DAR is holding a nationwide American History Essay Contest, established to encourage young people to think creatively about the nation’s history and learn about a particular historical topic or person. There are two categories.
Students in 5-8 grades may write an essay on “Announcement of the Declaration of Independence First Public Reading.” To announce independence from Great Britain, the Declaration of Independence was publicly read in Philadelphia on July 8, 1776.
Following this reading, the word spread throughout the colonies in newspapers, more public readings, and posted notices. Imagine
you lived in Philadelphia or an area of the colonies where news did not reach you for weeks. How would you react to hearing the
Declaration read in your community? With whom would you share the news? What action would you take after hearing it? How would
this have impacted your life? One essay at each grade level will be selected as the chapter winner and forwarded to the state competition.
Students in 9-12 grades are encouraged to learn about a figure from the era of the American Revolution (1773-1783). Students are to discuss how he or she influenced the course of the American Revolution, who he or she was and his/her contribution to the founding of a new nation. One essay will be selected as the chapter winner and forwarded to the state competition.
Note that video essay entries are also accepted for all grades (up to three minutes in length). DAR invites students from private, public, parochial or home schools to participate.
The state winner from each grade will advance to the divisional level. The divisional winners will advance to the national level where the winners are announced. All National winners will receive a certificate, medal and a monetary reward. **Last year we had winners at the state and national levels.**
Essays are due December 1, 2026. For more information, contact Jane Hayes of the Red River Valley DAR Chapter at jane.e.hayes@gmail.com.
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