Becoming America: Past, Promise, and the Path Ahead at 250

Democracy360 kicks off with a powerful exploration of the ideals at the heart of the American experiment. Audiences will enjoy an exclusive advance screening from Ken Burns’ upcoming documentary series, The American Revolution, followed by a conversation reflecting on the nation’s founding and what it means today.

As the United States approaches the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in 2026, a panel of experts—including some who appear in the film—will ask: What was the Revolution really about? And how do its virtues and contradictions carry into the future?

The panel features Monticello CEO Jane Kamensky, Pulitzer Prize–winning historians Alan Taylor (UVA) and Kathleen DuVal (UNC), The Atlantic’s Vann Newkirk II, and moderator Jayme Swain, president and CEO of VPM.

This session is produced by the Karsh Institute of Democracy in partnership with The Atlantic, VPM, and the Virginia Film Festival.

More information here: https://karshinstitute.virginia.edu/d360/2025/events/becoming-america-past-promise-and-path-ahead-250

You may also like the following events from UVA Karsh Institute of Democracy:

• This month, 15th October, 01:00 pm, Join the Conversation: Democracy in Action in Charlottesville
• This month, 15th October, 04:00 pm, Join the Conversation: Common Ground, Common Sound in Charlottesville
• This month, 16th October, 01:00 pm, Join the Conversation: A ‘Braver Angels’ Debate in Charlottesville

Also check out other Entertainment events in Charlottesville, Festivals in Charlottesville.