Past Institutes

The New Nation: America, 1800–1860 (2024 In-Person Institute)

From June 24–27, 2024, Humanities Texas partnered with the Center for Texas Studies at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth to hold a professional development institute for secondary social studies teachers covering American history from 1800–1860.

Curriculum

Content was aligned with the TEKS. Presentations covered the rise of United States political parties, the election of 1800, Jefferson and westward expansion, the Marshall Court, the War of 1812, foreign policy in the new nation, the market revolution and industrialization, the age of Jackson, the expansion of slavery in the early nineteenth century, Native Americans in the Early Republic, the Abolitionist Movement, Manifest Destiny, rising sectionalism, and the U.S.–Mexican War. In addition, Humanities Texas introduced the curriculum set, Pivotal U.S. Elections. Activities and lessons included in the curriculum emphasize reading, writing, and historical thinking skills.

Like all Humanities Texas teacher programs, the institute emphasized close interaction with scholars, the examination of primary sources, and the development of effective pedagogical strategies and engaging assignments and activities.

Faculty

Edward L. Ayers (University of Richmond) delivered the opening evening’s keynote lecture. Faculty for the institute included Leslie Alexander (Rutgers University), Richard Bell (University of Maryland), Lorri Glover (Saint Louis University), Joseph Kobylka (Southern Methodist University), Angela P. Hudson (Texas A&M University), Michelle Kuhl (University of Washington at Oshkosh), Andrew Torget (University of North Texas), and Samuel Davis, Todd Kerstetter, and Gene Smith of Texas Christian University.

Location and Schedule

The institute took place at Texas Christian University June 24-27, 2024. The schedule is available  here.

Sponsors

The institute was made possible with major funding from the State of Texas, with ongoing support from the National Endowment for the Humanities.