The National Archives Experience was a creation of the National Archives Records and Archives Administration that partners with the Foundation of the National Archives. It is under the National Archives, located in Washington DC, which is mandated with the responsibility of safeguarding all the records of the Federal government ( “National Archives: Dictionary of American History”, 2003). The archive is a simple revelation of the American past, which forms part of the nation’s future (The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, n.d). It was reestablished in 2003 with the Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom being one of the sections. The Rotunda harbors the Constitution of the United States, the declaration of independence and the bill of rights which were first written in the years 1787, 1776, and 1791 respectively (“Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom”, n.d). For more than two centuries, the documents held in the rotunda for the charters of freedom have managed to secure the freedom of the people of the United States.
The first charter of freedom was the Declaration of Independence. The charter exists in the form of drafts, published broadsides and handwritten copies. These materials are primary sources of information for the historians since they were generated by first-hand participants. It was announced in 1776, with the aim of reporting that the thirteen British colonies were forming a separate nation from the mother country, the Great Britain, which would be known as the United States of America. The declaration, in justifying its revolution, laid down the ultimate truth about human rights (“Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom”, n.d).
The “composition draft” is the oldest of the Declaration of Independence. It was written in June 1776, by Thomas Jefferson. It was, however, discovered in 1947 in the Library of Congress. Before this document was discovered, the “rough draft” was the only one thought to have existed. This was a document made by Jefferson, which he later presented to the Committee of Five, which was the drafting committee. The presence of these copies is proof of how the American forefathers struggled to secure their independence.
The drafts of the American Constitution since 1787 are still in store. They signify the hard-won victory during the fight for independence. The spirit of the revolution is also codified in the constitution, which promotes welfare for all the American citizens (“Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom”, n.d). The constitution was under the custody of James Madison who was the Secretary of State, but he later lost it. It was found later by Franklin Jameson who forwarded it to the state department who later kept them in a safe after sealing it between two glass plates. The American Constitution was not displayed for public purposes during the first century. It was later moved to the Library of Congress and in 1924, President Coolidge built a shrine that publicly displayed the constitution to the public. After all, the sole purpose of this document was for reminding the Americans that their freedom was secured. They were a free people in a free land. It was until 1952 that the Constitution was moved to the National Archives where its visual inspections were enhanced by electronic imaging. Full public imaging never took place for a while until September 2003.
Lastly, the Bill of Rights is yet another important document in the Rotunda for the Charters for Freedom. It added to the constitution and was compiled in 1791. It listed out the first ten amendments to the American Constitution and protected the freedom of press, religion, assembly, speech, among others (“Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom”, n.d). The Bill of Rights was proposed following a plan that would cause the ratification of the Constitution of the United States. Also, the Bill of Rights listed specific quotes that would enhance personal freedom and rights. Therefore, the aim of the bill of rights was and still is, to safeguard democracy. The Bill of Rights was built upon previous documents such as the Magna Carta, the English Bill of rights and the Virginia Declaration of Rights.
President Washington ordered that several copies be made for the Congress and thirteen for each state. However, not all exist as some were either burnt, stolen or just went missing. The only ones believed to exist to date is that from the state of Georgia, Maryland, and North Carolina. The copy for the First Congress is the one at the display in the Rotunda alongside the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. The casing covering the documents was later updated during the rededication of the Rotunda on realizing that there were signs of deterioration. There is a lot of effort put to preserve this document to ensure that the Americans will never forget the true spirit of the revolution which defined the principles that the American society stands upon, which are the responsibility of the government to ensure that the rights of all are secured and the equality of each person before God.
In conclusion, the Rotunda is an important archive as it houses the Charters for Freedom. These documents are what represent the spirit of the revolution and struggle for independence. The Declaration of Independence, the American Constitution and the Bill of Rights is proof that the freedom of the American people is secured. Efforts to keep the documents in shape are always put in place to ensure that all the American generations get to witness the tools that the freedom fighters used to liberate their nation. It is advisable for every American to visit the Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom to see the precious documents.
References
National Archive: sDictionary of American History. (2003). Retrieved March 18, 2016, from Encyclopedia: http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/National_Archives.aspx
Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom. (n.d.). Retrieved March 18, 2016, from The National Archives Museum: http://www.archives.gov/museum/visit/rotunda.html
The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration. (n.d.). The National Archives Experience Fact Sheet. Retrieved March 18, 2016, from National Archives: http://www.archives.gov/press/press-kits/digital-vaults/factsheet.html
