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Beyond Freedom for a Few
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The National Park Service's Interior Region 2 National Historic Landmarks (NHL) Program commissioned a Special History Study in advance of the 250th anniversary (or "Semiquincentennial") of the United States of America. The study will support the interpretation of National Historic Landmarks (NHLs) in the Southeastern United States focusing on the experiences of people who have often been left out of the standard historical narratives of the Revolution. By including the perspectives and stories of underrepresented groups from this period, such as those related to Indigenous groups, women, African Americans, and other territorial entities beyond those of the English colonies, our understanding of the American Revolution and its impact on the ongoing American experiment will be more comprehensive and inclusive. States and territories covered by this study include Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
In 1776, the United States of America initiated a grand but imperfect experiment in democracy. The American Revolution and the signing of the Declaration of Independence were pivotal moments in the establishment and advancement of the United States of America's highest ideals. The Declaration of Independence was only a starting point for a principled framework for constitutional government of, for, and by the people. That impassioned spirit has endured and continues to reverberate throughout our country. However, we recognize the work remains incomplete and continue to grapple with the deliberate decisions made by the authors of the Declaration of Independence that resulted in racial inequality and patriarchy as well as continued redefinitions of who has "inalienable rights" and when, how, and to what extent those rights may be exercised.
Although many NHLs have a connection to the Revolution through direct association with the war itself, this study will also consider the influence the American Revolution had on later periods as the American experiment is an ongoing one. Many NHLs from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries are connected to long-unfulfilled promises from the nation's founding, which have prevented Indigenous groups, African Americans, Latinos, women, children, indentured servants, religious minorities, and many others from participating in the new democracy.
The narrative will include histories that post-date the revolution and will investigate how the ideals of the American Revolution are related to later historical events. The information in this section will help people interpreting later sites address the shortcomings and unmet promises of the Revolution for many underrepresented groups. It will also aid in the interpretation of post-Revolution events that helped to fulfill the promises made in 1776.
Phone: 470-587-7940
Email: ellen_rankin@nps.gov
In 1776, the United States of America initiated a grand but imperfect experiment in democracy. The American Revolution and the signing of the Declaration of Independence were pivotal moments in the establishment and advancement of the United States of America's highest ideals. The Declaration of Independence was only a starting point for a principled framework for constitutional government of, for, and by the people. That impassioned spirit has endured and continues to reverberate throughout our country. However, we recognize the work remains incomplete and continue to grapple with the deliberate decisions made by the authors of the Declaration of Independence that resulted in racial inequality and patriarchy as well as continued redefinitions of who has "inalienable rights" and when, how, and to what extent those rights may be exercised.
Although many NHLs have a connection to the Revolution through direct association with the war itself, this study will also consider the influence the American Revolution had on later periods as the American experiment is an ongoing one. Many NHLs from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries are connected to long-unfulfilled promises from the nation's founding, which have prevented Indigenous groups, African Americans, Latinos, women, children, indentured servants, religious minorities, and many others from participating in the new democracy.
The narrative will include histories that post-date the revolution and will investigate how the ideals of the American Revolution are related to later historical events. The information in this section will help people interpreting later sites address the shortcomings and unmet promises of the Revolution for many underrepresented groups. It will also aid in the interpretation of post-Revolution events that helped to fulfill the promises made in 1776.
Contact Information
Ellen Rankin, Architectural HistorianPhone: 470-587-7940
Email: ellen_rankin@nps.gov