Gettysburg and the Question of American Identity

In this episode, the Friends of Publius engage in a lively discussion about the Gettysburg Address and what it tells us about our national identity. This question is from Unit 6, Question 1 of the Center for Civic Education’s We the People curriculum. 

-Why do you think Abraham Lincoln believes 1776 to be the start of a new nation instead of 1788?  When do you believe that nation officially began?

*What qualifies a separate region or group as a distinct, sovereign nation?

*Are the ideals set forth in the Declaration of Independence still shaping American law and policy today?  Should they be legally enforceable?