Early America: A Graduate and Early Career Workshop

University College London, Thursday 2 July 2026

July 4^th, 2026, marks the 250^th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. The contested origins and legacies of this foundational moment in US history have received significant scholarly attention, but new sources, methods, and the ongoing recovery of previously omitted voices and events provide new opportunities to challenge hegemonic viewpoints on this well-known topic. 2026 offers a landmark anniversary for reflecting on existing narratives surrounding the founding of the United States, and offering new perspectives for consideration.

In recent years the community of scholars working on the history of Early America has become more dispersed, making it difficult to provide a dedicated space to discuss their research. This workshop, held at University College London on Thursday 2 July 2026, seeks to rectify this and provide a specific forum for graduate and early career scholars to share their research on Early American history, broadly defined, and to underscore the continued vibrancy of the sub-discipline as a field of study. The goal is to provide graduate and early career researchers with the opportunity to present their work in an open and collaborative environment and to foster intellectual exchange between scholars working on Early America.

We welcome proposals that reassess and reshape understandings of the Revolution’s causes, events, and consequences, as well as papers that situate the Revolution within the longer history of Early America, from early settlements through to the War of 1812. We especially seek to highlight histories that have often remained obscured within traditional narratives. Contributions that revisit familiar themes or challenge established interpretations of this period are also encouraged.

Proposed paper topics may include, but are not limited to:

• Contested revolutionary visions, including non-elite social, political, or religious movements
• Hidden histories, including those of enslaved peoples, indigenous nations, and women
• Settler colonialism and empire
• Transatlantic exchanges of ideas, objects, and people
• The American Revolution in a global and comparative perspective
• New methodological approaches to Early American history, including public and digital history projects

Travel Support

• Limited travel subsidies are available, with priority given to early career researchers, participants without institutional funding, and scholars travelling from outside the UK.

How to Apply

• Please send an abstract of 250–300 words, along with a brief 1–2 sentence bio, by 28 February 2026 to: earlyamerica250@gmail.com