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National Treasure: How the Declaration of Independence Made America
Not yet published
Expected 5 May 26The dramatic and inspiring story of the Declaration of Independence—the first to take us from its drafting by Thomas Jefferson to today—charting the many lives of a document that captures the soul of the nation and challenges us with its defiant ideals, to be published on the 250th anniversary of its ratification.
Quiet and politically untested, Thomas Jefferson was not the obvious choice to draft a statement of principles explaining why the American colonies were breaking ties with the King of England, but his soaring rhetoric would inspire generations of Americans to live up to the founders’ dreams. National Treasure is the gripping story of our most revered founding relic, as a physical object and a set of ideals that have made America what it is today.
An award-winning historian, Michael Auslin take us from the boarding house in Philadelphia where Jefferson put quill to paper to the Declaration’s stealthy printing, covert signing, dissemination in the doldrums of the revolutionary war, and long, harrowing, and ultimately hallowed afterlife. We follow the parchment as it is hauled out of a soon-to-be-burning Washington in 1814 and see it hidden in a dank cellar, posted in classrooms, recited on village greens, printed on handkerchiefs, and used to sell insurance and bundle coal. An inspiration to both Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson Davis in the Civil War, it has grown more important for each new generation. While FDR and Churchill celebrated its commitment to freedom from tyranny, the document itself was lowered into a bunker at Fort Knox. After the war, its precious ink fading, it was painstakingly preserved and enshrined.
Through it all, Jefferson’s words have inspired implausibly varied causes, from suffragists, abolitionists and civil rights leaders to groups waging war on the US government. As Jefferson had hoped, the principles enshrined in the Declaration became a beacon to the world. But what lessons should we take from it today? Can this statement of ideals in whose name the signers pledged their lives and sacred honor bring a disparate nation together? As we gather to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the founders’ bold experiment in democracy, Auslin reminds us that this enduring document was not just a call for freedom and equality but an eloquent statement of the principles that bind us together.
Quiet and politically untested, Thomas Jefferson was not the obvious choice to draft a statement of principles explaining why the American colonies were breaking ties with the King of England, but his soaring rhetoric would inspire generations of Americans to live up to the founders’ dreams. National Treasure is the gripping story of our most revered founding relic, as a physical object and a set of ideals that have made America what it is today.
An award-winning historian, Michael Auslin take us from the boarding house in Philadelphia where Jefferson put quill to paper to the Declaration’s stealthy printing, covert signing, dissemination in the doldrums of the revolutionary war, and long, harrowing, and ultimately hallowed afterlife. We follow the parchment as it is hauled out of a soon-to-be-burning Washington in 1814 and see it hidden in a dank cellar, posted in classrooms, recited on village greens, printed on handkerchiefs, and used to sell insurance and bundle coal. An inspiration to both Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson Davis in the Civil War, it has grown more important for each new generation. While FDR and Churchill celebrated its commitment to freedom from tyranny, the document itself was lowered into a bunker at Fort Knox. After the war, its precious ink fading, it was painstakingly preserved and enshrined.
Through it all, Jefferson’s words have inspired implausibly varied causes, from suffragists, abolitionists and civil rights leaders to groups waging war on the US government. As Jefferson had hoped, the principles enshrined in the Declaration became a beacon to the world. But what lessons should we take from it today? Can this statement of ideals in whose name the signers pledged their lives and sacred honor bring a disparate nation together? As we gather to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the founders’ bold experiment in democracy, Auslin reminds us that this enduring document was not just a call for freedom and equality but an eloquent statement of the principles that bind us together.
368 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication May 5, 2026
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Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I received an advance reader copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review on my Goodreads page. The book is scheduled for release on May 5, 2026.
As we approach the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, a flood of new books has appeared, many of them retelling the familiar drama of the summer of 1776. This book takes a notably different—and welcome—approach. Rather than ending when the ink dries, it follows the Declaration from its origins through its long and often surprising life afterward. The author is less interested in the moment of creation alone than in what happened next: where the document traveled, how it was preserved (and sometimes neglected), and how its meaning has evolved for generations of Americans.
What makes this book especially engaging is its focus on the Declaration as a living artifact, not just a founding text frozen in time. Readers learn how ordinary citizens encountered the document, how it was invoked in moments of national crisis, and how its words were repeatedly reinterpreted to meet the moral and political challenges of different eras. In doing so, the book offers a broader, richer history—one that connects the ideals of 1776 to the ongoing American experiment.
Anyone looking for a thoughtful history of the Declaration of Independence will find much to appreciate here, particularly readers who already know the basics and want something more expansive. In a crowded genre, this book stands out as a fresh and timely contribution, reminding us that the story of the Declaration did not end in Philadelphia, but has continued to unfold ever since.
As we approach the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, a flood of new books has appeared, many of them retelling the familiar drama of the summer of 1776. This book takes a notably different—and welcome—approach. Rather than ending when the ink dries, it follows the Declaration from its origins through its long and often surprising life afterward. The author is less interested in the moment of creation alone than in what happened next: where the document traveled, how it was preserved (and sometimes neglected), and how its meaning has evolved for generations of Americans.
What makes this book especially engaging is its focus on the Declaration as a living artifact, not just a founding text frozen in time. Readers learn how ordinary citizens encountered the document, how it was invoked in moments of national crisis, and how its words were repeatedly reinterpreted to meet the moral and political challenges of different eras. In doing so, the book offers a broader, richer history—one that connects the ideals of 1776 to the ongoing American experiment.
Anyone looking for a thoughtful history of the Declaration of Independence will find much to appreciate here, particularly readers who already know the basics and want something more expansive. In a crowded genre, this book stands out as a fresh and timely contribution, reminding us that the story of the Declaration did not end in Philadelphia, but has continued to unfold ever since.
Displaying 1 of 1 review