The Spectator Presents: Locke-ing and Un-Locke-ing the Declaration of Independence.”

The Spectator Presents: “Locke-ing & Un-Locke-ing the Declaration of Independence.”

Former W&L Professor Lynn Uzzell discusses Thomas Jefferson’s political philosophy and her new book: Locke-ing & Un-Locke-ing the Declaration of Independence.

(Event poster. | SOURCE: Jada Arrendo,’29)

The Spectator, in conjunction with The Generals Redoubt, the W&L Law Federalist Society and the W&L Politics Department, is thrilled to bring back former W&L Visiting Professor Lynn Uzzell to Lexington to discuss her new book: Locke-ing & Un-Locke-ing the Declaration of Independence: An Introduction to Jefferson’s Philosophy of Revolution. 

In the spirit of America 250, join us on Friday, October 2nd at 4 p.m. in the Northen Auditorium (located on the first floor of Leyburn Library) for a talk with Professor Uzzell, who is now an associate professor of political science at Bethel University. Anyone interested in attending can RSVP here.

At the event, which will feature a moderated question-and-answer period followed by open audience questions, Professor Uzzell will examine the revolutionary philosophy expressed in the Declaration of Independence. She will trace the intellectual trajectory of Thomas Jefferson’s ideas back to John Locke and other influential thinkers.

Her first published book, released this year by Bloomsbury Academic, offers a line-by-line philosophical overview of the Declaration of Independence and provides a thorough account of the classical and Enlightenment political philosophy that inspired Jefferson and other Founding Fathers.

Professor Uzzell is an expert in the Founding Era, with a focus on the Constitutional Convention of 1787 and the political thought of James Madison.

She is the author of multiple book chapters, including most recently “‘Father of the Constitution’? Can James Madison Pass the Paternity Test?” in James Madison’s Constitution: A Double Security and a Parchment Barrier. She has also written several book reviews, published journal articles, appeared in publications like RealClearPolitics and Law & Liberty, and designed multiple online and in-person courses in American political thought.

She has taught at Baylor University, the University of Richmond and the University of Virginia, as well as W&L, and served as a scholar in residence at the Center for the Constitution at James Madison’s Montpelier and as the founding director of the Summer Civics Institute at the University of Virginia.

At W&L, she taught the courses Slavery and the Constitution, Creating the Constitution, Rhetoric in the Structure of American Politics and American National Government.

Whether you are interested in American political thought, constitutional principles, history or just want to hear another fantastic lecture from Professor Uzzell, this event offers an engaging opportunity to explore the ideas that shaped the nation’s founding.

This event is open to all members of the W&L community. We hope you will join us for an afternoon of thoughtful discussion and intellectual engagement.