The American Revolution and Its Legacy: From British to American
Nationalism  Sophomore and above—Year  It may be comforting to
know that historians agree that an American Revolution did
indeed occur. Less comforting but more intriguing may be the
realization that historians do not agree on when it commenced
and when it ended, much less on the full meaning of what exactly
took place beyond the mere facts of the Revolution. Certainly,
the question was profound enough to move John Adams to ask,
“What do we mean by the Revolution?” In the fall, we will
examine the causes and character of the Revolution by studying
the political, intellectual, social, and cultural dimensions of
this event. In the spring, we will look at how Americans adapted
the legacy of the Revolution to the social and political changes
of the 19th century and at how that legacy at once divided and
unified Americans in this period. How were both opponents and
defenders of slavery able to appeal to the Revolution to
legitimize their views? What