Tim Wittman examines how architecture and design have expressed ideals of democracy and freedom since the United States’ founding. Early national architecture drew on classical models from Athens and Rome, visible in the Capitol and civic buildings. Key figures, especially Thomas Jefferson, shaped how the new nation conveyed its values. Over time, evolving views of classicism and new technologies led to modern styles that more strongly reflected national ideals. Throughout these periods, local governments adopted similar approaches, reinforcing principles of representative government to Americans and the world.
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