The Twin Revolutions of 1776

Date: October 21 @ 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm

Location: Ipswich Museum, South Main Street

Charge: Free for members. $10 for non-members.

David Scudder, chair of the Ipswich Museum finance committee, will talk about the lasting impact of the “Twin Revolutions of 1776.”

The American Revolution of 1776, with its well-known battles at Bunker Hill, the crossing of the Delaware, and the final British defeat at Yorktown, brought forth ideas and principles that stand the test of time. The Declaration of Independence proudly sets forth America’s best ideals: “all men are created equal” and “all have inalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” This heralded a revolution in governmental thinking.

In March 1776, another revolution of thought also occurred- this time economic. Adam Smith published his second book, “The Wealth of Nations”. In its nearly 900 pages, he put forth a theory of commerce that promised not only rapid economic growth but a very fair sharing of that growth. Over the course of 250 years, the ideals and goals of these separate revolutions have been tested and not always fully realized.

The impact of the Twin 1776 Revolutions continues to influence and determine the way of life in the United States today.