In The Pursuit of Liberty, bestselling author and president of the National Constitution Center Jeffrey Rosen explores the clashing visions of Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson about how to balance liberty and power, a debate that continues to define—and divide—our country. Jefferson championed states’ rights and individual liberties, while Hamilton pushed for a strong Federal government and a powerful executive. This ongoing tug-of-war has shaped pivotal moments in American history, including Abraham Lincoln’s fight against slavery and southern secession, the expansion of federal power under Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal, and Ronald Reagan’s and Donald Trump’s conservative push to shrink the size of the federal government. The Pursuit of Liberty is a compelling history of the opposing forces that have shaped our country since its founding, and our ongoing struggle to balance liberty and power.
Biography:
Jeffrey Rosen is the President and CEO of the National Constitution Center, where he hosts We the People, a weekly podcast of constitutional debate. He is also a professor of law at the George Washington University Law School and a contributing editor of The Atlantic. He was previously the legal affairs editor of The New Republic and a staff writer for the New Yorker.
He is author of The Pursuit of Liberty: How Hamilton vs. Jefferson Ignited the Lasting Battle over Power in America as well as New York Times bestsellers The Pursuit of Happiness: How Classical Writers on Virtue Inspired the Lives of the Founders and Defined America and Conversations with RBG: Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on Life, Love, Liberty, and Law. In 2024, the French government recognized him as a Chevalier in the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres.
History Forum 250: Revisiting the Revolution
Join celebrated authors and award-winning historians for a thought-provoking series on the history and legacy of the American Revolution during our nation’s 250th anniversary.
This program is part of MN250, commemorating the 250th anniversary (semiquincentennial) of the American Revolution.
Since 2004, the Minnesota Historical Society’s History Forum has brought the nation’s leading historians and scholars to St. Paul to enrich our understanding of American history. Each year’s line-up features speakers who demonstrate excellence in historical scholarship and showcase the diversity, power, and complexity of our shared American story.
All events have live-captioning.
Event Location:
3M Auditorium, Minnesota History Center
Can't make it in person? Sign up for the virtual event:
https://www.mnhs.org/events/38221394075
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