Ashbrook Founding Institute at Philadelphia
The American Revolution
Sunday, June 17, 2012 to Friday, June 22, 2012
Instructors: Robert McDonald and Scott Yenor
Course Description:
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.
Course Objectives:
1. Students will understand the history of the American Revolution, its causes, effects,
and its basic storyline. They will also learn key ideas of the American Revolution and the
philosophic and political logic connecting these ideas in the "American Mind" of the
Revolutionary period.
2. Students will understand how the logic of these ideas was related in the minds of the
American revolutionaries to the foundations, forms, and purposes of government and
American government, in particular.
3. Students will understand the sense of crisis—from multiple perspectives—that
dominated the 1780s as well as what "defects" or "vices" many discerned in the
foundations and forms of both the Articles of Confederation and the state constitutions
created in the course of the Revolution.
4. Students will understand the processes by which the colonists came to think of
themselves as Americans, as people connected to but ultimately distinct from the English.
5. Students will understand the various reasons why colonists did or did not decide to
become revolutionaries.
6. Students will understand the effect of the Revolutionary War on the self-understanding
of the American people.
7. Students will understand the terms of the Revolutionary War settlement and its
consequences for American politics, foreign and domestic.
Course Requirements:
• A final essay examination
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Required Texts:
• Gordon Wood, The American Revolution ISBN: 978-0812970418
. Richard Brown (ed.), Major Problems in the Era of the American Revolution, 17601791 ISBN: 978-0395903440
. David Ramsay, The History of the American Revolution (in 2 volumes)
ISBN: 978-0865970816
.Course Packet (CP) of other readings as noted below.
“REVISED”
(Effective 5/17/12)
Schedule
Sunday, June 17
4:30 pm – 6:00 pm: Session 1 & Introduction (Robert McDonald & Scott Yenor)
Topic: The American Revolution
Focus: What was the American Revolution? Was it primarily a political,
constitutional, or social movement? Was the revolution an effort to preserve rights that
British Americans already possessed, or to secure new rights? What did Adams mean
when he said that the Revolution occurred in the minds and hearts of Americans and that
there was "a change in their religious sentiments of their duties and obligations"?
Readings:
• Wood, American Revolution, pp. 113-135
• John Adams to H. Niles, February 13, 1818 (CP pg. 3)
• Washington Irving, Rip Van Winkle, 1819 (CP pg. 9)
• Thomas Jefferson, Letter to Henry Lee, May 8, 1825 (CP pg. 21)
• Thomas Jefferson, Letter to Roger Weightman, June 24, 1826 (CP pg. 22)
Optional Readings
Ramsay, History of the American Revolution, Chapter 1.
6:10 pm:
Meet in hotel lobby to walk to dinner
6:15 pm – 7:30 pm: Dinner at City Tavern
7:45 pm – 9:15 pm: Session 2 Professor Lloyd
Institute Lecture: ―Historic Philadelphia‖ – Attendance Required
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Monday, June 18
9:00 am – 10:30 am: Session 3 (Professor McDonald)
Topic: Becoming an American: The Colonial Experience
Focus: In what ways were the motivations for and patterns of settlement different in the
various colonies of British America? What united the colonies and what divided them?
To what extent were the colonies internally united?
Readings:
• Wood, American Revolution, pp. 3-24
• Richard Frethorne, Letter from an Indentured Servant to his Parents, 1623 (CP pg. 24)
• John Winthrop, "On Liberty," 1645 (CP pg. 27)
• Connecticut Code of Laws, 1650 (CP pg. 30)
• Benjamin Franklin, "The Way to Wealth," 1757 (CP pg. 38)
• Benjamin Franklin, "Information to those who would Remove to America,"
November 1782 (CP pg. 46)
Optional Readings
Ramsay, History of the American Revolution, Chapter 1
10:45 am – 12:15 pm: Session 4 (Professor McDonald)
Topic: Becoming a Revolutionary: The Imperial Crisis
Focus: How did the French and Indian War first unite Americans as British subjects?
How did it cause them to question their relationship with the British government? How
did Americans justify their critique of British policies? How did the British justify their
policies?
Readings:
• Wood, American Revolution, pp. 27-44
• Albany Plan of Union, 1754 (CP pg. 54)
• Resolutions of the Stamp Act Congress, October 1765 (CP pg. 58)
• Sam Adams, Rights of the Colonists, 1769, 1772 (CP pg. 60)
• Coercive Acts, 1774 (CP pg. 64)
• Thomas Jefferson, Summary View of the Rights of British America, 1774 (CP pg. 85)
• Patrick Henry, "Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death," 1775 (CP pg. 99)
Optional Readings
Ramsay, History of the American Revolution, Chapter 2.
