American Bicentennial

Summary

In 1976, Americans marked the 200th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in a myriad of ways from national events to community celebrations. Following the turbulence of the late 1960s and early 1970s, the Bicentennial was seen as an opportunity for a renewal and rebirth of American values.

The American Revolution Bicentennial Administration, established in 1973 by Congress, led the planning for commemorations throughout the country. Prominent national events celebrating the Bicentennial included the grand opening of the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum, a national parade with Johnny Cash serving as grand marshal, a state visit by Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, and the American Freedom Train touring the country with artifacts, documents, and art.

The American Revolution Bicentennial Administration also encouraged Americans to plan local events and engage with American history. In Kansas, children learned about the upcoming 200th anniversary in school and communities planned service projects and found other unique ways to celebrate. In Lawrence, Kansas, the Douglas County Bicentennial Commission commemorated the Bicentennial year through the American Issues Forum, a project created by the American Revolution Bicentennial Administration to both educate the American people on national history and provide a space for public discourse on national topics.

Legislative efforts to celebrate the Bicentennial were taken up, too. In 1976, Congress officially established the American Folklife Center to preserve cultural traditions, practices, and expressions important to the identity of the United States. Senator Bob Dole also introduced legislation for a one-time modification to the residency requirement for United States naturalization. The bill proposed that immigrants eligible to petition for citizenship in 1977 could instead do so in 1976, though the bill never passed.

Senator Bob Dole did his part to further the messages of the Bicentennial in speeches, legislation, and correspondence with constituents. As he traveled around Kansas, he spoke about America’s setbacks and successes over the past 200 years. Dole received and answered correspondence from constituents about what the Bicentennial was and what it meant to him. Dole shared his feelings with a group of school children who wrote to him, asking them to remember “the principles on which this nation was founded, and to give new meaning to those goals of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for generations to come.”