The 2026 HOTCUS Winter Symposium marks the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence by examining how nation, citizenship, and freedom were defined and redefined across the twentieth-century United States. The principles proclaimed in 1776, of liberty, equality, and self-government, remained central to American political culture, yet were repeatedly contested by social upheaval, political realignment, and global transformation. The twentieth century offers a critical vantage point from which to trace how these founding ideals were invoked, reinterpreted, and resisted, revealing the ongoing struggle over the meaning of the American nation.

The day opens with a keynote lecture, followed by panels examining the Declaration in historical memory and tracing its domestic and global legacies. It concludes with a roundtable reflecting on the Declaration’s place in contemporary history and historiography.

Attendance is open to all members, and you can register here. The full programme is available here.