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250 Years of the American Experiment
Highlighting the Karsh Institute’s news, projects, scholarship, and events around the 250th anniversary of the signing of the U.S. Declaration of Independence.
Our People
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Events
A Nation at 250: Virginia Student Oratory Contest
In commemoration of America's 250th anniversary, Virginia undergrads deliver speeches centered on the prompt “Tell the story of a Virginian who embodies the Declaration of Independence.”
Taxes
How have debates over taxation shaped American history and its democracy? Vanessa Williamson (Brookings) discusses her new book with Justene Hill Edwards, UVA associate professor of history.
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Voters Trust Mail‑In Voting—Even as Supreme Court Weighs Election Day Ballot Rules
As the Supreme Court weighs limits on mail-in ballots, new data show voters across parties trust the process, writes Karsh Institute Director of Research Jessica Kimpell Johnson.
richmond.com
Karsh Institute Event Unpacks Gender and Household Dynamics in the American Revolution
Lauren Duval, Gibson fellow at the Karsh Institute of Democracy, spoke about how military occupation affected the household during the American Revolution, pulling from her new book, “The Home Front: Revolutionary Households, Military Occupation, and the Making of American Independence.”
www.cavalierdaily.com
Who Decides War? From Congress to the Commander in Chief
For decades, Congress has given up its constitutional authority to declare war, moving power toward the executive branch and raising questions about legality and core democratic principles.
America’s Civics Gap Isn’t Just What Students Know. It’s How They Engage.
What does it take to prepare Americans to participate meaningfully in their democracy? Experts examine how civic education can help cultivate knowledge, judgment, and civic virtue—starting at a young age.