New First Amendment Gallery | |
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On September 6, 2023, the National Constitution Center will open our newest gallery, The First Amendment. Protecting some of our most cherished freedoms—religious liberty, free speech, a free press, the freedom of assembly, and the right to petition—the First Amendment is a pillar of democracy and the American way. The gallery will offer a fresh perspective on the history of the First Amendment and how it impacts us today.
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Tomorrow we are celebrating the stars and stripes with special programs commemorating the adoption of the U.S. Flag. Join us in person or online for flag shows, trivia games, and a special conversation with Betsy Ross. | |
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History of the American Flag
Wednesday, June 14 | 12 p.m. ET
Tune in for this special show, led by the National Constitution Center’s education team, and discover the history and symbolism of the American flag and learn all about the proper way to display it. Test your knowledge of flag facts and discover how the American flag has changed over time.
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Betsy Ross: Beyond the Flag
Wednesday, June 14 | 1:45 p.m. ET
Celebrate Flag Day with a special conversation featuring Betsy Ross. Betsy will discuss her career as a successful businesswoman, her support of the American Revolution, and the story of how she was credited with designing the first American flag. Join historic interpreter Carol Spacht and learn more about this beloved founding figure at this special program presented in partnership by the National Constitution Center, Historic Philadelphia, Inc., and the Betsy Ross House.
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Happy Birthday, U.S. Army! | |
U.S. Army Veteran Chat
Wednesday, June 14 | 2:45 p.m. ET
Celebrate one of the United States' oldest institutions—the U.S. Army! Commemorate the Army’s birthday with a conversation featuring Army veterans sharing their stories of service, and answering questions from participants.
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Juneteenth Celebration
Monday, June 19 | 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Juneteenth marks our country’s second Independence Day: the oldest national commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. On June 19, 1865, over two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed, and nearly five months after the 13th Amendment was proposed (it would not be ratified until December 6, 1865), enslaved people in Texas learned that they were free.
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Four Harriets of History Show
Monday, June 19 | 9:45 a.m. and 3:45 p.m. ET
Explore the lives of four American women—Harriet Robinson Scott, Harriet Tubman, Harriet Jacobs, and Harriet Beecher Stowe—who confronted slavery through literature, lawsuits, and direct action in their efforts to free themselves and others from bondage.
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Juneteenth and the Constitution
Monday, June 19 | 10:45 a.m. and 1:45 p.m. ET
Join the Center’s education team as we walk through the events of June 19, 1865, to commemorate Juneteenth and the end of slavery in the United States. Together we’ll examine the Emancipation Proclamation, the 13th Amendment, and how the battles for freedom and equality shaped the nation.
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A Brief History of Juneteenth Featuring Dr. Emily Blanck
Monday, June 19 | 11:45 a.m. ET
Join us for a special scholar talk featuring Dr. Emily Blanck, associate professor of history and executive director of the Center for Interdisciplinary Studies at Rowan University. While Juneteenth is a relatively new federal holiday—signed into law by President Joe Biden in 2021—it has long and deep roots not only in the history of Texas but in the public commemoration of freedom since the American Revolution. Learn about how Juneteenth rose above dozens of other emancipation days to become America’s Emancipation Day because it most explicitly grappled with the moral challenges of freedom in a nation founded on freedom and slavery.
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Kids Town Hall: Freedom Fighters
Monday, June 19 | 12:45 p.m. ET
Join us for a special Kids Town Hall with some very famous guests, including Henry Box Brown and Bishop Richard Allen, to share their experiences in the fight for freedom and equality.
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Road to Freedom: The Story of Slavery in America
Monday, June 19 I 2:45 p.m. ET
This program explores the story of slavery in the United States through a constitutional lens, taking visitors on a journey from the time of the Constitutional Convention to the start of the Civil War. It will spotlight historic figures—like George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Ona Judge, Angelina Grimke, Harriet Tubman, William Still, and Abraham Lincoln—and key events such as the Missouri Compromise, the Compromise of 1850, the Kansas-Nebraska Act, the Dred Scott case, and the secession of the South.
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This Week in Constitutional History | |
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We Go to War With Great Britain (Again)
June 18, 1812
In June 1812, President James Madison signed a resolution declaring war against Great Britain—a move which drew both countries into a bitter conflict which lasted two and a half years.
Today, many of us recall the war for two events: Andrew Jackson's victory in the Battle of New Orleans and the British occupation of the capital.
But what were the key events that led to this conflict? Head over to Constitution Daily to learn more about America's "forgotten war."
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More From the National Constitution Center | |
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The Value of Building Civic Friendships with Dr. Kerry Sautner
On this episode of Here’s Where It Gets Interesting, Sharon McMahon welcomes guest Dr. Kerry Sautner, chief learning officer at the National Constitution Center. Kerry and Sharon talk about civic education, and how it can be a building block for a great democracy and how learning from our past is just as important as learning how to communicate and collaborate in the present.
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Thank you for being part of our community of educators. If you have any questions we’d love to hear from you. Please email the education team at [email protected]. | | | | |
