Feb. 12, 2019: Chartwell Lecture, 'Vindiciæ, Contra Tyrannos: The Influence of the Reformed Tradition on the American Founding'

Chartwell Lecture: Mark D. Hall presents "Vindiciæ, Contra Tyrannos: The Influence of the Reformed Tradition on the American Founding" Tuesday, Feb. 12, 7:30-9 p.m. UAA/APU Consortium Library, Room 307

Lecture description In his magisterial history of religion in America, Yale historian Sydney Ahlstrom estimated that the Reformed tradition was "the religious heritage of three-fourths of the American people in 1776." Yet scholars often neglect the influence of this tradition in the founding era. This lecture traces the development of Reformed political thought from John Calvin to the American founding. It highlights ways in which Reformed ideas and concerns exacerbated tensions between the American colonies and Great Britain and how Calvinist convictions helped inform the creation of the new republic.

Lecturer biography Professor Mark D. Hall is Herbert Hoover Distinguished Professor of Politics in the Department of History and Political Science and faculty fellow of the William Penn Honors Program at George Fox University in Newberg, Oregon. He earned his first degree in political science at Wheaton College in 1988 and his Ph.D. in government at the University of Virginia in 1993. Among his books are Roger Sherman and the Creation of the American Republic (Oxford University Press, 2013) and The Political and Legal Philosophy of James Wilson, 1742-1798 (University of Missouri Press, 1997). His forthcoming book Did America Have a Christian Founding? Separating Modern Myth from Historical Truth, will be published by Thomas Nelson in October.

Event parking Parking on campus is free after 7:30 p.m. in the Central Parking Garage and in all UAA lots, including the lot north of the new north entrance to the library off Alumni Drive, which affords the most convenient access to the Lewis E. Haines Meeting Room.

February Archive