10 Ways to Bring Our Nation’s Promise to Life this Independence Day
Events, tools and resources from the #CivicSeason
As we look towards this Independence Day after a challenging year of disruption, grief and loss, there is refreshed hope about the nation we might yet become.
As we reflect on this moment and consider steps we can take now to live up to the founding ideals articulated in the Declaration of Independence 245 years ago, the Civic Season is here to help us all find opportunities to get started — whether you have 5 minutes or two hours, prefer digital, DIY or gathering with friends, are interested in voting rights or immigration or military service.
The powerful thing about democracy is that it asks all of us to take part. Ready to work towards that “more perfect union?” Here are 10 ways to get started, featured as part of the Civic Season from Made By Us, Civics Unplugged, and hundreds of history and civics organizations across the country.
Need help understanding your role in the bigger picture? We got you. Uncover your personal civic superpowers using this short quiz, then find hundreds of resources and events at TheCivicSeason.com to guide you forward.
1. Explore the duties of citizenship and take the Sworn-Again Oath.
When immigrants become American citizens, they learn the history and the civic scripture of our nation. They take a test and come together to take an oath. What would it look like for all of us to take an oath? To become a Sworn-Again American? Citizen University put together an oath for all Americans — whether you’ve just arrived or your family has been here since time immemorial. Learn more about preparing for this passage of citizenship from the National Museum of American History’s learning resource and Colonial Williamsburg’s conversation series.
2. Reflect and remember.
If you’re in or near Kansas City, Missouri, head to the National World War I Museum and Memorial as Taps at the Tower is presented each evening at sunset. People are invited to come and use the grounds each evening, have a picnic, play games and enjoy the outdoors. At sunset (8:45 p.m.) from June 20–26, people gather to experience Taps being played during a brief, moving ceremony. Not nearby? Visit and reflect at a veterans memorial near you (here’s one in Atlanta).
3. Understand our symbols and how they change.
A new exhibition at the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia has dozens of rare American flags, the early state constitutions and the first printing of the proposed U.S. Constitution. Learn about the evolution of the American Flag, the triumphs and tensions that emerged as new states joined the Union, and consider your role in the ongoing effort to fulfill the promise of the American Revolution. Next, Fourth Wall Films has a mini-documentary on Flag Day and its origins. Finally, get up to speed on how the Confederate battle flag has become a persistent symbol in American life, with many different meanings. The American Civil War Museum is here to shed light on how this flag acquired its many meanings.
4. Level up your civic action with some healthy competition.
The intuitive and easy-to-use Citizen You mobile app from the Senator John Heinz History Center is designed to foster civic engagement by gamifying everyday civic actions. The free app helps bring together citizens of all ages to compete in challenges and earn points for a variety of civic-minded activities including attending local council meetings, helping a neighbor in need, and voting. Once you’re schooled-up, try the Citizenship Quiz from the New-York Historical Society or the Voting Rights quiz from DC History Center to test your knowledge. And be sure to submit your list of 10 things you think every American ought to know to the Aspen Institute’s Citizenship and American Identity program, which is collecting them!
If you want to compete further, World101 is hosting a trivia night on June 29th where you can show off your skills.
5. Turbocharge your vote.
Design a voter registration campaign encouraging other young people to become active voters with this fun activity from the Edward M. Kennedy Institute. And read up on how we can re-frame and re-imagine voting to make it easy and exciting for new voters, from the experts at Vote By Design. Wondering why you should bother voting at all? Connecticut Explored helps you dig into this question.
6. Explore poetry and place
A project of U.S. Poet Laureate Joy Harjo, “Living Nations, Living Words” features a sampling of work by 47 Native Nations poets through an interactive ArcGIS Story Map and a newly developed Library of Congress audio collection. Further understand the role of place in the Native American experience by checking out the soon-to-be-opened First Americans Museum in Oklahoma.
Wondering how to bring the conversation home? Check out the 2020 Awakening Project from For Freedoms, which inspired billboards in all 50 states.
7. Make your declaration.
If you had to edit the Declaration of Independence, could you? Would you search for formatting and grammatical errors or would you focus on the content? Maybe you would do both. This interactive activity from the American Philosophical Society puts you in the role of the Declaration’s editor. Or, maybe you want to take a stand for more unity, and issue your Declaration of Interdependence. Carpenters’ Hall has just the convo to get the wheels turning, with Young Involved Philadelphia.
8. Contribute to a more complete historical record.
Like your history bite-size and super interesting? Us too. From the American Battlefield Trust, “Untold” is a free collection of short, compelling, history videos and animations designed to shine a light on the stories that don’t always make it into the classroom.
You can play a role, too — help the Rhode Island State Archives transcribe the daily calendar of the President of the Rhode Island Women’s Suffrage Association. Learn who she met with and what she did. This transcription will be valuable to scholars and all who are interested in the history of women’s suffrage. Each card will take about 10 minutes to transcribe and you can do as many, or as few, as you like! Want more documents to explore? The Japanese American National Museum and National Archives have you covered.
9. Learn from experts
The Commission on the Practice of Democratic Citizenship has been studying up for years — and distilled their findings into 31 recommendations for the future of democracy. Get their strategies for action in this report, such as “Build civic information architecture.” One way to contribute to that goal, even as an individual, is by brushing up on your news literacy skills with this fun game from the News Literacy Project.
10. Go Fourth!
There are many ways to celebrate the Fourth of July — be sure to check your local historical society, museum and civic organizations for their activities, and peruse more options at TheCivicSeason.com! A few ideas:
- Naturalization ceremonies, which welcome immigrants to the full rights and duties of U.S. citizenship, are a moving moment to witness — and Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello invites you to join in their annual tradition, now virtually, on July 4th.
- Hear a reading of the Declaration of Independence on the steps of the National Archives (virtual or in-person). If local, pop over to Gadsby’s Tavern in Alexandria for a special exhibit on the National Anthem.
- Prefer to learn from re-enactment? Meet “George Washington” at Washington’s Mount Vernon or the soldiers of the Northern Continental Army at Fort Ticonderoga.
No matter how you spend your Fourth, be sure to mark off your Civic Season Bingo Card to rack up points* for all your great civic activity this year! Grab a card and share on social media with #CivicSeason — and challenge a friend.
*imaginary points, but the effect on our democracy is real!
Download Bingo Card (English)
Download Bingo Card (Spanish)
Find more activities and programs to explore at TheCivicSeason.com. The Civic Season is made possible thanks to the generous support of Marcia Carlucci, Jacqueline B. Mars and AMERICAN HERITAGE® Chocolate.
