Events

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 […]

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. […]

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 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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]