Another connection between the Declaration of Independence and this Rockfish Gap Report can be found here. The founders of this university, just as the founders of the United States did, prevented theocracy from entering their establishment. We read in Our Declaration: A Reading of the Declaration of Independence in Defense of Equality by Danielle Allen, how Thomas Jefferson made a conscious effort not to directly reference God or any religion in the Declaration of Independence. For the University of Virginia, this was also important as to create a community that valued education as suppose to a supreme being.

I enjoy how the founders of the University of Virginia are embracing the public university that they have created. Thomas Jefferson believed strongly that one of the fundamental roots of a Democracy was that its citizens must be well educated. I believe that this is the reason why he made the University of Virginia a public university. How was he to live with himself simultaneously arguing an educated society while in the mean time founding a private institution?

I believe this this quote is emblematic of the cultural that was present at the time of the University of Virginia's finding. In the 21st century, you rarely see direct references by Universities promoting agriculture. However there are still many similarities between the University's goals for how students will be prepared to participate in society that have remained to this day. These include: political involvement, industry, commerce (especially present with our commerce school at UVA) and manufacturing (which I believe now would be synonymous with engineering).

This is an incredible ironic statement. The founders are both saying "every citizen" and "his." As we think about the reasons why attending college is so valuable in the present day, we still maintain the same viewpoint as the founders did 200 years ago: to learn how to independently and successfully live our lives. That theory has not been altered, however the people to whom that theory pertains to has expanded.

By addressing the inevitable "change(s) of circumstances" and stating how the people of the future "will know best what will suit the circumstances of their day", the writers of this founding document are explaining to the future members of the University of Virginia that this is in fact a living document. They admit that they cannot predict the future, however they do know the great potential of the United States and more specifically this University. As a result, they understand how what they are putting forth here in this document are more guiding principles than foundational pillars.