The American Revolution

3 credits · Undergraduate

This course examines the American Revolution and the larger revolutionary era in the Atlantic World. It situates this critically important event in American history within the broader context of the Atlantic World. We will explore the origins of the Revolution and discuss its immediate impact on the British Empire and the colonies which became the new United States. We will examine the military conflict that led to American independence as well as the major ideological and social shifts that were part of the Revolution. We will try to determine the motivations of the various colonies in joining the Revolution and we will ask why some colonies in the British Empire chose not to revolt. We will conclude with the creation of the Constitution. We will explore the meaning of the revolution and American independence for various groups of people in the colonies, including colonial elites, women, Native Americans and African- Americans. We will also examine the Loyalists and the Loyalist diaspora. Throughout the course we will try to determine how revolutionary or radical this event was. FORMATS: Seminar