Two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Alan Taylor will present his latest book, on the American Civil War and its reverberations throughout North America, and share insights with moderator Ryan J. Woods about his research and the creation of these acclaimed histories. Don’t miss Woods’s conversation with this “formidable historian and masterly writer (New York Times),” also honored with American Ancestors’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

Alan Taylor’s latest book, America’s Civil Wars: A Continental History, 1850-1873, explores the twenty-year period during which North America’s three largest countries—the United States, Mexico, and Canada—transformed themselves into nations. The American Civil War stands at the center, yet Taylor’s history measures its impact across all borders. In Mexico, the War’s outbreak created a continental power vacuum that led the French to invade and the rule of the Habsburgs. When the Union triumphed and the continental balance of power was restored, a republic emerged in Mexico. In Canada, the Union victory spurred the French-speaking Catholics in Quebec and English-speakers in Ontario to put aside their differences and join in a continent-wide confederation. With that, Canada’s transcontinental railroad could be built, marking the dawn of North America’s Gilded Age. Don’t miss Taylor’s discussion of this remarkable time period, of his past award-winning works, and how he brings history to life.

Alan Taylor, twice awarded the Pulitzer Prize in History, is the author of American Revolutions and American Republics, prior volumes in his acclaimed continental history of the United States. He is professor emeritus of history at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville.

Ryan J. Woods is President & CEO of American Ancestors. An educator and historian, he has dedicated his professional life to developing experiences to educate, inspire, and connect people through the exploration of history, heritage, and culture. Ryan has recruited more than 1 billion searchable records to AmericanAncestors.org and, most recently, overseen the launch of the 10 Million Names Project and the creation of our national visitor destination experience at 97 Newbury Street, opening in early 2025.