The Battle Over the Declaration of Independence: Who Really Owns America's Founding Document?
By
Osita Nwanevu
Summary
The article explores the complex history of ownership and custody of the Declaration of Independence, from its creation in 1776 through various relocations, near-destructions, and political battles over who gets to claim it. It uses the recent anecdote of Donald Trump wanting to display the original in the Oval Office as a springboard to examine deeper questions about who truly "owns" America's founding documents — the government, political leaders, or the people. The piece argues that the Declaration's radical promise of the right to "alter or to abolish" unjust government remains relevant today, and that citizens should reclaim ownership of that revolutionary spirit rather than letting any single political figure or party monopolize its symbolism.
Source
bskyThe Battle Over the Declaration of Independence: Who Really Owns America's Founding Document?newrepublic.comKey quotes
· 3 pulledTrump's request alarmed some of his aides, who immediately recognized both the implausibility and the expense of moving the original.
Displayed in the rotunda at the National Archives Building in Washington, D.C., it is perhaps the most treasured historical document in the U.S. government's possession.
The founding document has been fought over since it was written.
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