TEACHING AMERICAN HISTORY GRANT-FREEDOM PROJECT THEMES FOR 2008-2009
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I. EXPLORATION AND COLONIZATION: THREE WORLDS COLLIDE
Exploring the Early Americas
Each year, the Freedom Project will study four eras of American History by focusing on five specific threads: women, Hispanics, and African-Americans; important historical events and key figures; places in the news; the economic impact; and, the Rockford Connection. Each era to be studied will be introduced by means of a symposium featuring outstanding historians and an author whose book will be distributed to participants prior to the event for preparation. Teachers enrolled in the Freedom Project will then create lesson plans based on the content material and will have the opportunity to work with the historian-in-residence, Dr. JD Bowers, to help with primary sources and to fine-tune their lessons for classroom delivery.
The first era to be studied will be "Exploraion and Colonization: Three Worlds Collide," with the kick-off symposium to be conducted at the Newberry Library on Sat., September 13th. Keynote speaker will be Dr. Scott M Stevens from the University of Buffalo, himself a Native-American and someone very familiar with the Newberry Library where he will be in residence beginning January, 2009. Participants in the Freedom Project received copies of Karen Kupperman's "Indians and English: Facing Off in Early America." |
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II. THE COLONIAL ERA AND THE ROAD TO REVOLUTION
America's Library on the Colonial Era
The 2nd Era for 2008-2009 will pertain to the events leading up to the American Revolution, entitled "The Colonial Era and the Road to Revolution." The keynote speaker for the second symposium will be Dr. Jon Butler of Yale University and author of the book "Becoming America: the Revolution Before 1776." Each participant will receive a copy of the book in advance to prepare for the day's sessions. Other speakers will be Philip Morgan of Johns Hopkins University who will discuss the slave issue prior to the revolution and Linda Sturtz of Beloit College who will provide content on property rights and women in the colonial era. The symposium will be held on Sat., November 22nd at NIU Rockford. |
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III. RECONSTRUCTION AND REFORM
An Intro to Reconstruction
The 3rd Era to be studied will be "Reconstruction and Reform." The symposium introducing the era will be held at the NIU Rockford Center on Sat., January 31st and will hopefully feature keynote speaker Ed Ayres, historian and president of the University of Richmond. Also presenting content will be Eric Arnesen of UIC and Steven Hahn of the University of Pennsylvania. The book chosen for recommended reading prior to the symposium will be Eric Foner's "Nothing But Freedom." |
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IV. THE COLD WAR
Cold War Museum
The fourth and final symposium for the 2008-2009 school year will be The Cold War," with keynote speaker Francis Gary Powers, Jr., son of pilot Gary Powers whose U-2 was shot down by the Russians in May of 1960. Also speaking will be Werner Juretzko, Stasi prisoner of seven years (from 1957-1964) who now lives in Chicago and will speak to students as well as teachers the morning of Sat., April 4th. Joining them will be Dr. Rick Fried of UIC who will discuss the US-Soviet Relations during the Cold War, and Sarah Blue of NIU who will provide content on the Cuban element during the Cold War, as well as discussing Cuban-American relations today. |
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