FORUM: 1776. Views from the British World: “1776 and All That”: A View from the English East Midlands

Abstract

Timed to coincide with the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the Declaration of Independence that launched a revolution that created the United States of America, this series of articles complicates traditional narratives of this transformative event by situating it in a larger British world context.

This article considers the challenge of staging an exhibition to mark the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in a gallery with a strong English regional identity. After setting out the context for the exhibition, the article goes on to highlight the connections between Nottinghamshire and the United States, particularly the polarizing effect of the campaign for independence on Nottingham politics. The article highlights several examples that illustrate the intersection between regional and global events, demonstrating how this material was used to engage local audiences in relevant and interesting ways.