The 1776 Book Club

The Association for the Study of Connecticut History (ASCH) and the New England History Teachers Association (NEHTA) will be sponsoring a book-study program related to America250 themes; the series will begin in the upcoming fall and continue until July of 2026. This series will be designed for teachers, high school and university students, and all others who are interested in analyzing the time period of the American Revolution and the creation of the Constitution. 

These sessions will focus on topics such as the principles of the Declaration of Independence, the role of Indigenous peoples, women and Blacks in the era of the American Revolution, and the impact of the principles of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution over time. We will be reading and analyzing recent scholarship on these topics. Sessions will be led by scholars and others deeply knowledgeable about the topics being discussed. Each meeting will be highly interactive; we want to create “book discussions” rather than “book talks.”

We sincerely hope that you will be part of our book series! You are invited to attend one or all of these sessions.

Session 5:
Our Declaration: A Reading of the Declaration of Independence in Defense of Equality by
Danielle Allen
Moderated by: Allison Norrie, The Association for the Study of Connecticut History
& Steve Armstrong, National Council for the Social Studies, NEHTA, Past President ASCH

Our Declaration by Danielle Allen brings fresh urgency and clarity to the Declaration of
Independence, revealing its language as a call to shared commitment to equality as the
foundation of liberty. With a teacher’s care and a philosopher’s precision, the text unfolds line by line to illuminate the document’s radical promise through a civic lens. This text serves as an essential reading for reimagining social studies as a space of empowerment and participation.

Allison Norrie is a Social Studies teacher at Fairfield Warde High School in Fairfield,
Connecticut and co-author of the Connecticut State Social Studies Standards. She is currently the President of the Association for the Study for Connecticut History.

For more information or to register: Visit the event webpage here.

Host Organization: Association for the Study of Connecticut History & New England History Teachers Association
Event Contact: [email protected]
This event is intended for: Adults – Seniors – High school & college students – Teachers

America 250 | CT Theme(s): Tell Inclusive Stories, For the Common Good, Doing History