Constitutional Convention
2026-06-12 08:30 - 14:15 (America/Chicago) | Belton, TX, Belton, TX, United States
What took place during the summer of 1787 is still considered extraordinary…but how did the delegates actually tackle and respond to the problems facing them to secure ‘the blessings of liberty’? Our study of these debates will attempt to understand the interests and principles that divided the members of the Convention and how they arrived at a compromise that defined the Constitution of 1787.
This program will be conducted as a discussion, utilizing primary source documents as the only readings, and with Professor Zuckert facilitating the conversation, instead of lecturing or presenting. Registrants, therefore, are highly encouraged to read all the documents in advance and come ready with questions. Teachers will receive a Letter of Attendance at the conclusion of the seminar.

Collisions Between Federal & State Authority in the American Federal System
2026-06-12 08:30 - 14:15 (America/New_York) | Pittsburg, TX, Pittsburg, TX, United States
In creating what James Madison referred to as a “compound republic,” the framers of the U.S. Constitution established a political system that was bound to generate collisions between state and federal governments. This seminar will analyze disputes about the extent of federal and state authority throughout American History, beginning with the Federalists and anti-Federalists ratification debates, concluding with an exploration of leading episodes of state officials challenges to federal authority in the early American Republic, and analyzing various conflicts regarding the balance of state and federal power in the contemporary era.
This program will be conducted as a discussion, utilizing primary source documents as the only readings. Registrants are highly encouraged to read all documents in advance.

America at 250: The Legacy of the Declaration of Independence
2026-06-15 08:30 - 14:15 (America/New_York) | Columbus, OH, Columbus, OH, United States
Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King, Jr. both argued that the proper foundation for civic education is the belief that America has a moral essence derived from the principles of the Declaration of Independence, and that America’s history and purpose—its past, present, and future—is the story of our struggle to live up to those principles. In this seminar, we will read three documents–the Declaration of Independence, the Gettysburg Address, and the “I Have a Dream” Speech”– that demonstrate that an American is not just a citizen or an abstract concept, but a certain kind of human being, a person whose mind and heart have been profoundly shaped by the principles contained in the Declaration, especially the truth of the proposition that all men are created equal. That understanding of an American still resonates with teachers, students, and citizens today, 250 years after Thomas Jefferson first wrote the words that made America: “We hold these truths to be selfevident, that all men are created equal.”
This program will be conducted as a discussion, utilizing primary source documents as the only readings, and with the Discussion Leader facilitating the conversation, instead of lecturing or presenting. Registrants, therefore, are highly encouraged to read all the documents in advance and come ready with questions. Teachers will receive a Letter of Attendance at the conclusion of the seminar.

French & Indian War to Revolution: 1754-1776
2026-08-01 08:30 - 14:15 (America/New_York) | Frankfort, KY, Frankfort, KY, 40601, United States
The global Seven Years’ War (known in America as the French and Indian War) caused Britain, France, and their allies to clash from 1754 to 1763. Although important in its own right, perhaps it is even more significant in that it reordered the world in ways that would prove consequential beyond anyone’s expectations. In colonial America, especially, this great victory for Britain and the British American colonies had the unforeseen effect of unraveling the great empire that the 1763 Treaty of Paris codified.
This program will be conducted as a Socratic discussion, utilizing primary source documents as the only readings, and with the Discussion Leader facilitating the conversation, instead of lecturing or presenting. Registrants, therefore, are highly encouraged to read all the documents in advance and come ready with questions. Teachers will receive a Letter of Attendance at the conclusion of the seminar.

Modern Social Movements
2026-08-06 08:30 - 14:15 (America/New_York) | Oregonia, OH, Oregonia, OH, 45054, United States
Beginning with the upheavals of the 1960s, the United States saw a diverse set of groups pushing for social change. These included African Americans, Native Americans, women, and gays and lesbians. This seminar will focus on the legacy of the 1960s, the intersection of personal behavior with political movements and battles won and lost by various groups. Please join us for a lively discussion of the primary sources that tell the story of these movements, the players and the key events.
This program will be conducted as a discussion, utilizing primary source documents as the only readings, and with the Discussion Leader facilitating the conversation, instead of lecturing or presenting. Registrants, therefore, are highly encouraged to read all the documents in advance and come ready with questions. Teachers will receive a Letter of Attendance at the conclusion of the seminar.

