Constitutionalism in the American Revolution

Historian Gordon Wood unveiled his new book Power and Liberty: Constitutionalism in the American Revolution at the National Constitution Center earlier this fall. He was joined in person by Professor Edward Larson, author of Franklin and Washington: The Founding Partnership; and virtually by Professor Emily Pears, author of the forthcoming book Chords of Affection: Constructing Constitutional Union in Early American History, as well as Professor Lucas Morel, author of Lincoln and the American Founding. The panel discussed America’s earliest constitutional ideas, principles, and debates—from roots in the United Kingdom to the American Revolution through the Constitutional Convention and beyond.

This conversation was held in person and streamed live on Constitution Day—September 17, 2021.

This interview was edited for length and clarity.

If you’d like to check out more content about the American Revolution, check out our constitutional class on the principles and ideas of the American revolution featuring renowned scholar Akhil Amar: https://constitutioncenter.org/interactive-constitution/educational-video/principles-of-the-american-revolution-with-akhil-reed-amar