The Enlightenment Revolutions

In this class we will study the American Revolution in its global context. We’ll spend the first 2/3 of the class examining America’s colonial history and the circumstances in Europe that led this breakaway group of feisty upstarts to insist on creating their own country, independent of kings and queens and taxation without representation.

But we’ll also look at those who were wary of this new American project — most notably enslaved Africans and the Native population, who accurately predicted that independence from Britain would hurt their cause more than it would help. How do we reconcile this understanding of our history?

In the last 1/3 of the class we will compare the American Revolution to the French and Haitian Revolutions, which happened at roughly the same time and were also the product of Enlightenment ideals. John Adams, America’s nerdy second president, was horrified by the chaos of the French Revolution, but other Founding Fathers found it inspiring and indeed quite entertaining.

The United States likes to present itself as a unified country with a unified “origin story,” but that’s hardly the case. We’ve been squabbling amongst ourselves for 400 years. This class will help you understand the American Revolution, but it will also give you a much deeper appreciation of the historical roots of modern-day political debates.

Prerequisite: Colonial America

Instructor: Laura Fokkena

DETAILS:

Suggested age range: 13+

Outside work: 2 to 3 hours per week (video + readings)

When & where: Fridays on Zoom from 12:30-1:30 Eastern Time, Feb. 21 - May 16, 2025. No class April 4.

Fee: $250 ungraded/$300 graded; this includes a non-refundable registration fee of $10. We offer discounts for groups, siblings, and students who enroll in multiple classes. (Discount information.) Payment plans available. Fees waived for families with financial need.  (Waivers and payment plan information.) Questions about how classes work? Read our course FAQ.

Photo credit: Laura Fokkena