Reagan & Gorbachev: The Edge of War
2026-08-15 08:30 - 14:15 (America/New_York) | Cayce, SC, Cayce, SC, United States
As detente between the United States and the Soviet Union collapsed in the late 1970s, the prospect of superpower confrontation and nuclear war became a disturbing possibility for the entire world. Entering office vowing to confront the Soviet Union, Ronald Reagan struggled to reconcile his determination to confront Soviet power with his efforts to improve U.S.-Soviet relations and step back from the brink of annihilation. When Mikhail Gorbachev ascended to the leadership of the Soviet Union, for the first time Reagan found a Soviet leader with whom he could work. The dramatic diplomatic revolution that followed fundamentally altered the status quo, even as both men, and their governments, remained suspicious of one another and unsure where their work would take them, and take the world.
This program will be conducted as a conversation, utilizing primary source documents as the only readings, and with the Discussion Leader facilitating the conversation, instead of lecturing or presenting. Registrants, therefore, are highly encouraged to read all the documents in advance and come ready with questions. Teachers will receive a Letter of Attendance at the conclusion of the seminar.

America at 250: The Legacy of the Declaration of Independence
2026-09-14 08:30 - 14:15 (America/Phoenix) | Sterling, CO, Sterling, CO, United States
Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King, Jr. both argued that the proper foundation for civic education is the belief that America has a moral essence derived from the principles of the Declaration of Independence. America’s history and purpose—it’s past, present, and future—is the story of our struggle to live up to those principles. Our conversation with center around three documents that demonstrate that an American is not just a citizen or an abstract concept, but a certain kind of human being, a person whose mind and heart have been profoundly shaped by the principles contained in the Declaration. These words still resonate 250 years later for teachers, students, and citizens: “We hold these truths to be selfevident, that all men are created equal.”
This program will be conducted as a discussion, utilizing primary source documents as the only readings with the Professor facilitating the conversation. Teachers will receive a Letter of Attendance at the conclusion of the seminar.

America at 250: The Legacy of the Declaration of Independence
2026-09-15 08:30 - 14:15 (America/Chicago) | Vandalia, IL, Vandalia, IL, 62471, United States

Civil Rights in America
2026-09-18 08:30 - 14:30 (America/Chicago) | Jefferson City, MO, Jefferson City, MO, 65101, United States
The Civil Rights Movement in America has endured a difficult and tumultuous path. The Emancipation Proclamation ended the Institution of slavery. The Fourteenth Amendment should have guaranteed freedoms, equality and civil rights for all men; however, it would take many generations of hardships and court cases for that reality to be achieved. This seminar addresses the complicated road endured by African Americans.
This program will be conducted as a discussion, utilizing primary source documents as the only readings, and with Professor Krugler facilitating the conversation, instead of lecturing or presenting. Registrants, therefore, are highly encouraged to read all the documents in advance and come ready with questions. Teachers will receive a Letter of Attendance at the conclusion of the seminar.

The First Three Presidents
2026-09-19 08:30 - 14:15 (America/New_York) | Frankfort, KY, Frankfort, KY, 40601, United States
The presidencies of George Washington, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson established precedents and dealt with issues of executive power. This seminar will examine documents from the Washington, Adams and Jefferson administrations including topics like the Alien and Sedition Acts and the Louisiana Purchase.
This program will be conducted as a Socratic discussion, utilizing primary source documents as the only readings, and with the Discussion Leader facilitating the conversation, instead of lecturing or presenting. Registrants, therefore, are highly encouraged to read all the documents in advance and come ready with questions. Teachers will receive a Letter of Attendance at the conclusion of the seminar.

Harlem Renaissance
2026-09-24 08:30 - 14:15 (America/Phoenix) | Phoenix, AZ, Phoenix, AZ, United States
Harlem became the hub of African American culture in the 1920’s and 30’s and the extraordinary writing that developed during this time continues to influence American literature and culture. This seminar will explore the literature of the Harlem Renaissance in relation to its history as well as its social and cultural context. We will also examine the competing theories about race and racial identity that defined the Harlem Renaissance’s intellectual culture.
This program will be conducted as a discussion, utilizing primary source documents as the only readings, and with Professor Threat facilitating the conversation. Registrants, therefore, are highly encouraged to read all the documents in advance and come ready with questions. Teachers will receive a Letter of Attendance at the conclusion of the seminar.

Westward Expansion to Civil War
2026-09-26 08:30 - 14:15 (America/New_York) | Marietta, OH, Marietta, OH, United States
This elementary teacher focused seminar will explore documents on the expansion of the United States after the founding, including the impact of the Northwest Ordinance. Teachers will be asked to look at how westward expansion furthered tensions with Native Americans and the issue on slavery as the nation moved toward the Civil War.
This program will be conducted as a discussion, utilizing primary source documents as the only readings, and with the Discussion Leader facilitating the conversation, instead of lecturing or presenting. Registrants, therefore, are highly encouraged to read all the documents in advance and come ready with questions. Teachers will receive a Letter of Attendance at the conclusion of the seminar.

