We hope you will join us for our next series which will explore the origins of the American Revolution in honor of the forthcoming 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Lecture topics will look at the intellectual traditions of the 18th century that drove the Revolution, cultural practices in the colonies, Native American history, women in the lead-up to Revolution, and more, concluding with the battles of Lexington and Concord.

The series will take place in McElreath Hall. Doors open at 1:30pm and lectures begin promptly at 2pm with a brief intermission. Parking is free.

The Birth of the Idea of American Liberty: Political Crises in the 1760s and 1770s

In 1763, England pushed aside its European rivals to emerge as the supreme colonial power in North America. Over the next 15 years, however, its ability to govern America eroded amid a series of political controversies. During this critical period, the colonial political culture pivoted towards new understandings of liberty and slavery, setting the stage for the American Revolution. 

Jeffrey Young, Principal Senior Lecturer of History at Georgia State University

Jeffrey Young teaches history at Georgia State University, where he offers classes on early American history and Georgia history. His research has focused on slavery in America and on the intersections between American political culture and American family life. His book, Domesticating Slavery: The Master Class in Georgia and South Carolina, was published by the University of North Carolina Press and his articles have appeared in the Journal of Southern History and the Georgia Historical Quarterly.