Your learning journey
About this course
The Horizon of Independence: Teaching the American Revolution at 250 explores the diverse social, political, and cultural forces that forged a new nation. Moving beyond a simple narrative, this course examines the American Revolution as a complex historical process that began long before the first shots were fired. Participants will trace the American journey from the 1607 establishment of Jamestown through the pivotal events of 1776, investigating how shifting identities and evolving relationships with Britain influenced a wide range of historical actors.
Three inquiry-driven modules feature exclusive interviews with leading historians to provide expert depth. Dr. Kathleen DuVal helps participants navigate the intricate international landscape of early America, while Dr. Alan Taylor analyzes the imperial reforms and escalating tensions that led to a reluctant movement toward independence. Finally, Dr. Hasan Jeffries examines the Declaration of Independence as a “living document,” exploring its Enlightenment roots and its enduring promise for the world today.
Designed for the modern educator, the final unit provides practical strategies for culturally responsive teaching and “Teaching Hard History”. Teachers will master effective methods for scaffolding complex primary sources and leading inquiry-based lessons that translate academic scholarship into meaningful classroom experiences. This course empowers educators to help students navigate the nuances of the nation’s origins and engage with the enduring legacy of the Revolutionary era.
This course is available at no cost to educators through the We the Teachers initiative, made possible by a U.S. Department of Education grant.
Details
Includes
Shareable PD Certificate
Aligned With
Assessment Types
Accessibility
Along the way
Master Core Concepts
- Explain what life was like in early America for multiple groups of people.
- Analyze the significance of events, legislation, and systems that led to the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
- Evaluate the significance of the Declaration of Independence in 1776 and how it has evolved over time.
Develop Skills
- Formulate a framework for teaching the early American Revolution in your classroom.
- Identify how social studies standards are created and taught in the United States and evaluate how that applies to your teaching of this time period.
Apply Your Skills in Context
- Interpret primary sources and appraise their applicability for your students.
- Explain ways to scaffold primary sources for students in need of more support or students in need of more of a challenge.
Demonstrate Your Learning
- Complete assessments that demonstrate your new capabilities and document your progress.
- Practice primary source interpretation and share with your peers.
Skills you’ll gain
Strategies you’ll encounter
Huzzah!
Ready to transform your teaching of early America & the build up to the American Revolution?
Modules
Welcome to The Horizon of Independence, in this module you’ll meet your instructor and preview the social, political, and cultural forces that shaped the American Revolution. This introduction provides a roadmap for the course, preparing you to examine history as a complex process and investigate the enduring influence of the Declaration of Independence. You will discover the key takeaways of this journey and how they will deepen your understanding of the diverse voices that defined early America.
Step back into the intricate world of early America to explore how diverse identities and global forces shaped life long before the Revolution. Through interviews and primary sources, you will discover how geography and evolving relationships with Britain forged the unique beliefs and behaviors of various groups across the colonies.
Tensions escalate between the colonies and the Crown as imperial reforms and flashpoint events like the Boston Tea Party push America toward a reluctant break. This module examines the complex interplay of resistance and loyalty, while also confronting the profound contradiction between the fight for liberty and the continued endorsement of slavery.
Dive into the high-stakes drafting of the Declaration of Independence and explore how Enlightenment ideals were used to justify the birth of a new nation. You will investigate the Declaration as a “living document,” examining its immediate promises in 1776 and its enduring influence on the world today.
Translate historical insights into impactful teaching strategies by exploring culturally responsive practices and methods for “Teaching Hard History”. This module empowers you to use primary source inquiry to drive historical thinking and lead meaningful conversations about the Revolution in any classroom context.
Course resources
1607-1776
The course helps educators think about how to teach the Revolution during the American Semiquincentennial by connecting a study of life in early America and founding-era events to ongoing conversations about citizenship, democracy, rights, and civic participation.
The course features conversations with historians including Kathleen DuVal, Alan Taylor, and Hasan Kwame Jeffries.
We ensure all our courses meet the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). This includes:
- Behind the scenes: semantic HTML, full keyboard (tab) navigation, and screen-reader compatibility.
- In the user experience: transcripts for non-text content, ALT text for images, and clear, comprehensible site navigation.
If you have concerns or suggestions for how we can improve our accessibility features, we’d love to hear from you. Please email us at lilypd@wm.edu with the subject line “Accessibility.”
Discover more courses
Continue your professional development journey with these related courses.
Historical Inquiry in the Classroom
This course provides social studies educators with the practical tools and structures needed to shift from delivering a set of information to facilitating deep, student-led investigation. You will walk away with a comprehensive plan and ready-to-use resources that make meaningful research a daily reality in your classroom, ensuring every student has the skills to analyze information and thoughtfully develop their own conclusions.
Civil Discourse in the Classroom
Transform your classroom into a microcosm of democracy with this course which positions civil discourse as a foundational teaching tool, proven to enhance content knowledge and literacy skills for all students. You will develop a diverse toolkit of strategies to guide students through complex conversations with academic rigor and emotional safety. In the processes, you will equip them with lifelong skills: the ability to listen deeply, reason together, and disagree constructively and respectfully.
Artifact Analysis
Transform your classroom into a site of active, inquiry-driven discovery with this course on artifact analysis. Use artifacts as dynamic evidence that empowers students to question, interpret, and debate history. Through a focus on culturally responsive teaching and practical sourcing—including museum digital collections and 3D printing—you will gain the tools to make history feel tangible and engaging for every learner.
Nonfiction Reading Strategies
Pull back the curtain on the reading process by equipping your students with a permanent toolbox of practical strategies to navigate any text with purpose, confidence, and clarity. By turning invisible mental work into visible, repeatable routines, you will empower your students to move beyond literal retelling and start making real meaning from everything they read.
Podcasting for Educators
You don’t need to be a technical wizard to run excellent podcast projects with your students. This course covers the basics — from using podcasts to deepen learning, to guiding students through creating their own — enhancing engagement, deepening learning, and developing your students’ listening skills along the way.
