America 250 - 9th-12th

High School: Students can provide either an art piece or a written piece. Top 3 school entries advance to district.

- Art submissions must include a 100–200 word artist statement.
- Written essays should be a minimum of 250 and a maximum of 800 words.

Prompts-

Prompt 1: The Next 50 Years:

When the United States celebrates its 300th anniversary in 2076, what major breakthrough or social progress do you hope your generation will have achieved?

Prompt 2: The Time Traveler:

If you could travel back to 1776, what would you say to the founding fathers who were reluctant to sign the Declaration of Independence?

Prompt 3: Voices Left Out of the Founding Story
Discuss whose perspectives were missing in 1776 and how those voices have reshaped the nation over the last 250 years
Prompt 4: Dissent and the Democratic Experiment
The Declaration itself was an act of radical dissent. Evaluate the role of constructive dissent, civic debate, or civil disobedience in preserving and refining American democracy over the past 250 years.
Prompt 5: The Safeguards of Modern Freedom
Drawing on the historical lesson of the Declaration of Independence, examine or depict how democratic safeguards—like voting, civic engagement, a free press, and a strong military—help preserve the voices of the many.
Prompt 6: An Oath to the Constitution, Not a Monarch

In 1776, the Founders condemned King George III for using standing armies to control citizens and strip away their freedoms. To prevent this abuse of power, American service members do not swear loyalty to a king, president, or political party; instead, they take an oath to "support and defend the Constitution." Explain the importance of this difference and contrast how authoritarian leaders use military force to suppress their citizens with how the modern U.S. military protects democratic institutions today.

Prompt 7: Life, Liberty, and the 2026 Remix

Rewrite the Declaration of Independence in modern language.

Prompt 8: The Ultimate "Breakup Letter"
The Declaration of Independence was essentially a letter telling King George III why the colonies were breaking away. Draw/write and/or write about why the colonists felt they had no choice left but to leave the King's rule and govern themselves. But turn it into a Break Up Letter.