2026 Spring Meeting
The Declaration of Independence at 250: The American Revolution Then & Now

All Society meetings are private, closed door, and invitation-only, following the Chatham House Rule. Meetings are open to Soceity members and their invited guests. All attendees agere to adhere to the Society's Code of Conduct and Cancellation Policy. 

Register Here >>

Important Dates

Meeting Location Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay, 2900 Bayport Dr, Tampa, FL 33607 (Hotel Website) (Directions to Hotel)

Group Reservations

We strongly encourage attendees at our meetings to utilize the Society’s hotel block, as filling our room block directly supports the Society's ability to negotiate favorable contracts for future meetings. We make every effort to negotiate attractive prices for rooms and meals, but our negotiating strength is heavily based on the Society's utilization of rooms for previous meetings. In addition, when we aren't able to guarantee and fill a strong room block (hotels make money on "heads in beds") we incur higher rates and penalties that ultimately raise our registration fees. Thank you for helping to keep this and future meetings as affordable as possible by booking your accommodations in the Society's room block using the link below.

Registered Attendees - Book Here

Meeting Program 

The themes we will cover in this meeting are timely and important. The United States of America was born in conflict. What legacies a century of colonial experience, helped shape its national identity? To what extent did ideas and ways of thinking define the new nation and its political institutions? What difference did character, culture, and geography make in the nation's revolutionary history? What has the American Founding meant to the world?

• Additional inforamation forthcoming (updated 12/12/25). 
• Please note - Current Board Members & Founders' Fellows have additional programming that is shared separately. 

Friday, April 17

4:00             Registration Opens

4:45–6:00  President's Reception (by invitation)

5:30–6:00  Fellowship Orientation

5:45–6:50  General Reception (Hosted with thanks to our sponsors)

7:00–9:00  Dinner & Program: Does a Nation with Imperfect Origins, a Flawed History, and a Tempestuous Present Have the Right to Celebrate Its Revolutionary Founding? 
  Chair: Joseph A. Morris, President, The Philadelphia Society 
  Keynote: Geoffrey Slaughter, Indiana Supreme Court 

Saturday, April 18

7:30–9:00  Annual Breakfast Meeting of the Membership (current members only)

9:30–11:00  Session 1: How Did the "American Nation" Come to Be? 
  Chair: Jason Jewell, State University System of Florida
  Remy Debes, The University of Memphis
  Wilfred McClay, Hillsdale College
  C. Bradley Thompson, Clemson University

11:00 - 11:45  Break

11:45–1:30  Baron Award & Luncheon Program: What Does it Mean to Be an American Revolutionary Today?
  Keynote: Danny J. Boggs, U.S. Court of Appeals

2:00–3:30pm  Session 2: Can a Revolution Be Lawful? 
  Chair: Jesús María Alvarado Andrade, Universidad Francisco Marroquín
  Jane Calvert, The John Dickinson Writings Project
  David Forte, Cleveland State University
  Michael Lucchese, Pipe Creek Consulting; Law & Liberty

3:30–4:00  Coffee Break

4:00–5:30  Session 3: Did the Declaration Provide a Firm Ground for the Constitution of a Federal, and Liberty-Protecting Republic? 
  Chair: Steven Hayward, Pepperdine University 
  Amanda Bellows, Lang College – The New School
  Roger Pilon, Cato Institute
  Colleen Sheehan, Arizona State University

5:30–6:45  Reception & Book Signing (Hosted with thanks to our sponsors)

Sunday, April 19

8:00–9:00  Breakfast Buffet

9:00–11:00  Roundtable Discussion: Can We Keep the Republic? 
  Chair: Joseph A. Morris, President, The Philadelphia Society
  Robert Alt, Second Vice President, The Philadelphia Society
  Samuel J. Gregg, Past President (2019-2021), The Philadelphia Society
  Michael C. Munger, First Vice President, The Philadelphia Society
  Bradley C. S. Watson, Past President (2024-2025), The Philadelphia Society

Fellowship Information

Visit the Society's Fellowship page to learn more about our Founders' Fellows & General Meeting Fellowship programs. Requirements, deadlines, and application links, are regularly posted. 

Questions?

Please contact Charissa Reul, CMP, Director of Operations with questions or for additional information by email (charissa.reul@phillysoc.org) or by phone (517-688-51111).