Declaration of Independence 101 – Dr. David Adler

David Gray Adler is President of The Alturas Institute, a non-profit educational organization created to defend American democracy by promoting the Constitution, civic education, equal protection and women’s rights. Adler’s scholarly writings have been quoted by the U.S. Supreme Court, lower federal courts, the U.S. Attorney General, the White House Counsel, the Legal Adviser to the State Department, by Republicans and Democrats in both houses of congress, as well as political scientists, historians and legal scholars. The recipient of teaching, writing and civic awards, Adler has lectured nationally and internationally, and published widely, on the Constitution, presidential power and the Bill of Rights. He is the author of six books including, most recently, The War Power in an Age of Terrorism, as well as more than 100 scholarly articles in the leading journals in his field. He is currently writing a book on Reed v. Reed, which had its origins in Idaho and transformed the law for American women.  Adler has taught courses on the Constitution and the Supreme Court at all three universities in Idaho. He held the James and Louise McClure Professorship at the University of Idaho, where he was a member of the faculty of law; the Cecil Andrus Professorship at Boise State University and was Professor of Political Science and Director of the Center for Constitutional Studies at Idaho State University. He has consulted with members of Congress from both parties on a variety of constitutional issues, including impeachment, the war power and the termination of treaties. He has delivered more than 900 public lectures and writes a weekly column on the Constitution that runs in more than 60 newspapers across several states.  A frequent commentator on state and national events, Adler’s lectures have aired on C-Span, and he has done interviews with the New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, Newsweek, National Review, The Nation Magazine, Mother Jones, Fox News, NPR, NBC, CNN and the BBC. Adler has served as member of the Board of Directors of various academic, corporate and civic organizations, and was a founding member of the City Club of Idaho Falls. Adler earned his BA from Michigan State University and a Ph.D. from the University of Utah.

Presentation

Declaration of Independence 101

In June 1776, the Continental Congress formed a drafting committee to compose a “common sense” explanation, in “terms so plain and firm, as to command assent” for why the American colonies should dissolve all political connection” with Great Britain. Not all of the delegates to the Continental Congress, like the people they represented, wanted to become independent from Great Britain. Thomas Jefferson, the main author, wrote that “all men are created equal” and outlined the foundational principles of a new American nation. What are these foundational principles and what have they meant to Americans and other peoples living under the burden of oppression and ignorance? How has the Declaration of Independence inspired Americans and others to overturn the power of tyrants and to fight for equality?  In this presentation, historical and legal scholar Dr. David Adler will discuss the Declaration of Independence and what it has meant to the United States and to the world.