With its universal claims of equality and liberty, the Declaration of Independence established the principles of a free nation. Since its promulgation, abolitionists, suffragists, civil rights leaders and the Black Panther Party have relied on the principles of the Declaration to persuade the nation in the direction of liberty and equality.

In the digital era social movements are more likely to rely on retweets than first principles, protests instead of persuasion. This presentation considers what today's social movements might learn from the Declaration playbook.