American Democracy

American Democracy: A Great Leap of Faith is the companion volume to an exhibition at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History that celebrates the bold and radical experiment to test a wholly new form of government. Democracy is still a work in progress, but it is at the core of our nation's political, economic, and social life. This lavishly illustrated book explores democracy from the Revolution to the present using objects from the museum's collection, such as the portable writing box that Thomas Jefferson used while composing the Declaration of Independence, the inkstand with which Abraham Lincoln drafted the Emancipation Proclamation, Susan B. Anthony's iconic red shawl, and many more. Not only famous voices are presented: like democracy itself, the book and the exhibition preserve the voice of the people by showcasing campaign materials, protest signs, and a host of other items from everyday life that reflect the promises and challenges of American democracy throughout the nation's history.THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AMERICAN HISTORY collects and preserves more than 3 million artifacts that explore the infinite richness and complexity of American history. It is one of the Smithsonian's most popular and frequently visited museums. Contributors include HARRY R. RUBENSTEIN, WILLIAM BIRD, LISA KATHLEEN GRADDY, and BARBARA CLARK SMITH, curators at the National Museum of American History,and GRACE COHEN GROSSMAN, a former Goldman Sachs Fellow at the National Museum of American History.Traces America's experiment with government of, by, and for the people