New Republic Lists 20 Defining Images of American History
The New Republic published a curated list of 20 photographs and artworks that define American history, ranging from the moon landing to the January 6 Capitol riot. The selection includes Dorothea Lange's 'Migrant Mother' (1936), the flag-raising at Iwo Jima (1945), Emanuel Leutze's 'Washington Crossing the Delaware' (1851), and the mushroom clouds over Hiroshima and Nagasaki (1945). Also featured are Nick Ut's 'Napalm Girl' (1972), the 'Scourged Back' photograph (c. 1863), the Statue of Liberty (dedicated 1886), Emmett Till in his casket (1955), the Little Rock Nine confrontation (1957), Ruby Bridges integrating New Orleans schools (1960), Bull Connor's brutality in Birmingham (1963), John Gast's 'American Progress' (1872), 9/11 images (2001), John Trumbull's 'Declaration of Independence' (1818), the January 6 attack (2021), the Kent State shootings (1970), JFK in Dallas (1963), and the Selma March (1965). The list also includes MLK leading the March on Washington (1963). Each image is accompanied by a brief explanation of its historical significance.
Key facts
- List includes 20 images from American history.
- Features Dorothea Lange's 'Migrant Mother' from 1936.
- Includes flag-raising at Iwo Jima from February 1945.
- Emanuel Leutze's 'Washington Crossing the Delaware' from 1851.
- Mushroom clouds over Hiroshima and Nagasaki from August 1945.
- Nick Ut's 'Napalm Girl' from 1972.
- 'Scourged Back' photograph from c. 1863.
- Statue of Liberty dedicated in 1886.
- Emmett Till in his casket from 1955.
- Little Rock Nine photo from 1957.
- Ruby Bridges integrating New Orleans schools in 1960.
- Bull Connor's brutality in Birmingham in 1963.
- John Gast's 'American Progress' from 1872.
- 9/11 images from September 11, 2001.
- John Trumbull's 'Declaration of Independence' from 1818.
- January 6 attack in 2021.
- Kent State shootings in 1970.
- JFK in Dallas on November 22, 1963.
- Selma March (Bloody Sunday) in 1965.
- MLK leading March on Washington in 1963.
Entities
Artists
- Dorothea Lange
- Emanuel Leutze
- Nick Ut
- John Gast
- John Trumbull
- Norman Rockwell
- Kristin Kobes Du Mez
- George Washington
- Martin Luther King Jr.
- Kim Phuc
- Emmett Till
- Hazel Bryan
- Elizabeth Eckford
- Ruby Bridges
- Eugene Bull Connor
- Mary Ann Vecchio
- John F. Kennedy
- Donald Trump
Institutions
- The New Republic
- Library of Congress
- Harper's Weekly
- Jet magazine
- Look magazine
- Calvin University
- U.S. Department of Homeland Security
- Associated Press
- Pulitzer Prize
- National Guard
Locations
- United States
- California
- Nipomo
- Iwo Jima
- Mount Suribachi
- Delaware River
- Washington, D.C.
- Lincoln Memorial
- Nagasaki
- Hiroshima
- Japan
- Southeast Asia
- New York
- Statue of Liberty
- Mississippi
- Little Rock
- Arkansas
- New Orleans
- Birmingham
- Alabama
- Dallas
- Texas
- Selma
- Montgomery
- Edmund Pettus Bridge
- Kent State
- Ohio
- Cambodia