Revolution in Words: A Patriot vs Loyalist Showdown
Revolution in Words: A Patriot vs. Loyalist Showdown
Step back to June 1776, a pivotal moment in American history after the first shots of the Revolution but before the Declaration of Independence. Join us for a spirited debate between Patrick Spero, Chief Executive Officer of the American Philosophical Society, and a leading scholar of early American history, arguing for the Patriot cause, and Mary Beth Norton, Pulitzer Prize finalist and Cornell University historian of early America, taking the Loyalist perspective.
This interactive program brings history to life, giving the audience a front-row seat to the arguments, passions, and stakes of the Revolutionary era. Whether you side with the Patriots or the Loyalists, you’ll leave with a deeper understanding of the ideas, fears, and hopes that shaped a nation.
BIOS:
Mary Beth Norton: Acclaimed historian and Pulitzer Prize finalist, Mary Beth Norton is the Mary Donlon Alger Professor Emerita of American History at Cornell University. A visitor to Martha’s Vineyard since 1975, Norton became a summer resident in 1990 and is a familiar face at Lambert’s Cove beach, local lectures, libraries, and the Martha’s Vineyard Museum, where she shares her deep expertise on early American history. Her groundbreaking scholarship, including In the Devil’s Snare: The Salem Witchcraft Crisis of 1692 and her recent book, 1774: The Long Year of Revolution, has reshaped how we understand the Revolutionary era, especially through the lens of gender and social dynamics. Norton’s work has earned nominations for the Pulitzer Prize and awards such as the George Washington Prize, cementing her as one of the leading voices in the field.
Patrick Spero: Patrick Spero, Ph.D., is Chief Executive Officer of the American Philosophical Society and a leading scholar of early American history. He is the author of four acclaimed books on the era of the American Revolution, including Frontier Country: The Politics of War in Early Pennsylvania (2016), a Philadelphia Inquirer staff pick; Frontier Rebels: The Fight for Independence in the American West, 1765–1776 (2018), winner of the Philadelphia Athenaeum Literary Award and a finalist for best book of the year by the Journal of the American Revolution; The Scientist Turned Spy: Andre Michaux, Thomas Jefferson, and the Conspiracy of 1793 (2024); and The Other Presidency: Thomas Jefferson and the American Philosophical Society (2024). He is also co-editor of The American Revolution Reborn: New Perspectives for the 21st Century (2016), widely praised for its contribution to the field. In recognition of his scholarly and institutional leadership, Dr. Spero has been elected to several distinguished societies, including the Royal Historical Society, the Academy of Sciences, Humanities, and Arts of Lyon, the American Antiquarian Society, and the American Philosophical Society.
MVM Members: $15; Non-Members: $25
DETAILS
| Date | June 22, 2026 |
|---|---|
| From | 5:00 pm |
| To | 6:00 pm |
| Type | Talk |
| Venue | Martha’s Vineyard Museum |