The John F. Kennedy Institute at Freie Universität Berlin invites members of the public to lectures and a panel discussion on July 2, 2026
Two days before the 250th anniversary of American independence on July 4, the John F. Kennedy Institute at Freie Universität Berlin will bring together distinguished scholars to explore the history, narratives, and interpretations of the American Declaration of Independence – interpretations that remain controversial to this day. The event, to be held in English, will take place on Thursday, July 2, 2026, from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. at the John F. Kennedy Institute for North American Studies. It will feature lectures and a panel discussion followed by a reception. The public is cordially invited to attend.
While the 4th of July is enshrined in collective memory as the birth of the United States, the event at the John F. Kennedy marks another historical date: It was on July 2, 1776, that the Continental Congress first voted to renounce allegiance to the British Crown and declare the independence of the American colonies. At that time, Congress had before it a significantly more radical draft of the text, which it would shorten by about a quarter over the next two days and finally adopt on July 4 as the “Declaration of the Representatives of the United States of America.” Based on these two different versions of the American Declaration of Independence, intellectual historians David Armitage of Harvard University (“Doubting the Declaration, from 2026 to 1776”), Johann Neem of Western Washington University (“The Contest over the American Revolution Today”), and Hannah Spahn from Freie Universität Berlin (“The Reinvention of ‘All Men Are Created Equal’”) will shed light on the collective memories and controversial narratives that continue to have an impact to this day. The event will be introduced by Lora Anne Viola, Director of the John F. Kennedy Institute, and the panel discussion will be moderated by Jessica Gienow-Hecht, Head of the Department of History at the John F. Kennedy Institute.
About the John F. Kennedy Institute at Freie Universität Berlin
The John F. Kennedy Institute for North American Studies is an interdisciplinary teaching and research institute at Freie Universität Berlin. Founded in 1963 by the political scientist Ernst Fraenkel, the institute is dedicated to the study of the United States and Canada in all its facets. It brings together six different disciplines: history, culture, literature, politics, sociology, and economics. Several members of the John F. Kennedy Institute are available as experts for media to answer any questions surrounding the 250th anniversary of the independence of the United States.
Further Information
Event Details
- Date and time: Thursday, July 2, 2026, 2:00 to 6:00 p.m.
- Location: Room 340, John F. Kennedy Institute for North American Studies, Lansstraße 7/9, 14195 Berlin
- More information on the event “Declaration 250: Histories, Memories, Narratives” at https://www.jfki.fu-berlin.de/dates/2026-07-02-250-USA.html
North American Studies and Expertise at Freie Universität Berlin
- The John F. Kennedy Institute: https://www.jfki.fu-berlin.de/en/index.html
- Experts from Freie Universität available for media commentary on the USA and Canada: https://www.fu-berlin.de/en/presse/expertendienst/themen/kontinente-laender-regionen/usa-kanada/index.html
Contact
PD Dr. Hannah Spahn, Department of Culture, John F. Kennedy Institute for North American Studies, Freie Universität Berlin, hspahn@zedat.fu-berlin.de
