Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness Part Two: Defining the Nation January 31–April 8, 2012 Drawing on the Gallery’s renowned collection of American paintings, decorative arts, prints, and photographs, Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness illuminates the diverse and evolving American experience from the time of the settlements of the late 17th century to the World’s Columbian Exposition in 1893. The second installment, Defining the Nation, returns to colonial times to trace the growth of great wealth that the agrarian economy and transatlantic trade with England, western Europe, and the Caribbean produced for some Americans. As the nation continued to prosper with the development of industry in the 19th century, the American belief in the importance of education enriched a new generation of young minds, and artisans created objects that celebrated intellectual and artistic achievement.