Past Institutes

The Declaration of Independence (Fall 2025 Webinar)

On November 17, 2025, Humanities Texas held a webinar on the Declaration of Independence. This was the third in a series of webinars during 2025–2026 commemorating the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution.

Schedule and Curriculum

Content aligned with the TEKS for U.S. history and government. The webinar examined the Declaration of Independence through a global lens, tracing its complex origins, international influences, and far-reaching legacy. The discussion explored how this document echoed existing declarations, drew on European thought, and quickly inspired more than one hundred similar proclamations worldwide. By highlighting the Declaration’s enduring global resonance, this session placed America’s founding moment within the broader history of revolution, decolonization, and the worldwide struggle for self-rule.

Like all Humanities Texas teacher programs, the webinar emphasized close interaction with scholars, the examination of texts, and the development of effective pedagogical strategies and engaging assignments and activities.

Faculty

Richard Bell of the University of Maryland led the webinar.

Schedule

The webinar took place over Zoom on November 17, 2025. The schedule is available here.

Sponsors

The webinar was made possible with major funding from the State of Texas with ongoing support from the National Endowment for the Humanities.