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1:45 pm – 3:15 pm: Session 5 (Professor Yenor)
Topic: The Coming of the Revolution in Two Stages: Stage One, 1763-1770
Focus: What events—in the colonies and in Great Britain—in the aftermath of the Great
War for Empire led to tensions between the two? Why did British policy toward the
colonies change? What issues were raised in the debate over the Stamp Act? Did either
side set out to make a Revolution in 1765? After a pause, how did tensions between the
colonies and Great Britain explode again with the Townshend Duties of 1767? How did
the colonists respond this time? What were the significant achievements of nonimportation? How was colonial thinking about imperial matters shifting during this
second stage of the coming of the Revolution? How was the conflict before the
Townsend Act different from the conflict after the Townsend Act? How was it similar?
Readings:
• Major Problems, Chapter 4 ―British Reforms and Colonial Resistance,‖ documents only
(pp. 99-112)
• Major Problems, Chapter 4 documents (continued), (pp. 113-118)
. Pauline Maier, ―The Townshend Acts and the Consolidation of Colonial Resistance,‖ in
Major Problems, (pp. 128-136)
. T.H. Breen, ―Boycotts Made the Revolution Radical,‖ in Major Problems, (pp. 13-25)
Optional Readings
Ramsay, History of the American Revolution, Chapter 2.
Tuesday, June 19
9:00 am – 10:30 am: Session 6 (Professor Yenor)
Topic: The Coming of the Revolution in Two Stages: Stage Two, 1773-1776
Focus: How did the Tea Act touch off the third stage of conflict? What was the impact of
ideas as expressed by Paine, Jefferson and others? What was the interplay between events
and ideas? How does the third stage demonstrate that hard-liners in both Great Britain
and the colonies had come to dominate policy decisions? Were the American colonists
reluctant revolutionaries?
Readings:
• Wood, American Revolution, pp. 47-62
. Major Problems, Chapter Five, ―The Imperial Crisis: From the Tea Act to the
Declaration of Independence,‖ documents only (pp. 140-172)
Optional Readings
Ramsay, History of the American Revolution, Chapters 3-4.
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10:45 am – 12:15 pm: Session 7 (Professor McDonald)
Topic: Declaring Independence
Focus: How did Americans, once loyal subjects of the crown, manage to unite in
declaring their independence? Was the Declaration of Independence a statement of bold
new philosophies or was it a document deeply rooted in time-worn principles? Were
America's people really as united as the Declaration suggested?
Readings:
• Wood, American Revolution, pp. 47-62
• Jefferson and Dickinson, Declaration of the Causes and Necessity of Taking Up Arms,
1775 (CP pg. 103)
• Thomas Paine, Common Sense, February 1776 (CP pg. 109)
• Charles Inglis, The True Interest of America Impartially Stated, 1776 (CP pg. 153)
• Richard Henry Lee, Resolves for Independence, June 1776 (CP pg. 158)
• Declaration of Independence, July 1776 (CP pg. 159)
• Jefferson, Notes on Debates in Congress, July 1776 (CP pg. 164)
1:45 pm – 3:45 pm: Session 8 Guest Instructor: Professor Burkett
Topic: ―Historic Philadelphia‖ Q & A
5:00 pm – 6:30 pm: Session 9 (Professors McDonald and Yenor)
Seminar Questions
Wednesday, June 20
9:00 am – 10:30 am: Session 10 (Professor McDonald)
Topic: Republican Leadership
Focus: How does Munford portray the candidates? How does he portray the
relationship between the candidates and the voters? Is deference an important part of this
relationship? In his letter to Niles, John Adams spoke of "radical change in the principles,
opinions, sentiments and affections of the people." How should we understand that
change? What brought it about?
Readings:
• Wood, American Revolution, pp. 91-95.
• Thomas Paine, Common Sense, February 1776 (CP pg. 171)
• John Dickinson to Arthur Lee, April 29, 1775 (CP pg. 215)
• John Adams to Abigail Adams, July 3, 1776 (CP pg. 218)
• Benjamin Franklin to Lord Howe, July 20, 1776 (CP pg. 220)
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• In class, view: Curb Your Enthusiasm: "Anonymous"
10:45 am – 12:15 pm: Session 11 (Professor Yenor)
Topic: The Early War: From Concord to Valley Forge
Seminar Questions: What was the British view of the American Revolution? What did
the British think would solve the American problem? What did they get right? What did
they get wrong? How did the Americans view the British Empire? What did they get
wrong what did they get right? How did each side use military strategies to match their
visions of what their opponents stood for? How did reality force them to re-calibrate
their views?
Readings:
• Ramsay, History of the American Revolution, Chapters 12 and 14
• In class, view ―The shot Heard Round the World‖ from Schoolhouse Rock.
