4/21 - America 250: A Nation is Born

Cleveland State University
2121 Euclid Avenue
Atrium, Student Center
Cleveland, OH 44115
United States

As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, America 250: A Nation is Born offers an opportunity to revisit the moment that began it all, and to consider the ideas that continue to shape our civic life today.

The program will open with a live reading of the Declaration of Independence, grounding the audience in the language and cadence of the founding moment.

Following the reading, Greg McBrayer, Interim Provost and Associate Professor of Political Science at Ashland University, will guide a structured exploration of the Declaration, beginning with its historical context and authorship, including Jefferson’s role and that of the broader drafting committee. The discussion will examine the philosophical foundations that shaped the document, address common misreadings, and offer a close reading of its language and structure.

Participants will also consider how the Declaration relates to other founding documents and the broader American political tradition. Together, we will reflect on the enduring significance of this text, what it meant in 1776, and what it continues to ask of us today.

A complimentary buffet lunch will be provided.