Taxes

How have debates over taxation shaped American history and its democracy? Vanessa Williamson, Brookings Institution senior fellow in governance studies, discusses her book, The Price of Democracy: The Revolutionary Power of Taxation in American History, with Justene Hill Edwards, associate professor of history at UVA and author of the award-winning Savings and Trust: The Rise and Betrayal of the Freedman's Bank (2024). They explore how tax politics and fights over taxes are not simply about money, but about broader questions central to democracy and its ideals.

A limited number of lunches will be available on a first-come, first-served basis beginning at 11:30 AM. Williamson's book will be available for purchase. Parking is not available at Bond House. If you plan to drive, there is paid parking within walking distance at the Oakhurst Inn and Central Grounds Garage. For additional handicap accessible parking spots, consult the UVA accessibility map.

The Nau Lab's “Touchstones of Democracy” series explores key events, places, thinkers, and texts that inform the history and principles of democracy. Leading up to the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Declaration of Independence in July 2026, this event series is showcasing recent books that expand and deepen our understanding of the era of the American Revolution—and illuminate the connections of that period to the present.

The fall 2025 conversations are produced at the University of Virginia by the Karsh Institute of Democracy and the College and Graduate School of Arts & Sciences.

Sign up to have news about Karsh Institute events delivered directly to your inbox.