Reliving the American Revolution: USA250 Anniversary Program Part 5

Film & Lecture 5: Wednesday, November 18, 2026, 6:30 to 8:00pm; the Salt Lake City Public Library’s Nancy Tessman Auditorium, 210 East 400 South, Salt Lake City, UT. Parking at the Salt Lake Public Library is free with validation.

Screening of the film Give Me Liberty (Warner Bro. film short, 1936) with an introduction by film historian Dr. James V. D’Arc (retired, BYU).

Released during the Great Depression, the 1936 drama short film Give Me Liberty reminded American audiences of the nation’s Revolutionary vision of freedom as a hope for all. By focusing on Patrick Henry’s journey to his iconic 1775 “Give me liberty or give me death!” speech, the film captures the powerful rhetoric behind his call for liberation. Yet Henry’s dramatic appeal did not end with America’s Revolution; it established a precedent for later generations who would invoke similar ideals to demand and redefine liberty on their terms. Whether it was abolitionists, suffragists, or Native Americans demanding recognition of their sovereignty, or ongoing calls for equality from all of America’s marginalized communities, the Revolution’s promise continually expanded beyond its original scope. This presentation examines both the film and the historical record to consider how the rhetoric and spirit of the Revolution continued to inspire Americans to demand that the nation’s founding principles apply to all. Historian Cassie Clark is an Assistant Professor of History at Utah Tech University (St. George). She teaches courses on nineteenth- and early twentieth-century American history, social movements, Utah history, and African American history. Dr. Clark is also an active public historian with experience in digital history, exhibit design, documentary writing and production, and other public-facing projects.

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