Democracy’s Blueprints: The Documents that Built America
July 29, 2016 – February 1, 2017
As Lakewood celebrates the opening of the musical 1776 on our Headlee Mainstage, we also celebrate the history of our great nation through the documents that formed it, as presented by our friends at the Oregon Historical Society. Now on display through February 1, 2017 in Downtown Portland, “Democracy’s Blueprints: The Documents that Built America” features rare engravings of five bedrock documents – The Magna Carta, Declaration of Independence, U.S. Constitution, Bill of Rights and Monroe Doctrine – that symbolize America’s long quest for a more perfect union. Continue below for a sneak peek of this remarkable exhibition.
Broadside of The Magna Carta, printed in 1733 on vellum, courtesy Mark Family Collection
Background: The Great Charter was issued by King John of England in 1215 and established the principle that every man, including the king, was subject to the law. Principles of the Magna Carta are echoed in the U.S. Bill of Rights.
“No free man shall be seized or imprisoned, or stripped of his rights or possessions… nor will we proceed with force against him… except by the lawful judgment of his equals or by the law of the land.”
Broadside of the Declaration of Independence, reproduced by John Binns with color portraits and state seals in 1819, courtesy Mark Family Collection
Background: Drafted in 1776, these exalted phrases from Thomas Jefferson express the colonial ideals of liberty and equality and provide the justification for the colonies severing ties with the mother country.
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights… Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”