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AMERICAN
REVOLUTION/EARLY REPUBLIC, 1763-1815 The American Revolution is enshrined in our national memory as a patriotic struggle for freedom against British oppression. It represents the salient event in our nation's history, a symbolic coming of age that has furnished Americans with a national identity. Indeed, the Revolution loomed large among contemporaries as an all important event - so important that efforts to preserve its legacy inspired sharp divisions and led to the formation of the Federalist and Republican parties by the 1790s. Until the end of the War of 1812, the meaning of the American Revolution would be debated by politicians and voters alike. At this period a new generation would occupy center stage, stimulating debate on issues of economic development. The Revolution would pass into the public memory. This course will introduce the student to the various events that characterized the period from 1763 to 1815. We shall examine their impact from the national, regional, and local level by focusing upon different questions and issues that arose within these geographic settings. While the American Revolution has captivated historians and laypersons alike, it has also sparked serious disagreements: How did the Revolution start? Was it a war for independence manipulated by a patrician elite or did it arise from a discontented class of commoners fretful about restricted social mobility? Does the war even merit the title of "Revolution"? And what kind of society was the post-Revolutionary United States, and how did this impact upon the political development of the early republic? These are some of the questions we will explore. Course Books
E. Morgan, The Birth of the Republic. There will also be several handouts during the course of the semester. Requirements 1. This class will combine lecture and discussion. As such, we will have an opportunity to explore certain themes in depth through the readings and reflect upon their significance. Please come prepared to class. 2. There will be an essay midterm and final exam. Students will also write a three page analytical paper drawn from primary sources, and a ten to twelve page term paper on an agreed upon topic that also uses primary sources. A term paper handout sheet will explain this in greater detail. For the final, questions will be supplied beforehand, but I will select the questions to be used during the final exam. 3. Grades: the first paper is 10%; the midterm is 20%; the term paper equals 40%; and the final is 30% of the grade. Class participation will be counted in determining the final grade. It may also be used to lower a grade. 4. You are all responsible for the material covered in class and all the assignments. There are no tests or paper extensions unless a serious, very serious, medical emergency arises verified by doctor's note and a phone call no later than the date the assignment is due. Late assignments will be marked down. People who miss more than two classes (or who continually leave after the break) will also have their grade reduced. Class Schedule
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