In 1690, to what extent were the arts and material culture of the British Atlantic colonies “American”? To what extent were they “American” by 1789? What major factors defined the evolution in American arts and material culture in this period? To what extent did this evolution reflect the changing self-image of Americans?
To this day, World War II looms large in our public memory. Be it in movies and TV shows, bestsellers, exhibits, or in politics, references to the attack on Pearl Harbor, the home front, D-Day, Iwo Jima, the Blitz, Hiroshima, and other sites and events of the War abound. Embedded in these shared ideas about … Continued
In the 1790s and 1800s the United States was a new nation, not just because it had been founded only a few years earlier but because it was a new kind of nation, a representative democracy spread over a vast territory. No one had ever governed such a country. How could it be done? What … Continued
This webinar will offer a revolutionary interpretation of the American Revolution. It will restore ordinary men and women to the story we tell ourselves about national independence. Moving the focus of interpretation away from the Founding Fathers, it will ask questions about resistance to imperial power on the community level. What were the sources of … Continued
When the delegates to the Continental Congress assembled in June of 1776, they faced a deepening dilemma. Fighting between colonists and British troops had been going on for more than a year. Some delegates argued for independence; others sought peace and reconciliation with the king. In the first poll only seven of the thirteen colonies … Continued
In 1630 the Puritans brought their dynamic faith to the New World. Within a few years their skill in self-government and their refusal to tolerate dissent created a remarkably unified colony, a “Bible Commonwealth.” What were their religious beliefs? How did they practice them? What appeal did their faith hold for believers, and how did … Continued
The first contacts between Europeans and Native Americans brought dramatic change to the Old World and the New. What did Europeans think of the first Native Americans they met? What constitutes a first encounter? What did the earliest contacts predict for the future? How did first contacts differ based on particular circumstances? And finally, why … Continued
The first contacts between Europeans and Native Americans brought dramatic change to the Old World and the New. What did Native Americans think of the first Europeans they encountered? What constitutes a first encounter? What did the earliest contacts predict for the future? How did first contacts differ based on particular circumstances? And finally, why … Continued
When we think of the soundtrack of the 1960s civil rights movement, we tend to think of folk anthems. Some, like “We Shall Overcome,” were staples of movement rallies. Others, like “If I Had a Hammer” and “Blowin’ in the Wind,” transcended the rallies to become pop hits. But black popular music has had a … Continued
As a mode of witnessing and documentation, a form of memorial, and a tactic of exposure, photography played a critical role in the movement for African American civil rights. This webinar will explore the agency of photography in arguments for inclusion, desegregation, cultural enfranchisement, economic justice, and the failures and promises of America. Some of … Continued