Teaching American History

America at 250: The Legacy of the Declaration of Independence
2026-03-07 08:30 - 14:15 (America/Chicago) | Oshkosh, WI, Oshkosh, WI, 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

The Progressive Critique of the Declaration of Independence
2026-03-07 10:45 - 12:00 (America/New_York) | Online
Explore how early 20th-century Progressives challenged the ideals of the Declaration. This webinar examines debates over imperialism, the role of the government, and eugenics, revealing how these controversies reshaped ideas of liberty, citizenship, and America’s role in the world. Perfect for social studies educators looking to bring the complexities of history to life in the classroom.
Our live teacher webinars provide content-rich and interactive professional development through conversation. We’ll share a reading packet with registrants several weeks before the event and provide space for early discussion between participants. The documents, pre-seminar conversation, and questions asked in the discussion board are vital to shaping the direction of the panelists’ conversation. Audience members ask questions during the event, comment in the lively chat, and share resources and ideas.
Our online seminars meet monthly on select Saturday mornings from 10.45 am–12 pm ET. Those who remain digitally present for the duration of the conversation will receive an attendance letter from Teaching American History for 1.25 hours of professional development.

America at 250: The Legacy of the Declaration of Independence
2026-03-12 08:30 - 14:15 (America/New_York) | Coshocton, OH, Coshocton, OH, 43812, 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.

Black Wall Street: African American Entrepreneurship
2026-03-14 08:30 - 14:15 (America/New_York) | Richmond, VA, Richmond, VA, 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
2026-03-18 08:30 - 14:15 (America/Chicago) | Red Bud, IL, Red Bud, IL, United States

Nationalism & Imperialism in the Gilded Age
2026-03-19 08:30 - 14:15 (America/New_York) | Frankton, IN, Frankton, IN, 46044, United States
Great fortunes were made in the late 19th Century and with this growth of industrialism came a desire to expand markets. How did nationalism inform the pro-imperialist arguments of Theodore Roosevelt? Were these arguments consistent with American principles? What were the arguments against imperialism and protectionism? This seminar will analyze these questions and consider the policies of Theodore Roosevelt.
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 Abolition Movement
2026-03-24 08:30 - 14:30 (America/New_York) | Lancaster, OH, Lancaster, OH, 43130, United States
This seminar will examine the Abolition Movement, abolition settlements, and ideas from the year of the Founding through the Civil War.
This program will be conducted as a discussion, utilizing primary source documents as the only readings in our conversation. All attendees of this free seminar will receive lunch, a letter of attendance, as well as paper and digital copies of the reader.

The Cold War: From Origins to Apogee, 1945-1962
2026-03-27 17:00 - 2026-03-29 13:00 (America/New_York) | Tucson, Arizona
Gather with a small group of teachers from around the country for three days immersed in discussion and exploration of a single topic in American history. Multi-Day Seminars are a free opportunity for teachers hosted near an important historical site. Teachers will prepare ahead of time for seminars by reading selected historical documents in the provided course packet. Once the seminar begins, the discussion leader guides a peer-to-peer, text-based conversation among all participants. Meals, materials, single-occupancy rooms, and historical site visits are 100% covered by Teaching American History. At the end of each course, every teacher receives a letter of participation for fifteen contact hours of continuing education and a stipend of $600 to help defray travel costs.
After defeating Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan, the American people looked forward to a long period of peace and cooperation with their former allies in the Soviet Union. What they got instead was 45 years of simmering international hostility, occasionally breaking out in proxy wars, and on several occasions bringing the world to the brink of nuclear war. This seminar will examine roughly the first half of the Cold War, from its origins through the Cuban Missile Crisis, with an emphasis on the different ways that the ongoing contest with the Soviet Union was handled by Presidents Truman, Eisenhower, and Kennedy.
Applications are closed for this seminar. Summer 2026 applications are coming soon!

America at 250! – The Legacy of the Declaration of Independence
2026-04-04 08:30 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | Martinsburg, WV, Martinsburg, WV, 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 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.

America at 250! – The Legacy of the Declaration of Independence
2026-04-09 08:00 - 13:45 (America/Chicago) | Brandon, MS, Brandon, MS, 39042, United States

JFK and the New Frontier
2026-04-10 17:00 - 2026-04-12 13:00 (America/New_York) | Boston, MA, MA, United States
Gather with a small group of teachers from around the country for three days immersed in discussion and exploration of a single topic in American history. Multi-Day Seminars are a free opportunity for teachers hosted near an important historical site. Teachers will prepare ahead of time for seminars by reading selected historical documents in the provided course packet. Once the seminar begins, the discussion leader guides a peer-to-peer, text-based conversation among all participants. Meals, materials, single-occupancy rooms, and historical site visits are 100% covered by Teaching American History. At the end of each course, every teacher receives a letter of participation for fifteen contact hours of continuing education and a stipend of $600 to help defray travel costs.
This workshop will examine the presidency of the 35th President of the United States, John F. Kennedy. The early 1960s was a time of prosperity, optimism, and idealism in America, and the young president embodied those themes. We will begin by looking at the issue of Kennedy’s Catholic religion during the 1960 election. Then we will focus on JFK’s domestic policy initiatives as well as his changing attitudes toward civil rights during his short administration. Lastly, we will examine his Cold War foreign policy, especially in relation to Cuba and Vietnam. The workshop will also include a tour of the JFK Presidential Library and Museum, as well as a walking tour of Columbia Point, the home of the JFK Library, which includes a wealth of interesting history.
Applications are closed for this seminar. Summer 2026 applications are coming soon!

