Lafayette’s Legacy: The Hero of Two Worlds and His Enduring Impact on American Identity

The Marquis de Lafayette (1757-1834) became the most popular foreigner in the American Revolution, but he became even more famous during a triumphal return visit to every American state in 1824-25. This program will examine Lafayette’s lifelong actions and ideas as well as the reasons for the vast, nationalist celebration of Lafayette during his nineteenth-century tour. We’ll discuss his contributions to early American nationalism and his current significance for the thousands of Americans who are now commemorating the bicentennial of his tour in the cities to which he returned as “The Hero of Two Worlds.” Why do Americans find this steadfast, French defender of human rights and democratic institutions to be a still relevant historical symbol in 2025, and why are so many American towns called Fayetteville or Lafayette?