The American History Essay Contest  

This contest is open to students in public, private, and parochial schools, and registered home-study programs. Students in grades five through eight are encouraged to participate. Each year, a selected topic for use during the academic year is announced, and contest instructions are published online and sent to schools by participating DAR chapters. Essays are judged for historical accuracy, adherence to the topic, organization of materials, interest, originality, spelling, grammar, punctuation, and neatness.

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Prize:

• Participant: certificate of participation 

• Chapter winners: certificates & bronze medals

• State winners: certificates & silver medals 

• National winners: special certificates, medals, & a monetary award