Handing the Country to Your Opponents: A Look at the Transition of Power in the US Since 1788

The most fragile point for any democratic republic is the transition of power between opposing parties.  Historically a rare and often dangerous event, the peaceful handover of the government from one party to the next was one of the crowning achievements of the United States for nearly two and a quarter centuries.  But it wasn’t always easy, and there were times when it appeared that it wouldn’t happen at all.  From the first transition in 1800 through the rocky handovers of the Gilded Age to the January 6 Insurrection in 2021, the U.S. has survived numerous threats to that achievement.  Join us for a look at how some of these transitions have unfolded and what that means for the U.S. going forward.

David McKay, Senior Lecturer, History

Tuesday, October 7, 2025 | 2:00 PM