Created Equal: The Premises and Promises of the Declaration of Independence October 10, 2026

More info

The Declaration of Independence grounded the revolutionary right of a people to overthrow a government in the philosophical premise that “all men are created equal.” Some immediately recognized a political promise, transforming a manifesto of secession from Britain into an American charter of liberty, equality, and rights.

But the Declaration’s meaning has never been solitary or uncontested. Individuals and groups have put the founding words to different ends—from demands for the equality of all persons, to claims for the rights of states, to calls for the toppling of the government.

Drawing on rare materials from the seventeenth century to the present, with a special focus on Illinois, this exhibition explores how the Declaration’s premises became its promises and invites reflection on what the Declaration means today.

Exhibition Gallery Hours: Weekdays, 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.

This exhibition is open to all. Visitors to the University of Chicago Library may obtain an entry pass by checking in at Regenstein Library’s entry desk and presenting a current, government-issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license, CityKey, state ID, or passport to confirm identity.