Tickets

General Admission ~ $75

Patron Ticket ~ $250

Presented by the Saint Andrew’s Society of the State of New York

Scotland profoundly influenced Revolutionary America. Core tendencies in Scottish culture-such as common sense philosophy, the principle of popular consent, the appeal of personal autonomy, and the virtues of political moderation-had crucial reverberations across the Atlantic. This lecture will explore the ways in which Scotland shaped and informed the Declaration of Independence. We will begin by discussing the signers of the Declaration who were either Scottish-born or of Scottish (and Scots Irish) descent. Next, we will examine other prominent Scots active during that era (including one New Yorker who has been less known that he should be) who profoundly influenced American life, along with their varying reputations among the American people. Finally, we will analyze the intellectual role of the Scottish Enlightenment in forming the ideas expressed by Thomas Jefferson in the Declaration.