SC250 Charleston and Charleston Literary Festival are pleased to announce that tickets are now on sale for a two-day symposium featuring world-renowned scholars — Revolutionary Ideas: Origins, Contexts, and Legacies of American Independence — taking place at the historic Dock Street Theatre in downtown Charleston on June 24 and 25, 2026.
Scholars speaking at the symposium are:
- Jon Meacham, Pulitzer-prize winning historian and Professor at Vanderbilt University, on his ground-breaking new book American Struggle: Democracy, Dissent, and the Pursuit of a More Perfect Union
- Peter Mancall, Professor of History, University of Southern California, on revolutionary origins
- Andrew O’Shaughnessy, Professor of History, University of Virginia, on British Politics and the American Revolution
- Vincent Brown, Professor of African and African-American Studies, Harvard University, on the Slave Trade, The Caribbean, and South Carolina
- Maya Jasanoff, Chair of the History Department, Harvard University, on Loyalism in the American Revolution
- Katharine Carté, Associate Professor of History, Southern Methodist University, on Religion and the American Revolution
- James Grant, Historian and Biographer, on the Intellectual Legacies of the American Revolution
- Sir Michael Fallon, the former UK Defence Secretary, on the American Revolution’s lessons for today, presented with The Ditchley Foundation (UK).
The symposium will examine the intellectual origins, contexts, and legacies of the American Revolution. The presentations and discussions will invite attendees to consider the competing political philosophies that inspired the American Revolution, how the war resolved these conflicting ideas, and how the legacy of these concepts still influence political life in the US.
“This symposium will be unique in that it will focus on the intellectual roots and legacies of the Revolution as opposed to traditional examinations of military campaigns and battles. It will bring together a group of globally recognized historians and scholars that will offer rich and multifaceted perspectives,” says Florence, SC native Ben Zeigler, member of the SC250 Commission and one of the organizers of the event. “We look forward to welcoming residents and visitors alike to engage directly with these voices, fostering a deeper understanding of the founding era and its enduring impact.”
Additional topics to be discussed on June 24 and June 25 will include: the role of religion, British politics and constitutional ideas, global trade, slavery, resistance, and the experience of American Loyalists.
“We're honored to work with SC250 on this extraordinary program. It reflects our mission at Charleston Literary Festival to create spaces for world-class speakers and thinkers to share ideas and broaden perspectives,” says Sarah Moriarty, Executive Director of Charleston Literary Festival. “Over these two days, we hope to deepen public understanding of this pivotal moment in American history that continues to shape our world today.”
Two-day general admission passes, VIP admission passes, and individual tickets are on sale now. The VIP passes include an invitation to an exclusive cocktail party with Jon Meacham, reserved seating during the symposium, and access to the Revolutionary Ideas lounge at between sessions.
This two-day symposium is part of a longer celebration of Carolina Days, presented by SC250 and 250 Charleston (the official commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution in Charleston). Other collaborators on the symposium include Charleston Library Society, South Carolina Historical Society, and the International African American Museum.
For tickets and additional information, please visit SC250Charleston.org. Those interested in contributing or becoming involved are invited to visit SC250Charleston.org/donate.
About SC250 Charleston:
SC250 Charleston is the Charleston-area’s official commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, honoring its rich history while inspiring future generations. The people of Charleston played a crucial role in the American Revolution and in the advancement of our nation’s ideals. SC250 Charleston’s mission is to explore their myriad stories, and to educate and inspire the public through commemorative events and educational programs so that everyone may rightly see themselves as a part of America’s story. Through a series of events, programs, and community initiatives, SC250 Charleston brings together residents, visitors, historians, artists, and cultural leaders to reflect on Charleston’s past, celebrate its present, and shape its future.
Within the last few years, the South Carolina American Revolution Sestercentennial Commission (SC250) has awarded more than $11 million in grants across the state with upward of $4 million distributed to Charleston-area organizations. Since the Commission's inception, approximately one-third of its funds have focused on historic Revolutionary era site preservation and interpretation, including, for example, the locations of the Battle of Parker’s Ferry in Colleton County, Eutaw Springs in Orangeburg County, and Fort Fair Lawn in Berkeley County. For more information about SC250 Charleston, visit sc250charleston.org.
About Charleston Literary Festival:
Celebrating its tenth year in 2026, Charleston Literary Festival is a ten-day boutique literary festival with an international edge that takes place every November in Charleston, South Carolina. With an emphasis on world-class literary programming, Charleston Literary Festival is unparalleled in the United States as a center of literary excavation, innovation, and celebration in a powerfully evocative historic location. Previous speakers include: Joyce Carol Oates, Claire Keegan, Walter Isaacson, George Saunders, Adam Gopnik, James Shapiro, Patrick Radden Keefe, Jean Hanff Korelitz, Ben Okri, Colm Tóibin, Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah, 2025 Booker Prize winner David Szalay, and 2026 Pulitzer finalist Kevin Sack. This year’s Charleston Literary Festival will run at Dock Street Theatre in downtown Charleston from November 6-15, 2026. Please visit charlestonliteraryfestival.com for more information.
About The Ditchley Foundation:
Ditchley brings people together to think new things and make new connections. Our aim is to help sustain peace, freedom and the rule of law and we work towards the renewal of democratic societies, states and alliances. Using proprietary technology and conscious, well researched human judgement we build the right connections and, through a range of events and engagements at Ditchley Park and beyond, we create space for strategic thinking and orchestrate frank conversations across divides of opinion, expertise, geography and generations. Our primary route to impact is through people, engaging the individuals and organizations globally and locally with direct influence over outcomes. Together we work towards addressing complex problems which require sustained, persistent and incremental activity. Events demonstrate how urgent and important this work is today. We are not tied to the agenda of any government, political party or commercial interest.