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Eric and Rob sit down with Dr. Denver Brunsman to discuss teaching the American Revolution. Denver is the History Department Chair at George Washington University and he has published and edited numerous books on the time period including the award winning, The Evil Necessity: British Naval Impressment in the 18th-Century Atlantic World. Denver begins by urging teachers to challenge the notion that the American Revolution was inevitable. He notes that at the beginning of the imperial crisis, American colonists primarily identified themselves as British subjects. While earlier events in colonial history provide a backdrop to this conflict, he suggests that teachers begin the story of the American Revolution with the end of the Seven Years War and study the conflict through three distinct crises caused by the Stamp Act, the Townshend Acts, and the Tea Act. He also explains that while taxation was important, the concept of sovereignty and the colonists' notion that they were preserving the British tradition of liberty against tyranny and power was central to the crisis. He argues that the decision to separate from England was contingent on many different factors and that the armed conflict that began in 1775 was a breaking point, convincing many Americans that the king no longer protected their liberty. The conflict also shaped the development of an American identity that became distinct from their previous identification as British subjects.

Lesson Plans and resources:

Was the American Revolution Inevitable lesson can be downloaded at https://bit.ly/4kBaJyO

The Knowles Press Gang Riot lesson and the Revolutionary Debate lesson can be downloaded at https://bit.ly/4aU0EJW

Credits

Opening theme music, “Bossa Bossa,” created by Clare Howard www.clarehoward.com Music supported by the National Council for History Education www.ncheteach.org

Transition theme music, “The Clock is Ticking,” created by Emily Hahn.

Logo artwork created by Jessica Goldman.

Shit I Have to Teach in 20 Minutes is produced by Eric Hahn and Rob Good. Audio and video editing by Sebastian Rosales.

Email us at historyintwenty@gmail.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@historyintwenty

Instagram:historyintwenty

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Dr. Michael Childers joins Eric and Rob to discuss how teachers can better incorporate environmental history in their courses. Mike is an Associate Professor of history at Colorado State University and he is the co-editor of the University of Nebraska series Environment and Region in the American West and he is also the Associate Editor of the Western Historical Quarterly. He explains that environmental history is a broad topic that can be applied to almost any historical context. A binding concept for all environmental historians is the idea that nature has a dynamic history that is intertwined with human history, and nature plays an active role in shaping events. A second core concept is that ideas about nature have shaped history and, by consequence, nature itself. He provides several suggestions of topics that teachers can use to demonstrate the importance of the environment in history. He ends by stressing that environmental history should be viewed as equally important as race, class, and gender as a category of historical analysis.

Lesson Plans and resources:https://bit.ly/4rvPscd

The Environment in Colonial New England lesson can be downloaded at https://bit.ly/4rvPscd

Three Lessons on the Environment in World History can be downloaded at https://bit.ly/49ReOv5

Credits

Opening theme music, “Bossa Bossa,” created by Clare Howard www.clarehoward.com Music supported by the National Council for History Education www.ncheteach.org

Transition theme music, “The Clock is Ticking,” created by Emily Hahn.

Logo artwork created by Jessica Goldman.

Shit I Have to Teach in 20 Minutes is produced by Eric Hahn and Rob Good. Audio and video editing by Sebastian Rosales.

Email us at historyintwenty@gmail.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@historyintwenty

Instagram:historyintwenty

Send us a text

Eric and Rob visit with Dr. Steven Hirsch to discuss how to teach about Latin American revolutions in the 20th century. Steve is a Professor of Practice and Global Studies at Washington University in St. Louis. Steve begins by explaining that revolutionary movements reveal that Latin American nations consistently sought to overcome the negative legacy of colonialism on their societies. He also connects Latin American revolutions to a larger, anti-colonial movement across the globe and argues that these revolutions were important in the cross-fertilization of ideas that emerged throughout the 20th century. This global context helps students challenge the stereotype that Latin American countries are uniquely violent. He urges teachers to also examine the regional influence of these revolutions, for instance showing how the Mexican Revolution in the early 20th century inspired subsequent movements throughout Central and South America. While many of the revolutions in the 20th century seized state power in an effort to transform the society, economy, and culture of the nation, others such as the Zapata revolution in Mexico were informed by anarchism and sought to establish autonomy within local communities. He concludes by explaining that revolutions first institutionalize their revolutionary program and then consolidate it by persuading the population to support their ideals. However, revolutions often promote counter-revolutions which continue to shape politics throughout the region.

Lesson Plans and resources:

The Nicaraguan Revolution lesson can be downloaded at https://bit.ly/4a7dswf

The Exporting Revolution? Cuba, Latin America, and the World lesson can be downloaded at https://bit.ly/4q2Tdos

A list of resources for further reading compiled by Dr. Hirsch can be downloaded at https://bit.ly/4bGAlrC

Credits

Opening theme music, “Bossa Bossa,” created by Clare Howard www.clarehoward.com Music supported by the National Council for History Education www.ncheteach.org

Transition theme music, “The Clock is Ticking,” created by Emily Hahn.

Logo artwork created by Jessica Goldman.

Shit I Have to Teach in 20 Minutes is produced by Eric Hahn and Rob Good. Audio and video editing by Sebastian Rosales.

Email us at historyintwenty@gmail.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@historyintwenty

Instagram:historyintwenty