How has the makeup of who is an American changed since the American Revolution? How have the people in that changing face of America continuously reinvigorated and reasserted the founding ideals of the country? By examining the documents left by our ancestors in the time leading up to America’s 100th birthday, this display will ask those questions of their descendants. This exhibit draws on collections at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. It will be curated in partnership with ethnic and genealogical societies that seek to connect Americans to their ancestors through research, programs, and networking opportunities. By the time of

In 1763, following the French and Indian War, most American colonists cherished their place in the British Empire and expressed loyalty to King George III. Yet by 1776, many of those same colonists were ready to declare independence, denouncing the king as a “Royal Brute.” Paths to Independence explores how such a dramatic transformation in political allegiance and public sentiment occurred in just over a decade. Featuring rare original documents from the Historical Society of Pennsylvania’s collections, including letters, pamphlets, broadsides, and drafts of the Articles of Confederation, which was the first constitution of the United States, the display traces