Reform Movements & the Declaration: Women’s Rights
2026-04-11 10:45 - 12:00 (America/New_York) | Online
Discover how the Declaration of Independence inspired the women’s rights movement. This webinar explores the ways reformers challenged the nation to live up to its promise of liberty and equality, examining key campaigns, speeches, and writings that connected the struggle for gender equality to the ideals of 1776. Social studies educators will gain a deeper understanding of the historical roots of reform and how these ideas continue to shape American society today.
Our live teacher webinars provide content-rich and interactive professional development through conversation. We’ll share a reading packet with registrants several weeks before the event and provide space for early discussion between participants. The documents, pre-seminar conversation, and questions asked in the discussion board are vital to shaping the direction of the panelists’ conversation. Audience members ask questions during the event, comment in the lively chat, and share resources and ideas.
Our online seminars meet monthly on select Saturday mornings from 10.45 am–12 pm ET. Those who remain digitally present for the duration of the conversation will receive an attendance letter from Teaching American History for 1.25 hours of professional development.

War and Remembrance: Historical Memory and the Meaning of America
2026-04-18 08:30 - 14:15 (America/New_York) | Richmond, VA, Richmond, VA, United States
The American Civil War was a military contest between defenders and opponents of the union of American states. Reunification of the country involved a contest of words over how to remember the war. Leaving aside the Lost Cause view of the Civil War, even defenders of the Union did not learn the same lessons of that monumental conflict. In the following speeches by key actors of that national drama, we find different opinions regarding the meaning of the War and its lessons for post-war America. Compare and contrast Lincoln’s remarks with those delivered by Holmes, Chamberlain, and Douglass. What can we learn today by reflecting on these speeches that can help us maintain our unity as Americans in our own divisive times?
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 the documents in advance and come ready with questions. All attendees will receive a Letter of Attendance at the end of the seminar.

Modern Social Movements
2026-04-18 08:30 - 14:15 (America/Chicago) | Fredonia, WI, Fredonia, WI, 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.

America at 250! The Legacy of the Declaration of Independence
2026-04-28 08:30 - 14:15 (America/Phoenix) | Parker, CO, Parker, CO, 80134, 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? Join us ‘around the table’ as we 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 questions. Teachers will receive a Letter of Attendance at the conclusion of the seminar.

America at 250! – The Legacy of the Declaration of Independence
2026-05-02 08:30 - 14:15 (America/New_York) | South Charleston, WV, South Charleston, WV, United States

Reform Movements & the Declaration: Civil Rights
2026-05-09 10:45 - 12:00 (America/New_York) | Online
Explore how the Declaration of Independence shaped the struggle for civil rights in America. This webinar examines how activists and movements challenged the nation to live up to its promise of liberty and equality, highlighting key campaigns, speeches, and actions that connected the fight for racial equality to the ideals of 1776. Social studies educators will gain insights into the historical roots of reform and the enduring impact of these movements.
Our live teacher webinars provide content-rich and interactive professional development through conversation. We’ll share a reading packet with registrants several weeks before the event and provide space for early discussion between participants. The documents, pre-seminar conversation, and questions asked in the discussion board are vital to shaping the direction of the panelists’ conversation. Audience members ask questions during the event, comment in the lively chat, and share resources and ideas.
Our online seminars meet monthly on select Saturday mornings from 10.45 am–12 pm ET. Those who remain digitally present for the duration of the conversation will receive an attendance letter from Teaching American History for 1.25 hours of professional development.

620: The Reform Tradition in America
2026-05-11 18:15 - 2026-06-04 21:30 (America/New_York) | Online
HIST 620 O1A / POLSC 620 O1A: The Reform Tradition in America
America has lived through three periods of sustained interest in reforming its political and social life, the first in the decades preceding the Civil War, the second in the decades preceding World War I and the third in the decade or two following World War II. The course examines aspects of these reform movements, particularly their connection to religion and Protestant theology.
Schedule: Mondays & Wednesdays, 6:15-9:30 p.m. ET
Course Materials: Syllabus and Course Pack

643: Inclusion and Exclusion Under the Constitution
2026-05-11 20:15 - 2026-06-04 23:30 (America/Halifax) | Online
HIST 643 O1C / POLSC 643 O1C: Inclusion and Exclusion Under the Constitution
In the nearly 240 years since its drafting, the United States Constitution has been transformed, primarily (though not exclusively) through judicial interpretation, from a document that was written principally with an eye on white male landholders to one that requires protection of the right to same-sex marriage. During that time, there has been a constant push-pull between inclusion and exclusion under the Constitution. Yet it is the genius of what the Founders crafted that the overall trajectory has been one of increasing and universal inclusion. This course will examine this crucial process from Indian Removal to Obergefell v. Hodges.
Schedule: Tuesdays & Thursdays, 8:15-11:30 p.m. ET
Course Materials: Syllabus and Course Pack

