Warwick, R.I. — In recognition of the 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding, the Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) will host the national traveling exhibition, Declaration 1776: The Big Bang of Modern Democracy, in the Great Hall on its Warwick Campus from March 9 through April 24.

Developed by the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, the exhibition explores the global influence of the Declaration of Independence and the enduring power of its central idea that “all men are created equal.” The exhibition is free and open to the public and is made possible through funding from the Sullivan Foundation.

Through seven illustrated panels featuring historical documents, artwork, and primary sources, the exhibition traces how the Declaration’s ideals have shaped American history and inspired movements for freedom and equality around the world.

The exhibition begins with the revolutionary moment of 1776, when the Declaration introduced the radical assertion that governments derive their power from the consent of the governed. While that promise did not initially apply to everyone, later panels show how Americans and others have continually invoked the document’s ideals to push the nation toward greater equality.

Panels explore topics including:

• The origins of the Declaration and the revolutionary idea of equality.
• The influence of the Declaration on early civil rights advocates, including figures such as Benjamin Banneker, David Walker, and Frederick Douglass, who cited its language in arguments against slavery.
• The spread of independence movements across the globe, from Haiti and Latin America in the nineteenth century to emerging nations in Africa and Asia in the twentieth century.
• The expansion of rights in the United States, including the end of slavery, the Reconstruction Amendments, and the long struggle for civil rights.
• Women’s rights movements, from Abigail Adams’ famous appeal to “remember the ladies” to the Seneca Falls Declaration of Sentiments and the eventual ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment.
• Twentieth-century struggles for independence and democracy worldwide.
• Modern civil rights movements, including those led by Martin Luther King Jr. and others who drew inspiration from the Declaration’s promise of equality.

Together, the panels illustrate how the Declaration has functioned not only as a founding document but also as a continuing source of inspiration for movements seeking liberty and self-determination.

“As our nation approaches its 250th anniversary, this exhibition offers an opportunity for our students and community to reflect on both the promise and dynamism of the Declaration of Independence,” said Rosemary Costigan, president of the Community College of Rhode Island. “Community colleges are places where civic learning and open dialogue thrive, and we are proud to bring this important exhibition to Rhode Island.”

Corresponding Lectures

To deepen engagement with the exhibition, CCRI faculty will host public events exploring themes related to the American Revolution and the legacy of the Declaration.

Faculty Lecture
Wednesday, April 8, 6:30 p.m.
Room 4080, Warwick Campus
(Reception immediately following)

Professors Jack Every and Suzanne McCormack of CCRI’s Department of Social Sciences will present a public talk examining the historical context of the Declaration and its continuing significance in American political thought.

Brown Bag Lunch
Wednesday, April 15, at 12:30 p.m.
Lower Commons, Warwick Campus

Professor Kathy Blessing of the CCRI Library will present a Power Point-based lecture titled “Ozias Ansley: A Loyalist Officer in the Revolution and His Later Reunion,” exploring the experience of Loyalists during the Revolutionary era and the complex questions of allegiance and identity during the nation’s founding. Ozias is the fifth great-grandfather of Professor Blessing, who is a certificate member of the UELAC genealogical society.