The letters and Literature of the American Revolution

The letters and Literature of the American Revolution is a Social Science class taught by Joe Ellis.

Course Description
(First year seminar, writing-intensive course). This seminar will focus on the public documents and private correspondence generated by the political crisis that became the American Revolution. In addition to the pamphlets of the 1760s and 1770s, the Declaration of Independence and the Federalist Papers, we will read in the personal correspondence of John and Abigail Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and Benjamin Franklin, all superb prose stylists as well as prominent revolutionaries. Four short essays, one book review, and a final paper will be required.

Learning Goals

 * Project-based
 * Presenting
 * Reading
 * Writing