In the spirit of the First Continental Congress, our 2025 student delegates created their own Declaration of Aspirations as part of the Young People’s Continental Congress. You can read the full text of their declaration below.

July 18, 2025

Whereas, 56 delegates from twelve colonies began meeting at Carpenters’ Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on September 5, 1774, as the first Continental Congress charged with finding a unified voice for the communities each represented;

And whereas, these delegates discussed hopes, fears, aspirations, and a growing sense of alarm at the political divisions sowing conflict across North America, before together articulating powerful statements of shared rights and liberties that continue, nearly 250 years later, to inspire generations of Americans to create a more perfect union; 

And whereas, 27 delegates from US states and territories have again assembled at Carpenters’ Hall to discuss the rich and complex history of our nation’s founding era, as well as the enduring legacy of the ideals of the American Revolution for the history, present, and future of the United States;

We, the delegates of the 2025 Young People’s Continental Congress, do hereby declare the following aspirations for our peers and our country,

Life and liberty

That the young people of the United States reaffirm our commitment to the promises of liberty and fundamental equality that have served as a guiding light for generations of our forebears; 

That we commit to building a future grounded in fairness, respect, compassion, and universal human dignity so that all young people share the freedoms necessary to lead and thrive;

That we seek to create an environment in which there is no stigma attached to seeking enhanced mental and physical health, and in which necessary care is accessible to all;

The pursuit of happiness

That we and our government guarantee that economic opportunities are accessible to all communities across every region;

That we aim to recenter our shared American identity around the basis of natural rights and, in so doing, commit to work to remove disparities created by race, gender, religion, and income; 

That we aspire to reform existing social and economic systems to provide the chance to secure fairly compensated employment and affordable and accessible healthcare;

That we seek to build a community in which the technology, knowledge, and information necessary for informed civic engagement are available to all;

That we seek to use these resources to preserve and protect our natural environment;

Education

That we expand access to high-quality and well-funded education–free of government censorship–at all levels so that every American can live up to their fullest potential;

That we lay the foundation for a world in which critical thinking, individual thought, respect for multiple perspectives, and civil discourse are the status quo;

That we treat all students as individuals; and that we respect the contributions of many cultures in building our nation;

That we invest in the civic education necessary for people of all ages to work together to improve the health of American democracy and uphold the revolutionary ideals written in our country’s founding documents;

Government accountability

That our government acts according to the will of the people and adopts policies to improve the lives of all Americans with accessibility, transparency, and accountability to the American people;

Justice and rule of law

That our justice system preserves and protects the rule of law, including its fundamental principles of fairness, due process, and equal protection;

That the rights and liberties encoded in our laws extend to all people residing in the United States regardless of identity, status, and human condition; 

Political Unity / E Pluribus Unum

That we embrace our responsibility to participate in our communities, our institutions, and in our government;

That we hold our government to its duty to provide opportunities for political participation in all communities, such that all eligible voters feel empowered to do so;

That we agree, at times, to disagree, listen respectfully to other perspectives, and learn to admit when we are wrong;

That we endeavor to build a system in which the broadest possible range of opinions and beliefs are empowered in our government. 

Through these shared values and aspirations we seek to begin to restore a spirit of unity and purpose to our democratic system, so that differences are debated with integrity and decisions are made in the interest of all Americans.