Lincoln as Your Guide to the Declaration

Washington, D.C.

March 30, 2026

 Lincoln scholar Lucas E. Morel is one of the most eloquent voices in explaining how Abraham Lincoln’s views on the primacy of the Declaration of Independence remain relevant today. Here are his remarks when he was asked at the Abraham Lincoln Institute symposium at Ford’s Theatre on March 21 to briefly talk about Lincoln and the 250^th anniversary of America’s Founding:

In the year of the semi-quincentennial, America 250, we’re harking back to America’s birth, which, to quote Lincoln, was not born when the Constitution, or the body, was formed, but when the soul was manifested, and that was expressed in the Declaration in 1776.

So this year, of all years, if you need guidance on understanding the Declaration, I would first say don’t look for guidance, read the thing, take care – it was written for you, for a decent respect to the opinions of mankind, let facts be submitted to a candid world – that’s you – that’s everybody. You can do it; it’s in English.

But if you need guidance this year, there is no greater guide than Lincoln. Since he started speaking as an adult did we have a better guide in understanding the meaning of America, the meaning of our organic, formulative documents – the Constitution and especially the Declaration -- than Lincoln’s words themselves. He was influenced by the Bible, Shakespeare, Byron.

He didn’t like reading novels, but the Declaration was the end-all and be-all for Lincoln’s political life and to read Lincoln is more or less to read the notes of the Founders.

Morel is professor of ethics and politics at Washington and Lee University. He is author of the book “Lincoln and the American Founding.”