The Cold War in the 1950s
2026-09-30 08:30 - 14:15 (America/Chicago) | Wheaton, IL, Wheaton, IL, United States
The rise of tension between the United States and the Soviet Union is a story that has often been told. This seminar will focus on Truman and Eisenhower’s policies on postwar anti-communism, containment, nuclear buildup, The Korean War, issues in Vietnam, and the Soviet Union. Join us at the table for an intriguing conversation.
This program will be conducted as a discussion, utilizing primary source documents as the only readings, and with the Discussion Leader facilitating the conversation, instead of lecturing or presenting. Registrants, therefore, are highly encouraged to read all the documents in advance and come ready with questions. Teachers will receive a Letter of Attendance at the conclusion of the seminar.

Supreme Court Cases that Changed America
2026-10-01 08:30 - 14:15 (America/New_York) | Charlestown, IN, Charlestown, IN, United States
While many Supreme Court cases have shaped American policies and history, this seminar explores cases that focus on the Constitution and Federalism, the Constitution and the Commerce Clause and Civil Rights Cases.
This program will be conducted as a discussion, utilizing primary source documents as the only readings, and with the Discussion Leader facilitating the conversation, instead of lecturing or presenting. Registrants, therefore, are highly encouraged to read all the documents in advance and come ready with questions. Teachers will receive a Letter of Attendance at the conclusion of the seminar.

America at 250! - The Legacy of The Declaration of Independence
2026-10-01 08:30 - 14:15 (America/Chicago) | Corning, IA, Corning, IA, 50841, United States
There have been thousands of books and articles written about the Declaration of Independence, and its ringing words make an appearance in every American History textbook. Given all this commentary and interpretation, is it still possible to understand the Declaration as its authors understood it? In this seminar, we will discuss the primary sources that best illuminate the Declaration’s meaning and imbue its words with living significance.
This program will be conducted as a discussion, utilizing primary source documents as the only readings, and with the Professor facilitating the conversation, instead of lecturing or presenting. Registrants, therefore, are highly encouraged to read all the documents in advance and come ready with.

Black Wall Street: African American Entrepreneurship
2026-10-03 08:30 - 14:15 (America/Los_Angeles) | San Anselmo, CA, San Anselmo, CA, United States
Following the Civil War, African American businessmen and women began to invest, build, and thrive despite white controlled financial and commercial networks. But what happened in the Greenwood district of Tulsa, Oklahoma? Why will it become a target of racial massacre in 1921? Using primary documents we will read the stories of these entrepreneurs.
This program will be conducted as a discussion, utilizing primary source documents as the only readings, and with the Discussion Leader facilitating the conversation, instead of lecturing or presenting. Registrants, therefore, are highly encouraged to read all the documents in advance and come ready with questions. Teachers will receive a Letter of Attendance at the conclusion of the seminar.

America at 250: The Legacy of the Declaration of Independence
2026-10-06 08:30 - 14:15 (America/New_York) | Eden, NY, Eden, NY, 14057, United States
There have been thousands of books and articles written about the Declaration of Independence, and its ringing words make an appearance in every American History textbook. Given all of this commentary and interpretation, is it still possible to understand the Declaration as its authors understood it? In this seminar, we will discuss the primary sources that best illuminate the Declaration’s meaning and imbue its words with living significance.
This program will be conducted as a discussion, utilizing primary source documents as the only readings, and with the Discussion Leader facilitating the conversation instead of lecturing or presenting. Registrants, therefore, are highly encouraged to read all the documents in advance and come ready with questions. Teachers will receive a Letter of Attendance at the conclusion of the seminar.

America at 250: The Legacy of the Declaration of Independence
2026-10-06 08:30 - 14:15 (America/New_York) | Greenville, OH, 5279 Education Dr., Greenville, OH, 45331, United States
Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King, Jr. both argued that the proper foundation for civic education is the belief that America has a moral essence derived from the principles of the Declaration of Independence, and that America’s history and purpose—its past, present, and future—is the story of our struggle to live up to those principles. In this seminar, we will read three documents– the Declaration of Independence, the Gettysburg Address, and the “I Have a Dream” Speech”–that demonstrate that an American is not just a citizen or an abstract concept, but a certain kind of human being, a person whose mind and heart have been profoundly shaped by the principles contained in the Declaration, especially the truth of the proposition that all men are created equal. That understanding of an American still resonates with teachers, students, and citizens today, 250 years after Thomas Jefferson first wrote the words that made America: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.”
This program will be conducted as a discussion, utilizing primary source documents as the only readings, and with the Discussion Leader facilitating the conversation, instead of lecturing or presenting. Registrants, therefore, are highly encouraged to read all the documents in advance and come ready with questions. All attendees will receive a Letter of Attendance at the end of the seminar.

