A Modern Declaration (Paperback or Softback)

What does America still promise—and what are we willing to defend?

A Modern Declaration is a short, urgent civic argument written in the spirit of the political pamphlets that helped ignite the American Revolution. It began when writer Beth Arnold read books about the founding with her 8-year-old grandson, Arnold, and found herself asking a simple question: What country is he being taught to believe in—and what country will his generation actually inherit?

We must name what’s happening to us, what we believe in, and declare who we are.

Following the architecture of the Declaration of Independence, Beth Arnold restates the truths a democracy must hold, the purpose of government, the promise Americans owe one another, 27 grievances against the forces undermining self-government, the enablers who made those failures possible, and a final charge to the people.

This is not only an indictment of authoritarianism, Christian nationalism, racism, oligarchy, attacks on voting rights, and the abuse of presidential power. It is an affirmative declaration of what democracy is for: equal dignity, truth, law, conscience, accountable government, material security, and the freedom to live without fear.

A Modern Declaration is meant to be read, passed around, discussed, argued about—and acted upon. It is meant to unify us, inspire us, give us hope, and make us remember that we all have power.

No president is a king. No office is a throne. No citizen is a subject.