone with a stake in democracy. Her observations about the importance of language in building and sustaining a republic are especially resonant and worthy of the towering rhetoric of the Declaration. Our Declaration holds the promise of both discovery and rediscovery whether you've never read the Declaration or have memorized each of its 1,337 words."
― Ann Marie Lipinski, curator, Nieman Foundation for Journalism, Harvard University

"Our Declaration is a primer on all that we have been missing… Not just an invaluable civics lesson but also a poignant personal memoir… Allen is an evangelist for this romantic moment in American history when men of uncommon vision and political deftness stated their case and listed their grievances against the most powerful nation on Earth."
― Thane Rosenbaum, The Washington Post

"An astounding new book that should reinvigorate public understanding of the founding document of the United States… Reading Ms. Allen makes reading the Declaration meaningful and enjoyable―a powerful enough lesson it is't own right."
― Sarah J. Purcell, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

"At once simple, sharp and deftly executed."
― Kirkus Reviews

About the Author

Danielle Allen is the James Bryant Conant University Professor at Harvard University and author of Cuz and Our Declaration, winner of the Parkman Prize. She lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Liveright; Reprint edition (May 4, 2015)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 320 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1631490443
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1631490446
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 9 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.8 x 8.3 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 397 ratings

About the author

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Danielle S. Allen

Danielle S. Allen

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Danielle Allen is a professor of public policy, politics, and ethics at Harvard University, Director of the Allen Lab for Democracy Renovation and Democratic Knowledge Project, and James Bryant Conant University Professor, one of Harvard’s highest honors. She is also Founder and President of Partners In Democracy. She is a seasoned nonprofit leader, democracy advocate, tech ethicist, distinguished author, and mom. During the height of COVID in 2020, Danielle’s leadership in rallying coalitions and building solutions resulted in policies that were adopted in federal legislation and a presidential executive order. Her many books include the widely acclaimed Talking to Strangers: anxieties of citizenship since Brown v Board of Education; Our Declaration: a reading of the Declaration of Independence in Defense of Equality; Cuz: The Life and Times of Michael A.; Democracy in the Time of Coronavirus; and Justice by Means of Democracy.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
397 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

T.A. Fisher
5.0 out of 5 stars Engaging
Reviewed in the United States on May 27, 2022
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An engaging exploration of this seminal document in US history. It takes a close reading of the text to dig into, explore, and even dispel some misperceptions about this founding document.
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John O.
5.0 out of 5 stars Should be required reading for every citizen.
Reviewed in the United States on March 22, 2021
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An exceptional book. It provides accessible and fascinating reading for middle schoolers to adults. I taught K-12 history and government for 20+ years and this is THE BEST text on the Declaration I have encountered. The author's emphasis on equality extends to making 18th century English accessible to developing readers. She also uses the words of the Declaration to help explain how Founding Slaveholders understood their claim that all men are created equal.
3 people found this helpful
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Blaise Brennan
4.0 out of 5 stars Well written, but I think Allen brought a lot ...
Reviewed in the United States on April 6, 2016
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Well written, but I think Allen brought a lot of baggage into her writing. At times it seems her conclusions are what she *wants* the Declaration to say, rather that what it actually says. It reminds me of how I would write a high school paper: pick the thesis, *then* look for evidence to support it.

That's not to say this isn't well researched. I think it's superbly organized and makes many informed conclusions based on the facts. It's just that she occasionally makes assertions regarding the framers' intent with some weak support.
21 people found this helpful
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Michael Holloway
5.0 out of 5 stars What did the writers mean to say in the Declaration?
Reviewed in the United States on December 3, 2020
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Ms Allen guides the reader through a reading of the Declaration, a slow reading. She takes each argument, each statement, each grievance and develops the content of how these 1,337 words reveal the Declaration's thesis of independence and equality. She is knowledgeable and careful, reiterating how each sentence develops the passion, dedication and struggle of the writers -- the Group of Five, state representatives to the congress, and printers -- to state, submit, justify and defend their separation from the country that was their government to form another. Worthy read.
3 people found this helpful
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Terry L. Price
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent!
Reviewed in the United States on March 20, 2023
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This book is about reading - careful and slow reading - and what rewards such reading provides. Allen’s example text choice offers an excellent challenge to the reader to slow down, understand writers’ motivations, and savor.
One person found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Building a Foundation for our Constitution to Rest Upon
Reviewed in the United States on December 5, 2015
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This text describes what they were thinking when they wrote "We Must Make a Great New Nation," also known as our Declaration of Independence. Allen details the evolution, construction, coordination and reconciliations that established what may well be the greatest civilization ever to exist on this planet. Her incredible historical research is surpassed only by her language skills, which allow her to ferret out and make clear the deeper intent of the phraseology that was so carefully chosen by our Founding Fathers. While the analysis becomes somewhat dry in a couple of spots, it is worth the effort to follow her logic and gain a greater understanding of a brief text that borders upon the sacred.

