Did you know that Congress voted to become independent from Great Britain on July 2, 1776? Two days later, on July 4, the founders officially approved the Declaration of Independence. Through the Declaration, the colonists hoped to demonstrate that their revolution was not a power grab. It was justifiable. To prove it, they listed 27 grievances outlining exactly how the British government had violated their rights.
Join us on July 2, 2026, from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. ET (4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. PT) when our curators discuss the list of grievances in the Declaration of Independence with Dr. Denver Brunsman, History Department Chair at George Washington University.
This event is for teachers, students, and their families — and everyone with an interest in history! Everyone who registers will be sent a Zoom meeting link and instructions in the confirmation email. PD certificates will be sent to all who attend the entirety of the program. Please add the Gilder Lehrman Institute to your email safe sender list. For more information, please contact us at collectionprograms@gilderlehrman.org.