Supreme Court Cases that Changed America
2026-10-09 08:30 - 14:15 (America/New_York) | Canton, OH, Canton, OH, United States
While many Supreme Court cases have shaped American policies and history, this seminar explores cases that focus on the Constitution and Federalism, the Constitution and the Commerce Clause and Civil Rights Cases.
This program will be conducted as a discussion, utilizing primary source documents as the only readings, and with the Discussion Leader facilitating the conversation, instead of lecturing or presenting. Registrants, therefore, are highly encouraged to read all the documents in advance and come ready with questions. All attendees will receive a Letter of Attendance at the end of the seminar.

Collisions Between State and Federal Authority in the American Federal System
2026-10-09 08:30 - 14:15 (America/Los_Angeles) | Sherwood, OR, Sherwood, OR, United States
In creating what James Madison referred to as a “compound republic,” the framers of the U.S. Constitution established a political system that was bound to generate collisions between state and federal governments. This seminar will analyze disputes about the extent of federal and state authority throughout American History, beginning with the Federalists and anti-Federalists ratification debates, concluding with an exploration of leading episodes of state officials challenges to federal authority in the early American Republic, and analyzing various conflicts regarding the balance of state and federal power in the contemporary era.
This program will be conducted as a discussion, utilizing primary source documents as the only readings, and with the Discussion Leader facilitating the conversation, instead of lecturing or presenting. Registrants, therefore, are highly encouraged to read all the documents in advance and come ready with questions. Teachers will receive a Letter of Attendance at the conclusion of the seminar.
This program is a partnership with The Oregon Council for the Social Studies.

Mr. Madison’s War - 1812
2026-10-10 08:30 - 14:15 (America/New_York) | Frankfort, KY, Frankfort, KY, 40601, United States
The War of 1812 represented the first instance that the young republic declared war on another nation. This seminar will explore the causes and events that led to the war, President James Madison’s policies and the aftermath of this Second American Revolution.
This program will be conducted as a Socratic discussion, utilizing primary source documents as the only readings, and with the Discussion Leader facilitating the conversation, instead of lecturing or presenting. Registrants, therefore, are highly encouraged to read all the documents in advance and come ready with questions. Teachers will receive a Letter of Attendance at the conclusion of the seminar.

FDR, WWII, and the Holocaust
2026-10-15 08:30 - 14:15 (America/Chicago) | Red Bud, IL, Red Bud, IL, United States
The Holocaust was the greatest horror of World War II, and the Allies obtained evidence of Nazi Germany’s genocide of Europe’s Jewish population during the war. How did Allied leaders, especially President Franklin Roosevelt, respond to the Holocaust? Did the Allies attempt to disrupt the death camps’ operations in order to halt the mass murder? Could the Allies have done more? How much coverage did the genocide receive in the United States and how did the public respond? Using a selection of primary and secondary readings, we will address these questions during our seminar.
This program will be conducted as a discussion, utilizing primary source documents as the only readings, and with the Discussion Leader facilitating the conversation, instead of lecturing or presenting. Registrants, therefore, are highly encouraged to read all the documents in advance and come ready with questions. Teachers will receive a Letter of Attendance at the conclusion of the seminar.

Westward Expansion
2026-10-29 08:30 - 14:15 (America/New_York) | Charlotte, MI, 1790 Packard Highway, Charlotte, MI, United States
This seminar will focus on America’s westward expansion and its “Manifest Destiny” to expand from sea to shining sea. This seminar will consider the purposes for westward expansion, Jackson’s Indian Removal Policy and westward expansion’s impact on slavery.
This program will be conducted as a discussion, utilizing primary source documents as the only readings, and with the Discussion Leader facilitating the conversation, instead of lecturing or presenting. Registrants, therefore, are highly encouraged to read all the documents in advance and come ready with questions. All attendees will receive a Letter of Attendance at the end of the seminar.

African Americans: Culture, Art, and Politics
2026-10-29 08:30 - 14:15 (America/New_York) | Charlotte, MI, 1790 Packard Highway, Charlotte, MI, United States
This seminar explores major themes in the African American tradition by considering speeches, essays, and literature at several key inflection points across history. Participants will reflect upon different forms of literary and political expression in order to learn how African Americans navigated the challenges posed by slavery, emancipation, modernity and civil rights. Throughout, the readings will consider the role that gender plays in the evolution of African American identity.
This program will be conducted as a discussion, utilizing primary source documents as the only readings, and with the Discussion Leader facilitating the conversation, instead of lecturing or presenting. Registrants, therefore, are highly encouraged to read all the documents in advance and come ready with questions. All attendees will receive a Letter of Attendance at the end of the seminar.

