This course explores cultural, political, and economic changes in America from the age of imperial crisis through the era of the Early Republic. In addition to tracing the political history of the founding, we examine the experiences of Americans from diverse backgrounds, including women, slaves, free blacks, Native Americans, merchants, farmers, common soldiers, abolitionists, artisans, loyalists, and others. We examine their multiple perspectives on the Revolution, the drafting and ratification of the Constitution, and the cultural and political turmoil that emerged amidst the ensuing rise of political parties. The course takes both a narrative and an analytical approach by focusing on major interpretive issues in a more-or-less chronological fashion. We also assess how well popular narratives of the Revolution and the Early Republic reflect scholarly understandings of the period.
Foundations Program
This course fulfills the “Founding Documents” requirement for Education concentrators. This course fulfills the Forum requirement in the Foundations Program.