At this program, students don’t merely memorize government structures – they learn how to?think?using the “economic way of thinking.” They examine the incentives, trade-offs and unintended consequences of the decisions behind public policy  – from the Founding Fathers’ writing of the Constitution to current Supreme Court cases.

At the DC Advanced Leadership Academy, students explore the opportunity cost of leadership through lectures, discussions and field trips.  American history provides the backdrop for faculty to introduce students to public choice theory as a framework to help understand elected officials’ decision making. In addition, field trips will provide an experiential component to reinforce classroom lessons. These outings may include taking part in official executive or legislative branch briefings, visits to national museums, monuments and congressional hearings.

Economic Forces in American History equips educators and students to explore the American story through an often-overlooked lens: economics. Using a multi-perspective approach that highlights institutions and seven key economic forces, the course deepens understanding of how economic ideas shaped the nation’s founding and development.

A special excursion planned during Economics Forces in American History for Independence Day on July 4.

Hosted by Dr. Farley Grubb, this program examines how the Second Continental Congress financed the American Revolution. From mid-1775 to early 1776, Congress debated multiple options before choosing to issue paper Continental dollars structured as zero-coupon bearer bonds. Dr. Grubb explains how this system was designed to work, why it was initially a rational solution and how later wartime pressures led to poor financial decisions that ultimately caused the collapse of the Continental dollar.

A semester-long spring program supported by the Spencer Foundation, offering full scholarships, housing and stipends for 20-25 students in Washington, D.C. The program includes economic and government classes at George Mason University, internships and professional development seminars. Also featured are site visits, guest lectures and special events focused on America 250.

Students in TFAS Academic Intership Programs in the Spring and Summer will get a front row seat to history through immersive day trips. Students will experience an interactive visit to George Washington’s Mount Vernon, exploring the estate, museum and grounds that shaped the life and leadership of America’s first president. The guided tour brings the founding era to life, connecting Washington’s legacy to enduring questions of character, citizenship and the American experiment.

TFAS Spring and Summer students in D.C. will get a front row seat to history through interactive, immersive day trips. Students will visit Philadelphia to experience the National Constitution Center, Liberty Bell, Independence Hall and the Museum of the American Revolution. The deputy director for programs at the National Constitution Center will also give students an exclusive briefing.

TFAS is putting the ideas of the Founding directly into students’ hands through pocket-sized Declarations of Independence and Constitutions that invite reflection on liberty and self-government. Donor support funds the printing and distribution of these founding documents, ensuring the principles that launched a nation continue to shape the next generation of courageous citizens.

TFAS is infusing America 250 lessons into the classroom by weaving enhanced instruction on the Founding, rule of law, free enterprise and civic virtue into core courses—including American Political Thought and the internship seminars—and reinforcing them through themed lectures on America's 250th Birthday.

The new TFAS Civic Leadership Seminars offer interactive educational programs for college students exploring economic freedom and free speech through the lens of the American Founding. These seminars combine expert-led discussions with hands-on civic exercises that bring constitutional principles to life. Topics include: -Don Devine: The Roots of American Constitutional Greatness

-Dr. Anne Bradley: Economic Freedom and the Founding

-Paul Glader: Freedom of Speech and the Founding

-Malhaz Jibladze: Interactive Civics Simulation

TFAS guides students on a Declaration of Independence tour through Washington, D.C. From the National Archives, Jefferson Memorial to Signers Island, students will connect the Founders’ ideals to America’s institutions and experience liberty, sacrifice and civic responsibility where history lives.

Washington Briefings give students behind-the-scenes access to key Washington institutions, pairing expert-led tours and lectures with America 250–themed discussions and visits to places like the U.S. Capitol, Department of State and White House  bringing the Founding’s ideas to life in the nation’s capital.

TFAS’s Leadership Lounge and Student BBQ events will celebrate America 250 with Patriotic-themed gatherings that bring students together in a relaxed setting to reflect on the American Founding, build community and celebrate the freedoms that define our nation.

During the annual Santiago alumni dinner, the TFAS International team coordinated a photo booth to commemorate America 250. Students and alumni alike enjoyed posing with quintessential American iconography like the Declaration of Independence, the Statue of Liberty and more.

Students in TFAS Santiago enjoyed an America 250 casual celebration featuring classic American fast food, trivia and games. From burgers to onion rings, TFAS students from around the world experienced a true American feast while testing and gaining their knowledge on American history and civics.

American Spaces welcomed the 2026 TFAS International Santiago Program for a special lecture on U.S.-Chilean Constitutional similarities with Roberto Villaseca, an associate at the Chilean law firm Casey. This visit was a joint effort with La Universidad de los Andes and the U.S. Embassy Santiago, Chile, whose, spokesperson and press attaché, Chase Guinn, delivered opening remarks.

TFAS Santiago class sessions emphasized the American Revolution and Adam Smith’s Wealth of Nations. From an overview of American history by La Universidad de los Andes Professor Isidora Puga, to American Constitutionalism and Philosophical Foundations by TFAS Professor Nikolai Wenzel, students enjoyed a holistic academic experienced that emphasized the influence of Adam Smith and celebration of America 250.