Understanding the American Revolution
Benjamin Franklin, The Colonies Reduced. Design'd & Engrav'd for the Political Register. 1765
Guest Speakers:
Spencer Crew, George Mason University
Paul Finkelman, Albany Law School
Jenny Wahl, Carleton College
Rich Christen & Peter Thacker, University of Portland
Summary:
The Causes of Conflict: Digging Deep to Understand American History Summer Institute 2010 was fantastic. Held August 2-6 at ESD112 in Vancouver, Washington, 75 teachers came together to answer key questions: “Why declare independence?” and “How can I enrich the teaching and learning of this historical era and of historical thinking more generally?” Guided in our exploration of the colonial era by historians Paul Finkelman and Spencer Crew and economist Jenny Wahl and our consideration of the classroom by Rich Christen and Peter Thacker, teachers dove into the material enthusiastically. It’s always a hard sell to spend a week of summer vacation in the classroom, but teachers felt like it was a good trade.
Just a few comments from the evaluations:
Fantastic! Better than I anticipated!
This week challenged me to think about myself as a historian. It’s not enough to just love history & old buildings & stuff. Just “seeing” the Declaration of Independence in the Archives is such a surface thing. To take that document and compare it to the Constitution was powerful enough to change my teaching forever.
Extremely valuable – I learned content and great process. What fun it is being an engaged student!
Documents help us understand and then answer our questions. I will be more effective, organized, focused!
The speakers were so knowledgeable. My overall knowledge of events in American history has grown – plus I feel so enthusiastic about this period of history now. I want my students to have the same enthusiasm.
The best institute on history I’ve been to at the ESD. Connects superbly with my state expectations. Thanks for creating a strong elementary based institute!
Use the following links to access documents, audio files, and other materials related to specific presentations offered during the program:
- 2010 Summer Institute Agenda
- A long train of abuses?
- Colonists and Indigenous Tribes
- The Trial of John Peter Zenger and Rights in the Colonies
- Who lived in the colonies?
- Imposing taxes on us without our consent?
- Understanding Representative Government
- Perceptions of “The Other” in Early American History
- Why was England such a big Mother Country?
- All men are created equal?
- The Great Awakening? Religion, The Enlightenment, and Perceptions of Equality
- Linking The Declaration to The Constitution
- Labor Scarcity in the New World
- Literacy Strategies Supporting Historical Thinking