The Declaration of Independence: America's Birth Certificate
The Declaration of Independence is a peculiar thing. It’s a literary masterpiece written jointly by a committee of fifty people. It’s short and punchy—just 1310 words long—but still somehow daunting and difficult to get to grips with. What did people at the time make of it? What did it change? Why does it matter?
In this course, historian Richard Bell, a specialist in the American Revolutionary era, explores the fascinating origins, misunderstood purpose, and extraordinary global legacy of the Declaration of Independence.
Faculty Bio
Richard Bell is Professor of History at the University of Maryland and author of the book Stolen: Five Free Boys Kidnapped into Slavery and their Astonishing Odyssey Home which was a finalist for the George Washington Prize and the Harriet Tubman Prize.
This is a Livestreamed + Recorded Course
- Classes will stream live on the scheduled day and time
- Classes will also be video recorded
- You must be a current OLLI @Berkeley member to register. Learn about membership, including our fee assistance program.
Schedule Highlights
- Course starts on Monday, Jan. 26, and ends on Monday, March 9
- Classes meet for 6 weeks, 1.5 hours per session (10–11:30 AM)
- There is no class Feb. 16
- All course materials remain in Member Dashboards through March 29
Member Praise for Richard Bell
What a wonderful class and brilliant instructor! I loved Rick’s style of presentation = intense and dramatic. I’m so impressed with my fellow OLLIians = smart, informed, engaged. Everything worked for me.
I’m hooked on the drama of Rick’s lectures. He brings heat and humanity to his subjects.
After the first ten minutes of the first class, I turned to my husband, who had also signed up for the class, and said, “He is terrific!”
Faculty Q&A
- Read an interview with Richard Bell from our archive.