The American Revolution

foreign languages
general courses

This course will look at the American Revolution, not only in terms of the event itself, but come to understand the causes that led up to it, as well as what it produced (a new Nation). We will examine both the internal and external factors which made the Revolution possible. American, British and other written sources of late 18th century will provide the basic materials for the course.

The course will focus on the crucial elements of the process of American Revolution and War of Independence between 1763 and 1783. The basis for discussion are the American and British diplomatic and state papers, Congressional and Parliamentary documents, international treaties and agreement, newspaper articles, letters, political writings, and memoirs of the participants and witnesses of the Revolution. The process of forming a separate American identity in the thirteen colonies will be discussed as well as the internal and external factors making the majority of white and free colonial population to accept that identity. Then, the outbreak of the armed conflict in 1775 and the phases of it will be analyzed against the background of internal and international situation of the British Empire. The war itself will be seen both as an internal affair of that Empire and as the global conflict - almost a world war since the entry of France to it. Factors that made possible the final American success will be studied next. The same will be done with the process of building the new republican nation out of a group of rebel colonies as well as the failure of attempts to add Canada to their number. And finally the new international situation resulting for both America and Europe from the success of the United States and its allies in forcing Britain to recognize the new nation will be discussed and analyzed.

- Ernest R. Dupuy, Gay Hammerman, Grace P. Hayes "The American Revolution. A Global War" New York, 1977.

- James E. Ferguson "The American Revolution. A General History 1763-1790" Homewood, Illinois 1974

- J.P. Greene, J.R. Poole (ed.) "The Blackwell Encyclopedia of the American Revolution" Cambridge, Mass, 1991.

- Mark E. Boatner III "Encyclopedia of the American Revolution" New York, 1976.

- John Mack Faragher "The Encyclopedia of Colonial and Revolutionary America" New York, 1990.

Primary Sources:

- "The Annals of America" Chicago 1976, t.2

- Henry S. Commager (ed.) "Documents of American History" 9th ed., Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, 1973, t.1-2

- Catherine S. Crary (ed.) "The Price of Loyalty. Tory Writings from the Revolutionary Era" New York, 1973.

- Henry S. Commager and Richard B. Morris (ed.) "The Spirit of 'Seventy-Six. The Story of the American Revolution as Told by Participants ed. by Henry Steele Commager and Richard B. Morris, New York, 1958 (further- Spirit)

Topics:

1 class:

Introduction to the course. The primary and secondary sources. The ways of using them properly.

2 class:

The roots of conflict, 1763-1770.

3 class:

From the Boston Tea Party to boycott of British goods

4 class:

The First Continental Congress – Road to confrontation

5 class:

The start of war – 1775.

6 class:

The Independence – polemics and final decision of 1776.

7- 8 classes:

The War and the problems.

9 class:

Liberty, slavery and the "national spirit”.

10 class:

France – the first ally.

11 class:

Alliances and the war, 1778-1781.

12 class:

Naval operations – a world war.

13 class:

Loyalists – traitors or "other" Americans?

14 - 15 classes:

Victory – the New Nation in the New World.

1.KNOWLEDGE

Upon completing this course student:

• Understands the concept of political revolution in the English speaking world

• Knows the history of radical political thought in Colonial America

• Has in-depth knowledge of place and role of the American Revolution and the U.S. War of Independence for world history from the end of XVIII century to the contemporary period

2. SKILLS

Upon completing this course student:

• Is able to explain the character of historical events being discussed

basing on the sources used

• Formulates his or her own judgments concerning the American Revolution

• Compares and justifies statements regarding the character of the

American Revolution

3. COMPETENCES

Upon completing this course student:

• Is aware of the role of the American Revolution and disputes about it for a citizen of contemporary United States

• Is aware of importance and role of the American Revolution understanding

of phenomena of contemporary political life in the USA

• Is able to cooperate in a group and participate in academic

discussion

Active participation in the classes (60%); at least one presentation on the subject connected with the topic discussed - or a paper on it (20%); a 5-page end of semester essay on a subject accpeted by teacher (20%); Presence at most of the classes