The Transatlantic Enlightenment and the American Revolution

Join the German Historical Institute Washington (GHI), the John W. Kluge Center at the Library of Congress, and the Organization of American Historians (OAH) for a fascinating roundtable discussion: "The Transatlantic Enlightenment and the American Revolution."

As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, this event offers a timely reassessment of the American Revolution. Leading scholars in European and Atlantic intellectual history, early American political culture, and the law and cultural politics of rights will examine how Enlightenment ideas traveled across the Atlantic and were adapted in the American context. They will explore how these ideas expanded political possibilities while also revealing exclusions and contradictions.

The conversation promises both historical depth and contemporary relevance, tracing the 18th-century origins of ongoing debates about liberty, rights, federalism, and self-government. Panelists will also consider what current pressures on Enlightenment principles mean for our understanding of them today. The program features Jürgen Overhoff (University of Münster), Sarah Pearsall (Johns Hopkins University), and Eric Slauter (University of Chicago), with moderation by Kevin Butterfield (Kluge Center, Library of Congress) and Axel Jansen (GHI Washington).

The roundtable begins at noon, with doors opening at 11:30 a.m. A small reception will follow the discussion. You can attend in person at the Library of Congress (Mumford Room, James Madison Building, 101 Independence Avenue SE) or participate online. Please RSVP via the provided link.