Historical Sources on the New Republic, 1783–1830

The American colonists solidified their independence from England with the conclusion of the Revolutionary War in 1783. However, the new citizens of this new country called the United States of America still had to figure out their own way forward. Students will hear from Founding Fathers including John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and Benjamin Franklin about how the government was formed. Students will also learn about how the United States handled international and domestic affairs, about explorations of new territories, and about the day-to-day lives of early Americans, including Native Americans and enslaved Africans, through letters, speeches, legal documents, slave narratives, newspaper articles, and more. Students will gain a rounded understanding of the foundations of America.