About the Exhibition

Through the diverse perspectives of seven ordinary citizens whose lives and communities were forever changed by World War II, this exhibition asks visitors to think critically about freedom, history, and, ultimately, the ongoing struggle to live democratically in a diverse America.

Fighting For Democracy: Who is the “We” in “We, the People”? is presented by the National Center for the Preservation of Democracy, an educational program of the Japanese American National Museum, to advance the understanding of, and commitment to, American democratic ideals. The Los Angeles exhibition opened in October, 2005, and was made possible with major support provided by the U.S. Army Center for Military History.

About the National Constitution Center Presentation

A groundbreaking exhibit-theater hybrid, Fighting For Democracy: Who is the “We” in “We, the People”? immerses visitors in the World War II era through a uniquely personal perspective. Featuring letters, photos, newspapers, films and immigration documents, this interactive, multimedia exhibition traces the real experiences of seven diverse Americans who struggled for equal rights and expanded the definition of “we” in “We the People.”

To complement the exhibition and further bring their stories to life, the Center will present an original, live theater performance produced collaboratively with Philadelphia’s premier theater artists. Fighting for Democracy reveals how World War II was a pivotal time for women and minorities—and connects powerfully with current debates about immigration, citizenship and civil rights in America.

National Constitution Center
Independence Mall
525 Arch Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106

For more information about this presentation, contact 215.409.6600, or visitwww.constitutioncenter.org

For more information about the exhibition and a listing of other venues, to explore an online version, or to download the accompanying Educator’s Resource Guide, visit ncdemocracy.org.

Fighting for Democracy is presented by the National Constitution Center in partnership with the National Center for the Preservation of Democracy, an educational program of the Japanese American National Museum, to advance the understanding of, and commitment to, American democratic ideals. The Los Angeles exhibition and traveling version are funded in part by the U.S. Army Center of Military History. The traveling exhibition ten-city tour has been made possible through the generous support of The Boeing Company.

The National Constitution Center thanks the following for generously underwriting the Philadelphia production of Fighting for Democracy: CHG Charitable Trust; Dolfinger-McMahon Foundation; Dorrance H. Hamilton; Heritage Philadelphia Program, a program of The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage; Macy’s; National Endowment for the Arts; Team Clean; Verizon; Wyncote Foundation; William M. King Charitable Foundation.

PHOTO CREDITS – Bill: National Archives (018-T-44K-13); Carl: National Archives (NWDNS-127-MN-83714); Domingo: Collection of Domingo Los Baños (NCPD.17.2005.104); Frances: From the Frances Slanger Collection in The Howard Gotlieb Archival Research Center at Boston University (NCPD.30.2005.24); George: Gift of Mary S. Tominaga, Japanese American National Museum (94.49.28); Hazel: The Woman’s Collection, Texas Woman’s University (MSS.358); Héctor: Dr. Héctor P. García Papers, Special Collections & Archives, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi Bell Library (NCPD.1.2004.30).