HIST 241 - Empire of Liberty? Revolutionary America 1763-1830

FDR: HU Humanities Distribution
Credits: 3

Thomas Jefferson famously referred to the fledgling United States as an “empire of liberty,” a seemingly contradictory characterization. But was it? To explore this question and many others, this course examines the causes, character, and consequences of the American Revolution and the founding of the United States. We will focus on the key events, people, documents, and interpretations of the Revolutionary era but also on the experiences and perspectives of those who sometimes appear only at the margins of this story: loyalists, women, African Americans, Indigenous nations, artisans, and others. In addition to reading historical scholarship, each week we will scrutinize a variety of primary sources, not only to improve your understanding of the history of Revolutionary America but to develop your own ability to interpret the past.