Emanuel Leutze, Washington Crossing the Delaware, 1851

New York, The Met, Gift of John Stewart Kennedy, 1897, 97.34

https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/11417

Whenever some aspect of the history of the United States of America enters into a course I am teaching, strong feelings do seem to be evoked. And I mean negative and positive – often both at the same time!

So here goes…

After nearly a decade now of quite extreme tensions stateside, and with quarter-millennial celebrations due next year, let’s do it all. Let’s make our way through the history of the United States – from the first colonies, through the battle for Independence, to the establishment of a republic upon a continent.

That last achievement can be too easily taken for granted today, but the architects of independence knew how fragile it was!

“Well. What have we got?” enquired an old lady of Ben Franklin at Philadelphia, when the USA was first brought into being. “A republic, ma’am – if you can keep it,” came the reply. And they have kept it – through wars, both civil and expansionist, and through vast changes in demography and prosperity. Right up to today. Say what you like, but it’s the most successful republic on the planet. Whether or not that is all about to change, we cannot know, and nor will we speculate.

What we shall do is explore and celebrate a little over three centuries of history. All the great themes will be there: from the early colonies to the Revolutionary War and onward; the settling of the Prairies; the Goldrush; the Civil War; and on to the colossus of the twentieth century.

Buckle up, pardners. It’s gonna be a helluva ride!

RJW F2525 Online course (via Zoom)

10 weeks, Tuesday 23 September - Tuesday 2 December (incl., with half-term break on 28 October)

£120 (individual registration); £216 (for two people sharing one screen).