1:45 pm – 3:45 pm: Session 12 Professor Burkett
Topic: ―Historic Philadelphia‖ Q & A
5:00 pm – 6:30 pm: Session 13 (Professors McDonald and Yenor)
Seminar Questions
Thursday, June 21
9:00 am – 10:30 pm: Session 14 (Professor McDonald)
Topic: The World Turned Upside Down
Focus: How did Americans defeat the British to win the War for Independence? What
were Britain's advantages and disadvantages? What were America's? To what extent was
each side helped and hampered by its principles?
Readings:
• Wood, American Revolution, pp. 74-88
• Thomas Paine, The American Crisis, December 1776 (CP pg. 224)
• John Adams, Letter to Abigail Adams, September 1777 (CP pg. 231)
• Baroness von Riedesel, The Defeat of Burgoyne at Saratoga, October 1777 (CP pg.233)
• The French Alliance, February 1778 (CP pg. 236)
• Benedict Arnold, Letter to the Inhabitants of America, October 1780 (CP pg. 240)
• Nathanael Greene, Letter to Catherine Greene, January 1781 (CP pg. 243)
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• Royal Gazette, "Our Last Will and Testament," January 1781(CP pg. 245)
• Nathanael Greene, Letter to George Washington, March 1781(CP pg. 247)
• Washington to Lewis Nicola, May 1782 (CP pg. 249)
• Gouverneur Morris, Letter to John Jay, January 1783 (CP pg. 250)
• Washington, "Speech to the Officers of the Army at Newburgh," March
1783 (CP pg. 252)
Optional Readings
Ramsay, History of the American Revolution, Chapter 13.
10:45 am – 12:15 pm: Session 15 (Professor McDonald)
Topic: Republican Experiments
Focus: How did revolutionary ideology and the experience of the imperial crisis help to
shape the Articles of Confederation and state constitutions? To what extent did
Americans universalize their principles to include women and African Americans? How
did the new republic deal with issues relating to westward expansion?
Readings:
• Wood, American Revolution, pp. 65-74
• Abigail Adams, Letter to John Adams, March 1776 (CP pg. 257)
• Pennsylvania Constitution, September 1776 (CP pg. 260)
• Articles of Confederation, November 1777 (CP pg. 268)
• Massachusetts Constitution, March 1780 (CP pg. 276)
• Jefferson, Notes on the State of Virginia: Manners, 1781 (CP pg. 304)
• Jefferson and Madison, Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, January
1786 (CP pg. 306)
• Northwest Ordinance, July 1787 (CP pg. 308)
Optional Readings
Ramsay, History of the American Revolution, Appendix No. II. ―Of Continental
Currency‖
1:45 pm – 3:15 pm: Session 16 (Professor Yenor)
Topic: Crisis, Constitution, and Ratification: Politics in the 1780s
Focus: How did the crisis of the 1780s look from various viewpoints? Were debtors and
taxpayers treated too leniently, or too harshly? How did the economic crisis lead to the
political crisis that produced the Constitution? How and why was the Constitution
ratified? And what kind of government did it provide for the young nation?
Readings:
• Wood, American Revolution, 139-166
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. Major Problems, documents only (pp. 355-363; 390-402)
.George Mason’s Objections to the Constitution, October 1787 (CP pg. 316)
.Centinel I, October 5, 1787 (CP pg. 319)
.Federal Farmer I, October 8, 1787 (CP pg. 328)
.Brutus I, October 18, 1787 (CP pg. 336)
.Benjamin Rush, Address to the People of the United States, January 1787 (CP pg. 346)
.James Wilson, Substance of an Address, October 6, 1787 (CP pg. 351)
.A Landholder I, November 5, 1787 (CP pg. 354)
.John Jay, A Citizen of New York, Spring 1788 (CP pg. 357)
Optional Readings
Ramsay, History of the American Revolution, Chapter 22 and 26.
Friday, July 22
9:00 am – 10:30 pm: Session 17 (Professor Yenor)
Topic: Consequences and Legacies: How Radical a Revolution?
Focus: How radical was the Revolution? How does the definition of that term make a
difference in the answer? What changed, what did not, and what was weakened or altered
as a result of this movement? On balance, how should we think about the consequences
and legacies of the Revolution?
Readings:
. Wood, American Revolution, pp. xxiii-xxv
. Major Problems, Chapters 7, 8, and 9, documents only (pp. 225-237; pp. 257-262; pp.
288-295)
. Alfred F. Young, ―The Revolution Was Radical in Some Ways, Not in Others,‖ in
Major Problems, (pp. 494-512)
. Wood, ―The Revolution Destroyed Monarchy and Paved the Way for Democracy,‖ in
Major Problems, (pp. 8-13)
Optional Readings
Ramsay, History of the American Revolution, Chapter 27
11:00 am – 12:30 pm: Session 18 (Professors McDonald & Yenor)
Review and Final Questions
1:00 pm – 3:00 pm: Session 19
Comprehensive in-class examination
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