Commemorating the declaration of independence: analyzing and teaching primary texts and ideals of the american experiment [christopher newport university?s center for american studies plans to host…

The National Endowment for the Humanities awarded Christopher Newport University $195,558 on March 1, 2026, under the Promotion of the Humanities Research program (CFDA 45.161) to support educational programming by the Center for American Studies centered on the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, and America's founding principles.

The Center for American Studies plans to host a series of events between January 2026 and December 2027 tied to America's Semiquincentennial (July 4, 2026) and the Center's twentieth anniversary (June 1, 2027). Programs in 2026 will examine the phrases "all men are created equal" and "endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights" as expressed in the First Amendment. Programs in 2027 will focus on the phrase "to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men." The Center will hold annual conferences on America's founding principles and history, Constitution Day debates, graduate-level civics courses for K–12 teachers, and summer civics teacher workshops throughout the grant period. Performance takes place in Virginia, with final completion scheduled for February 28, 2028.

Commemorating the declaration of independence: analyzing and teaching primary texts and ideals of the american experiment [christopher newport university?s center for american studies plans to host a series of events tied to themes of the declaration of independence and the U.S. Constitution between january 2026 and december 2027 to celebrate america?s semiquincentennial (july 4, 2026) and the center for american studies? Twentieth anniversary (june 1, 2027). CAS?s events in 2026 will honor the phrases ?all men are created equal? And that they are "endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights," especially as those rights are expressed in the first amendment of the U.S. Constitution. CAS programs offered in 2027 will focus on the phrase "to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men." during the grant period, CAS plans to hold its annual conferences on america?s founding principles and history, constitution day debates, graduate-level civics courses for k?12 teachers, and summer civics teacher workshops.]