Tom Paine’s War - 24 Mar 2026

Please note - this program has been cancelled. We are working to reschedule it.   As we mark the 250th anniversary of our nation’s independence, this moderated conversation will examine how the words of one man—combined with the resolve of American patriots—helped the United States survive its first great crisis. In January 1776, Thomas Paine, a recent immigrant, published Common Sense. His arguments persuaded Americans that their king possessed no divine right to rule them, transforming a dispute over taxes and representation into a true revolution. Paine followed it with The American Crisis, the most powerful call to courage in our history, opening with the unforgettable line: “These are the times that try men’s souls….”   This is a story about the power of words and the power of conviction—and how both speak to the challenges America faces today.   Author: Jack Kelly is an award-winning author and historian. His books include Band of Giants, which received the DAR History Medal, and God Save Benedict Arnold, a Finalist for the New England Book Awards. He has published five novels and is a New York Foundation for the Arts fellow in Nonfiction Literature. Kelly has appeared on The History Channel, National Public Radio, and C-Span. He lives in New York's Hudson Valley.   Moderator: John Graf is a social studies teacher and chair of the social studies department at Burr and Burton Academy. He will moderate the conversation.   Jack Kelly’s newest book, Tom Paine's War: The Words That Rallied a Nation and the Founder for Our Time, will be available for purchase at the event and at Northshire Bookstore.