America’s Semiquincentennial and the Sister Republics Panel

The afternoon session of the Swiss American Historical Society’s annual meeting will be open to the public (registration required) for a panel presentation and discussion on America’s Semiquincentennial and the Sister Republics. Switzerland and the United States have been “Sister Republics” since before 1776. Four historians will provide insights, engage in a discussion, and answer questions from the audience. It will be from 1:00-3:00 PM at the Embassy of Switzerland on Saturday, October 10, 2026.

PANEL:

Genevan Fingerprints on America’s Founding
Rev. Dr. David W. Hall
Presbyterian Minister and author of The Genevan Reformation and the American Founding

Swiss Democratic Thought in the Age of Revolutions
Dr. Marc H. Lerner
Associate Professor of History, The University of Mississippi

The Swiss Model and the American Constitution
Dr. Robert W. Smith
Professor of History & Political Science, Worcester State University

Emmer Vattel and His Influence on Early America
Dr. Theo Christov, Associate Professor of Honors, History and International Affairs
The George Washington University