UIC gives students chance to view Declaration of Independence replica over 200 years old

CHICAGO (WLS) -- The University of Illinois Chicago is marking the milestone 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Students are getting an up-close look at the founding of the United States' democracy.

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Professors and students at UIC are using America's birthday as an opportunity to reexamine the nation's founding principles and the complex journey striving for lofty ideals.

"The Declaration is so important because it put forward the best ideals of what it means to be an American," said Kevin Schultz, UIC chair of the Department of History.

Right at the top of the document, America's founding fathers quickly got into the rights of people upon birth and the equality of man.

Schultz says at times the U.S. has succeeded and many times it has failed.

"By studying the past, we're trying to figure out what communities have been left out, what methods by which they were left out, and then how we can rectify that," Schultz said.

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Throughout the day-long symposium, students were left to consider the Declaration of Independence and interpret what it means to them.

"I think working through those issues between those high ideals and what things actually look like is one of the most, I mean, that's been central to our nation since its inception," UIC student Reese Share said.

"I think if you don't have representation for what you believe, do you really have a country? I don't know," UIC student Ash Parde said.

Historical artifacts, including a Revolutionary War-era letter written by George Washgington, were on display.

And as students evaluated how the United States has performed relative to its founding document, they were able to read it for themselves in the form of a roughly 200-year-old federally authorized replica.

"This was commissioned in 1820. John Quincy Adams was secretary of state, and he wanted as exacting a replica of the Declaration of Independence as possible," said Charles Epting, director of consignments for Heritage Auctions. "I love that a piece of paper 250 years old can still get people so fired up: pro, con, everything in-between. I think that speaks to the power of this document."

"Here we are 250 years later, debating, discussing and engaging with the ideas that they put forward," Schultz said.

As students learn about more about American history, it's professors' hope that they'll be able to use their knowledge of the past to help shape a better future, not unlike the founding fathers 250 years ago.