Patriotism and Dissent in America

What has patriotism meant over time, and how has civil debate shaped it? We hosted a discussion of that question last week featuring philosopher Steven Smith of Yale University, who shared insight from his new book, Reclaiming Patriotism in an Age of Extremes. He was joined by historians Allen Guelzo of Princeton University and Sophia Rosenfeld of the University of Pennsylvania. They explored some of the key episodes of patriotism and dissent throughout American history—from the Revolution through the Founding and the Civil War to today. Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center, moderated. This panel was streamed live on October 13, 2021.