How Congress Began
2026-06-05 17:00 - 2026-06-07 13:00 (America/New_York) | Montpelier Station, VA, VA, United States
Congress began as a revolutionary body, gathering representatives from the colonies to protest British policy and eventually declaring independence from Great Britain. During the Revolution Congress served as the organ of government for the new United States, but dissatisfaction with their performance led to the Philadelphia Convention of 1787 and the redesign of Congress as a bicameral legislature. Looking at the Revolutionary Congresses, the Articles Congress, the Convention’s reconfiguration, and the First Congress under the new Constitution, we will explore the origins of America’s “republican branch.”

Historic Site: James Madison’s Montpelier
Hotel: Constitutional Village at Montpelier

Gather with a small group of teachers from around the country for three days immersed in discussion and exploration of a single topic in American history. Multi-Day Seminars are a free opportunity for teachers hosted near an important historical site. Teachers will prepare ahead of time for seminars by reading selected historical documents in the provided course packet. Once the seminar begins, the discussion leader guides a peer-to-peer, text-based conversation among all participants. Meals, materials, single-occupancy rooms, and historical site visits are 100% covered by Teaching American History. At the end of each course, every teacher receives a letter of participation for fifteen contact hours of continuing education and a stipend of $600 to help defray travel costs.

607: America During the Cold War
2026-06-08 18:15 - 2026-06-18 21:30 (America/Halifax) | Online
HIST 607 O3A / POLSC 607 O3A: America During the Cold War
The simmering conflict between the United States and the Soviet Union from 1945 to 1989 was the defining phenomenon of the age, affecting not only the country’s foreign policy but its politics, society, economy, and culture as well. In this course students will examine the most important events, ideas, and personalities of the forty-four years from the end of World War II to the end of the Reagan administration.
Schedule: Monday through Thursday, 6:15-9:30 p.m. ET
Course Materials: Syllabus and Course Pack

501: The American Revolution
2026-06-08 18:15 - 2026-07-02 21:30 (America/Halifax) | Online
HIST 501 O2B / POLSC 501 O2B: The American Revolution
This course focuses on three topics: political developments in North America and the British empire and the arguments for and against independence, culminating in the Declaration of Independence; the Revolutionary War as a military, social and cultural event in the development of the American nation and state; and the United States under the Articles of Confederation.
Schedule: Mondays & Wednesdays, 6:15-9:30 p.m. ET
Course Materials: Syllabus and Course Pack

644: The Congress
2026-06-08 18:15 - 2026-07-02 21:30 (America/Halifax) | Online
HIST 644 O2A / POLSC 644 O2A: The Congress
This course focuses on the legislative branch of the US government. It examines topics such as the constitutional powers of Congress, the relations between Congress and the other branches of the federal government and the states, and the changing structure and internal politics of Congress.
Schedule: Tuesdays & Thursdays, 6:15-9:30 p.m. ET
Course Materials: Syllabus and Course Pack

"Sprightly" Sentiments: Female Satirists of the 19th Century
2026-06-09 08:30 - 14:15 (America/New_York) | Indianapolis, IN, IN, 46202, United States
This one-day seminar explores how 19th-century women utilized wit and satire to navigate three pivotal eras of American history: the challenges of frontier life and Western settlement, the political upheavals of the Civil War, and the social reforms of the Progressive Era.Participants will analyze how humorists like Marietta Holley and Mary Abigail Dodge used “sprightly” prose and rural dialects to challenge gender norms and comment on national crises. Through a survey of these three distinct periods, the seminar examines how women transformed satire into a powerful tool for political expression and social change.
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
2026-06-11 08:30 - 14:15 (America/New_York) | Pittsburg, TX, Pittsburg, TX, 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 questions. Teachers will receive a Letter of Attendance at the conclusion of the seminar.

American Revolution & the Northwest Territory
2026-06-11 09:30 - 15:15 (America/New_York) | Perrysburg, OH, Perrysburg, OH, United States
This seminar will discuss readings that address such issues as political developments in North America and the British empire and the arguments for and against independence, culminating in the Declaration of Independence; the Revolutionary War as a military, social and cultural event in the development of the American nation and state; and the United States under the Articles of Confederation.
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.

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

624: The American Western
2026-06-21 - 2026-06-26 | Ashland, OH, 340 Samaritan Ave, Ashland, OH, 44805, United States
HIST 624 1A / POLSC 624 1A: The American Western
This course is an intensive study of several classic American Westerns, in both print and film. The American Western reflects something fundamental about both the American mind and the American regime. The Western’s emphasis on courage and self-reliance, for example, arises from that same American character that forms the basis of self-government. The American Western also raises important questions central to American political life, among which are the meaning of justice, equality, and liberty. This course will also address the question of how American politics both influences and is influenced by literature in the Western genre.
Materials: Syllabus Course Pack