If you consider yourself a Conservative (or any other kind of) supporter of the Constitution, don't forget that the Constitution is merely an attempt to codify the concepts that were so succinctly illuminated in the many months preceding July 4, 1776. THIS document is the foundation for understanding the intent of our Constitution, and Danielle Allen gives us an architect's understanding of that foundation.
5 people found this helpful
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No King But Christ
3.0 out of 5 stars A mixed bag
Reviewed in the United States on October 7, 2015
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I caught a bit of Danielle Allen on C-SPAN, was impressed, and bought the book. While it does have merit, all in all it was a letdown. The tedious writing was a major factor—too much repetition and redundancy. Ironic given how much she praises the Declaration’s concision (1337 words).

To her credit, Allen acknowledges the right of revolution and agrees that the criteria for it was met. Despite various abuses, numerous powder alarms including Lexington-Concord, and the Battle of Bunker Hill, the colonists were longsuffering and sent the Olive Branch Petition. Allen rightfully points out that King George refused to receive the petition, issued the Proclamation of Rebellion, and then addressed Parliament. To my dismay she neglects to mention Parliament’s ratification—the Prohibitory Act of December 22, 1775. THIS was the nail in the coffin. When word of the Prohibitory Act reaches the colonists about three months later, resistance to independence wanes.

And why? Because the old common law covenantal relationship between king and subjects had been severed. A king no longer willing to protect his subjects can no longer demand allegiance. In essence, the king (and Parliament) had declared the colonies independent in fact. The purpose of the Declaration of Independence is to turn that de facto independence into de jure independence. The colonies-now-states need diplomatic recognition to acquire alliances, weapons, and credit. Allen fails to mention this.

One other problem. As “a political philosopher” Allen has to know that liberty and equality ARE antithetical IF you define equality as equality of results. Equality before the law or of opportunity is NOT antithetical to liberty and that is the kind of (ordered) liberty and equality our American constitutional federal republic is built upon. As a practical matter, liberty will result in material inequality precisely because individuals pursue different callings and/or will differ in their stewardship. Thankfully, she never explicitly defines equality as equality of results. On the contrary, she occasionally refers to it as “political equality”.

But that creates another problem. Even though the signers were declaring equal endowment of rights, they were not technically declaring political equality. This was not a democracy but a republic. Moreover, only propertied individuals generally enjoyed the right to vote. There was a reason for this. Just as there ought to be “no taxation without representation”, many believed there ought to be “no representation without taxation”. In other words, why should a person NOT contributing to the pie have a say in how that pie is distributed? I am not suggesting that people be denied a right to vote but the fact is, not having a right to vote does not necessarily mean your right to life, liberty, property, or the pursuit of happiness is being violated.

On a related note, Allen laments how “separate AND equal” became “separate BUT equal” when it came to schooling. Let me make clear, I find segregation abhorrent and think “race” as we understand it in America is a socio-political construct and false. However, the “separate but equal” debate is really about money, specifically the distribution of tax revenue for the purpose of schooling. The assumption is that money equals good schools and good schools equal good education. Of course, this is not true. Home schoolers and private schools prove that you can spend less and still receive a superior education. So again, the issue was equal distribution of property taxes for the purpose of state schooling, which is equality of results. Those who own expensive homes and childless homeowners subsidize the cost of schooling. As a practical matter, the duty to school your neighbor’s child now supersedes your God-given right to own property. Should you object to that state-imposed duty, officials will foreclose on your home.

One final issue. Allen fails to properly define “happiness”. She quotes John Adams but literally stops too short. Adams, like so many Greek, Roman, and Christian scholars, defined happiness in terms of virtue or literally “acting as a man ought to act”. Moreover, the signers of the Declaration would have been well acquainted with Sir William Blackstone who said happiness cannot be obtained but by observing the laws of eternal justice. Putting it all together, the virtuous man acts like a man observing the laws of eternal justice; the common good is the result. Blackstone also defined the law of nature: it is the will of his maker. In short, how Allen can hope to define such words without reference to the biblical, natural, and common law tradition is beyond me.

There is insight to be had here but do yourself a favor and consider additional sources. Better yet, read Adams, Locke, Blackstone, and others for yourself.

P.S. I neglected to mention another significant disagreement. Allen cites political speeches to argue that America obsesses over "liberty" at the cost of "equality". No, Americans love the RHETORIC of liberty but increasingly define it as freedom from want and fear (FDR). Just think about how many of us are dependent on some level of local, state, and federal spending. Like countless others, America is actually trading liberty--which requires character and responsibility--for so-called security. If we were really as "libertarian" as Allen claims the Constitution would reign and Uncle Sam would be a mere fraction of his current size and scope.
33 people found this helpful
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C Ayer
5.0 out of 5 stars Exhaustive study of the Declaration, word by word.
Reviewed in the United States on July 21, 2019
Verified Purchase
Immensely interesting. Reviews how it was written, edited, shaped and improved by a committee. The author points out that equality was considered as important as liberty, and after all if there is not complete equality there is no liberty either. It was written to motivate the artisan and farmer class to fight for the revolution - Tom Paine did a better job of that - and promised more equality than the wealthy white class was willing to grant (the case yet today), but it does state the basic principles on which the Constitution was based.
6 people found this helpful
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