America at 250: The Legacy of the Declaration of Independence
2026-11-07 08:30 - 14:15 (America/New_York) | Kokomo, IN, 2501 S. Berkely Rd, Kokomo, IN, 46902, United States

Jim Crow and Its Impact on African Americans
2026-11-12 08:30 - 14:15 (America/Chicago) | Ada, OK, Ada, OK, United States
This seminar will focus on the roots of Jim Crow in the late 19th century. What was the catalyst for Jim Crow legislation? How did the laws and customs of Jim Crow get firmly established? How was it defended by its supporters? How was it attacked by civil rights advocates and how did African Americans respond to the systematic discrimination of Jim Crow? Join us for a deep dive into documents that describe what C. Vann Woodward called, “The Strange Career of Jim Crow.”
This program will be conducted as a discussion, utilizing primary source documents as the only readings, with the Professor facilitating the conversation, instead of lecturing or presenting. Registrants , therefore, are highly encouraged to read all the documents in advance and come ready with questions.

The Constitutional Convention
2026-11-13 08:30 - 14:15 (America/Chicago) | Enid, OK, Enid, OK, United States
This seminar offers an overview of the debates at the Constitutional Convention. We will examine the purposes of the American political order, the defects of the Articles of Confederation, the debates over the reform of the Confederation government and squaring the institution of slavery. In our study, we will attempt to understand the interests and principles that divided the members of the Convention and how they arrived at a compromise that defined the Constitution of 1787.
This program will be conducted as a discussion, utilizing primary source documents as the only readings, and with Professor Estes facilitating the conversation, instead of lecturing or presenting. Registrants, therefore, are highly encouraged to read all the documents in advance and come ready with questions. Teachers will receive a Letter of Attendance at the conclusion of the seminar.

Jim Crow and Its Impact on African Americans
2026-11-14 08:30 - 14:15 (America/New_York) | Richmond, VA, Richmond, VA, United States
This seminar will focus on the roots of Jim Crow in the late 19th century. What was the catalyst for Jim Crow legislation? How did the laws and customs of Jim Crow get firmly established? How was it defended by its supporters? How was it attacked by civil rights advocates and how did African Americans respond to the systematic discrimination of Jim Crow? Join your colleagues for a deep dive into documents that describe what C. Vann Woodward called, “The Strange Career of Jim Crow.”
This program will be conducted as a discussion, utilizing primary source documents as the only readings, and with the Discussion Leader facilitating the conversation, instead of lecturing or presenting. Registrants, therefore, are highly encouraged to read all the documents in advance and come ready with questions. Teachers will receive a Letter of Attendance at the conclusion of the seminar.

The First Three Presidents
2026-11-19 08:30 - 14:15 (America/New_York) | Jasper, IN, Jasper, IN, United States
The presidencies of George Washington, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson established precedents and dealt with issues of executive power. This seminar will examine documents from the Washington, Adams and Jefferson administrations including topics like the Alien and Sedition Acts and the Louisiana Purchase.
This program will be conducted as a discussion, utilizing primary source documents as the only readings, and with the Discussion Leader facilitating the conversation instead of lecturing or presenting. Registrants, therefore, are highly encouraged to read all the documents in advance and come ready with questions. Teachers will receive a Letter of Attendance at the conclusion of the seminar.

African American Women: Gender & Equality
2027-02-06 08:30 - 14:15 (America/Vancouver) | San Anselmo, CA, San Anselmo, CA, United States
This seminar will examine the lives of African American women from Reconstruction through the latter twentieth century. Using primary source materials from leading African American female intellectuals, activists, and organizations, we will concentrate on African American women’s experiences in politics, the workplace, race and social movements, and on historical debates about men and women’s private and public roles in society. We will explore the diverse ways that African American women have engaged with questions on human and gender equality, equity, and “rights” broadly defined. Some topics covered may include Reconstruction and Jim Crow, Suffrage, Domestic labor movements, religion and civic organizing, the civil rights movement, and the U.S. Women’s Movement.
This program will be conducted as a discussion, utilizing primary source documents as the only readings, and with the Discussion Leader facilitating the conversation, instead of lecturing or presenting. Registrants, therefore, are highly encouraged to read all the documents in advance and come ready with questions. Teachers will receive a Letter of Attendance at the conclusion of the seminar.
