What Would You Have Done in 1776? DAR Essay Contest Deadline Approaching

If you were living in 1776 and heard the Declaration of Independence read aloud for the first time, what would you do next?

Would you run home to tell your family? Find your friends? Celebrate? Worry about what declaring independence from Great Britain might mean? Would you be willing to take action?

Local students have just one more week to put themselves into that historic moment and tell their story.

The Acalanes Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) is reminding students in grades 5–8 that entries for this year's DAR American History Essay Contest are due October 15, 2026.

The contest asks students to imagine living in Philadelphia—or somewhere the news took weeks to arrive—and hearing the Declaration read in their community. Students should describe their reaction, whom they would tell, what action they would take and how independence might affect their lives.

The contest is open to students attending public or private schools as well as homeschool students.

Grade 5 essays should be 300–600 words. Essays for grades 6–8 should be 600–1,000 words.

The Acalanes Chapter will select one winner from each grade, with winning essays advancing to further DAR competition.

Deadline: October 15, 2026

For complete contest rules and submission information, contact acalanesdar@gmail.com.

There's still time to enter—and America's 250th anniversary is a wonderful year for young people to imagine what it might have been like to hear the words of independence for the very first time.