UVU's Center for Constitutional Studies launches a free YouTube Declaration Masterclass series for America's 250th birthday, featuring Oxford, BYU, and UVU scholars exploring natural law, equality, and civic virtue in 15-minute episodes.
Orem, Utah - July 4, 2026
UVU's Center for Constitutional Studies marks America's 250th birthday with a free video series exploring the ideas behind the Declaration of Independence, featuring scholars from Oxford, BYU, and UVU.
Utah Valley University's (UVU) Center for Constitutional Studies (CCS) is commemorating the United States of America's 250th birthday with a Declaration Masterclass, a series of video sessions introducing viewers to the key ideas and basic history animating the Declaration of Independence. The videos are free on YouTube and were produced with support from America250 Utah.
The videos are idea-focused, with each session highlighting the timeless importance and contemporary relevance of these ideas. Each episode lasts approximately 15 minutes and is accompanied by supplemental primary source readings. Topics explore natural law and rights, equality, civic virtue, and more.
Featured scholars in the videos include Nicholas Cole, Ph.D., of Pembroke College, University of Oxford; Bradley Rebeiro, Ph.D., of Brigham Young University Law School; Savannah Eccles Johnston, Ph.D., director of UVU's Master of Arts in Constitutional Government, Civics, and Law program; Robert Burton, Ph.D., director of the UVU Civic Thought and Leadership Initiative; and Matthew Brogdon, Ph.D., senior director of CCS at UVU.
"The Declaration of Independence is much more than a historic document; it is a statement of enduring principles that continue to shape our understanding of liberty, equality, and self-government," Brogdon said. "Through the Declaration Masterclass, we want to help people engage directly with those ideas, understand their historical context, and consider why they remain relevant nearly 250 years later."
Learn more about the UVU Declaration Masterclass videos.