Schedule (subject to change) as of 7/17/15
The Chi Psi Educational Trust, Inc. “History Scholars” Program
Williamsburg 2016: Revolutionary Brotherhood
Founders
DAY 1: WEDNESDAY
Educational objectives:
 Convey the key events and themes of colonial history beginning with Jamestown in 1607.
 Introduce The Great Debate and the value tension framework as an effective way of
looking at events and issues in American history.
 Examine styles of leadership and brotherhood practiced by select Founders in the period
of the American Revolution, with a focus on their experiences in Williamsburg.
AGENDA:
Trustees/Alumni/Guests join the History Scholars in Large Group Session OR Small
Group Breakouts
8:30 am
Depart for Jamestown Island
8:50 am
Overview of Seventeenth-Century Virginia
Colonial Parkway
In 1606, King James I signed the charter for the Virginia Company to establish a
colony in the new world. Investigate why Jamestown was chosen as the site for
the first permanent English colony in the new world, and how this colony fit into
a wider effort by Europeans to create colonies around the globe.
9:00 am
Government & the Rule of Law
Jamestown Memorial Church
Discover how the structure of Virginia’s government in the seventeenth century
sowed the seeds of the American Revolution.
9:30 am
Historic Jamestowne Archaeology
Archaeological Site
Since the beginning of the Jamestown Rediscovery project in 1994, over one
million artifacts have been uncovered at the site of the first permanent English
settlement in the New World. Meet archeologists working at the site and discuss
what new and exciting finds they are currently unearthing at Jamestown.
10:00 am
Explore Jamestown Island and the Archaearium
10:45 am
Coming to America (Indentured Servants)
NPS Visitor Center
Many of the first Jamestown settlers came as indentured servants. Explore what
caused people to leave their predictable lives in England for uncertainty at
Jamestown. Recreate what it was like to negotiate a contract to become an
indentured servant, and explore the variety of treatment indentured servants
experienced.
11:30 am
Return to Colonial Williamsburg
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Schedule (subject to change) as of 7/17/15
12:00 pm
Lunch
1:00 pm
The Great Debate
Our founding documents reflect a set of core democratic values shared by all
Americans. Every generation has to figure out how to balance the tension between
these values. Discuss how these values help create the idea of America and how
this great debate continues even today.
2:00 pm
Founding Brothers
Divide into groups to examine and discuss primary source materials related to
Founders who walked the streets of Williamsburg. Make connections to value
tensions and big questions of Revolution. This activity will contribute to a deeper
understanding of the events portrayed throughout Williamsburg’s Revolutionary
City.
Trustees/Alumni/Guests are invited to the History Scholars in Large Group Session
3:00 pm
Audience with a Founding Father
Participate in an Audience with a Founding Father (or two), with the opportunity
to hear a short dialogue and participate in a question/answer session. Depending
on availability in August 2016, Mr. Jefferson and Mr. Henry are preferred.
4:00 pm
Follow-up session for history scholars.
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Schedule (subject to change) as of 7/17/15
Nation Builders
DAY 2: FRIDAY
Educational objectives:
 Appreciate the importance and participation of ordinary people in the controversies and
conflicts of the Revolution.
 Practice applying the value tension framework to a variety of Revolutionary-era debates.
AGENDA:
History Scholars Small Group
8:30 am
Loyalist Perspectives
Governor’s Palace
In 1774, Lady Dunmore, the wife of Royal Governor Lord Dunmore,
arrived with her children from London. Talk with Lady Dunmore about
the political and social situation in Williamsburg and her views on the
rising tide of rebellion in the colonies. [We could also see if Reverend
Gwatkin is available – same basic aim of looking at the loyalist point of
view.]
9:30 am
Rights & Controversies Debate: Part 1
John Adams said that 1/3 of people were patriots, 1/3 were loyalists, and
1/3 were undecided. As war broke out in the North, Virginians had to
decide whether or not to declare their independence. Join one of these
three groups, discuss with like-minded individuals your stance on
independence, and prepare for open debate on the floor of the House of
Burgesses.
11:00 am
Storming the Palace – A Revolutionary City Program
Join the citizens of Williamsburg as they demand answers of their royal governor!
Williamsburg has awoken to find that the gunpowder they depend on for the
colonies safety has been removed from the powder magazine by their own royal
governor. Discover what happens when a mob forms to demand the powders
return.
11:30 am
A House Divided
Meet George Wythe a signer of the Declaration of Independence and his enslaved
house keeper Lydia Broadnax. Hear their individual thoughts on the newly
announced Declaration and the war with England. Discuss their hopes for their
own futures as well as the future of the new republic.
1:00 pm
Lunch
3
Schedule (subject to change) as of 7/17/15
Citizens
DAY 3: SATURDAY
Educational objectives:
 Draw conclusions about the relationship between leadership and brotherhood, not only of
self-selected groups but also with all citizens.
AGENDA:
History Scholars Small Group Programming
10:00 am
Protesting Government: Committees of Correspondence
Join or Die! On the eve of the American Revolution, thirteen disparate
colonies came together with a common goal: to protect their rights as
freeborn English subjects. Investigate how the Committees of
Correspondence were a first attempt to bring the colonies together, and
how these committees helped unite the colonies into a new country.
11:00 am
Rights & Controversies: Part 2 – A Debate for Independence
On May 15, 1776 a group of men met in the former Hall of the House of
Burgesses to determine the future of Virginia. Should Virginians remain
subjects of the British crown or become citizens of a new nation?
Recreate the debate over independence and see if your decision matches
theirs.
12:30 pm
Lunch
Trustees/Alumni/Guests are invited to the History Scholars in Large Group Session
Concluding Discussion and Graduation:
1:30 pm
Concluding Discussion: The Brotherhood of Man
We started with the notion of a small group of powerful male leaders working
together to lead the founding of a new republic. But the principles of the
Declaration of Independence gradually extended the promise of brotherhood to all
people. Concluding discussion will seek to make connections among the activities
and convey a message of the importance of engaged citizenship.
2:15 pm
“Graduation”
Participants receive some token of accomplishment for completing the program.
We would use social media to have attendees accomplish a simple task that
certifies their accomplishment.
Teaching Material(s) Provided:
America: The Pocket Guide, by Colonial Williamsburg
Handouts as developed
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