Sparking the Revolution: Flintlocks, Gunpowder, and Policy in America’s War for Independence
November 20 - November 21
University of Wyoming College of Law’s Firearms Research Center and Springfield Armory National Historic Site are putting on an academic conference, Sparking the Revolution: Flintlocks, Gunpowder, and Policy in America’s War for Independence. on Nov. 20 and 21, 2025, in Springfield, Mass.
This two-day event will exploring the complex role of firearms in Revolutionary America. Through thought-provoking panels, lectures and discussions, the program will delve into topics such as colonial disarmament, the function of militias, the material culture of arms and archaeological insights into the earliest days of the Revolution.
Bringing together historians, curators, and scholars, this event offers a balanced and dynamic look at how firearms, policy and community shaped the struggle for independence, t also explores how these legacies continue to inform our understanding of early America and resonate in conversations today.
The event is free and open to the public, both in person and online. Click here for the link to RSVP: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/firearms-research-center-2025-fall-conference-tickets-1814805816049?aff=oddtdtcreator
Schedule for Sparking the Revolution: Flintlocks, Gunpowder, and Policy
November 20th
5-7:30pm Welcome Reception and Fireside Chat on Founding Era History and the U.S. Supreme Court’s Bruen decision.
Speakers:
George Mocsary, University of Wyoming
Megan Walsh, University of Minnesota
George Mocsary, University of Wyoming
Megan Walsh, University of Minnesota
November 21st
8:30-8:45am Opening Remarks
8:45-10:00am Panel 1: Disarmament and the Revolution (CLE)
Panelists:
Bob Cottrol, George Washington University
E. Gregory Wallace, Campbell University
James Slaughter, Marshall University
Bob Cottrol, George Washington University
E. Gregory Wallace, Campbell University
James Slaughter, Marshall University
10:15-11:00am: Guns of the American Revolution
Speaker: Erik Goldstein, Colonial Williamsburg
Speaker: Erik Goldstein, Colonial Williamsburg
11:00-11:30am: The Earliest Days of Springfield Armory
Speaker: Alex Mackenzie, Springfield Armory
Speaker: Alex Mackenzie, Springfield Armory
11:30am-12:30pm Lunch
12:30-1:45pm: Panel 2: The Colonial Militia (CLE)
Panelists
Jody Madeira, Indiana University
Joyce Malcolm, George Mason University
Alexander Cain, Author
Joyce Malcolm, George Mason University
Alexander Cain, Author
1:55-2:40pm: Creating an Arsenal of Liberty
Speaker: Andrew Fagal, Princeton University
Speaker: Andrew Fagal, Princeton University
2:40-3:25pm: Early Ballistics of the American Revolution
Speaker: Joel Bohy, Antiques Roadshow
Speaker: Joel Bohy, Antiques Roadshow
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Learn more Revolutionary history in this complete guide to Revolutionary War Sites in New England. Brought to you by the New England Historical Society. Click here to order your copy in paperback, here to order an ebook.