Higher Ed
History Conference: “The American Revolution and Its Legacies: Independence and a Candid World”
Gathering historians to study the global and historical impact of the Declaration of Independence.
To commemorate 250 years of American Independence and the anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the Jack Miller Center, in cooperation with the American Revolution Institute of the Society of the Cincinnati, will host a history conference on “The American Revolution and Its Legacies: Independence and a Candid World.” The event takes place at the historic Anderson House in Washington, D.C.
Historians David Armitage and Andrew O’Shaughnessy will engage in a keynote conversation reflecting on the domestic and global causes and consequences of the Declaration from 1776 to 2026, offering their distinctive perspectives to conference participants and the broader communities of The American Revolution Institute and the Jack Miller Center.
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness,” proclaimed the Declaration of Independence. These words became the foundation for the new United States and articulated the ideals of the American Revolution. They also had a tangible effect. They built a cause, provided soldiers with the will to fight, and offered all Americans reason to “mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.” But from the start, the impact of these words was aimed at more than just Americans. It was an international document by design, one to “declare the causes which impel them to the separation,” but also to seek aid from Europe and spread its promise. The basis for American independence was, in essence, a message to “a candid world.”
The 250th birthday of the United States of America provides the perfect occasion to reflect on and reexamine the domestic and global causes and consequences of the Declaration of Independence and American independence from 1776 to 2026.
This event is invitation only. If you are interested in attending, please contact Elliott Drago at edrago@gojmc.org.