Revolutionary New York

Associated Exhibitions: The Occupied City: New York and the American Revolution

The American Revolution began and ended in New York. What role did the city play in the war? How did the conflict between England and its colonies divide New Yorkers? How should we remember the Revolution today? In this program, students explore the city’s divided response to British imperial policies, reenact the destruction of the King George statue after hearing the Declaration of Independence, and use artifacts and primary sources to explore how the war impacted Native nations, women, refugees, prisoners, and enslaved people on both sides of the conflict. The program concludes with a reflection on the legacy of the American Revolution as students consider what changed in New York after the war and which promises remained unfulfilled.