As we mark the 250th anniversary of our nation, the New Hampshire Institute of Politics and other campus departments have planned events, discussions, and programs designed to deepen our understanding of this historic milestone and invite thoughtful engagement with its legacy.
“This moment provides a meaningful opportunity to consider the enduring principles that continue to shape our democracy. The NHIOP was established on the premise that an educated citizenry is vital for a healthy democracy and the 250th anniversary provides an opportunity to meaningfully reflect on this foundational document,” said President Favazza, Ph.D.
Anti-Federalist Papers Book Club
The Anti-Federalist Papers Book Club meets every Friday at 1:30 p.m. at the NHIOP and on Zoom. The group reads one of the Federalist papers each week and discusses it during their meeting. There are recurring themes of our Founders’ concern with foreign policy and economics, their devotion to an Enlightenment science of politics, the depth of their studies of Greece and Rome.
The club is made up of faculty, staff, current students, members of the monastic community, alumni, and friends of the college. People tend to drop in as they are able and are always eager to converse.
“The conversations are always interesting and almost always we can share some joy and laughter in the reading,” said PoliticsProfessor Peter B. Josephson who is spearheading the group.
Big Thoughts Series
The Big Thoughts Series events have taken place the entire year in The Gregory J. Grappone Humanities Institute. This year, the Saint Anselm community has come together to discuss the 250th anniversary of the signing of the document that declared our rights. They have spent the year exploring what the pursuit of happiness has meant historically, what it means today, and whether or not this pursuit is making us, or our shared union more perfect.
Some of the events have included the topics “Liberal Education and the Crisis of Happiness” with Politics Professor Peter B. Josephson and “Public Education, Human Knowledge, and the Pursuit of Happiness”with EducationProfessor Dianna Terrell. These events have aided the community with insight on this monumental turning point.
“Each year the Grappone Humanity Institute’s Big Thought series sponsors lectures and panels around a particular theme. Given the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4th, 2026, we made the theme leading up to that event the key words from the Declaration: ‘The Pursuit of Happiness’ and in the year following that anniversary we will be focusing on “America’s ongoing (R)evolution.” Both themes invite people to consider how the values and violence out of which our nation was born continue to inform and impact our lives,” said EnglishProfessor Gary Bouchard.
The Big Watch Event
As part of a statewide initiative marking the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and the American Revolution, the New Hampshire Institute of Politics invited the Saint Anselm community to “The Big Watch”—a collective screening and facilitated conversation. The program featured a 30-minute themed excerpt from “The American Revolution,” the new documentary by Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein, and David Schmidt, titled “The Spirit of Service.”
Drawing on clips from across the series, the film explores service as a core American value—from the nation’s founding to today—through themes of volunteerism, civic participation, and public leadership. A guided discussion led by a trained New Hampshire Humanities facilitator followed.
"I very much enjoyed learning about the American Revolution through a new lens: the perspective of everyday Americans living through a period of immense change. What was particularly meaningful, however, was the discussion I had the opportunity to facilitate. At our table, we discussed how the ideas and principles on which the United States was built have endured and how they are being challenged today," said Theo Burkhardt ’27.
Click here to learn more about The Big Watch event.
Center for Ethics: Frederick Douglass Student Colloquium
Center for Ethics in Society held a Frederick Douglass Student Colloquium event to celebrate the Declaration of Independence’s 250th anniversary. Students from a variety of majors and class years spent a weekend discussing the writings of Frederick Douglass. The colloquium allowed students to explore the thoughts of this important contribution to our nation’s commemoration.
“Students responded positively to the Frederick Douglass Colloquium. I think they appreciated the opportunity to do a deep dive into a figure who shaped our country's discourse on slavery, freedom, patriotism, and the good life, especially in light of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence," said Hannah Deignan, Assistant Director of Programming and Student Engagement.
As the celebrations continue, the Saint Anselm community will continue to observe this historical milestone. The 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence events has deepened our understanding of this historic milestone and invite thoughtful engagement with its legacy. This moment provides a meaningful opportunity to consider the enduring principles that shape our democracy.