Past Institutes

The New Nation: 1800–1860 (Spring 2026 In-Person Workshop)

On February 24, 2026, Humanities Texas held a one-day workshop in Austin for secondary-level social studies teachers on major topics in U.S. history from 1800–1860.

Curriculum

Content aligned with the TEKS for U.S. history. Topics covered included challenges faced by the Early Republic, the Age of Jackson, westward expansion, Manifest Destiny, the Mexican-American War, and rising sectionalism before the Civil War.

The workshop featured close interaction with scholars, the examination of primary sources and texts, and the development of effective pedagogical strategies and engaging assignments and activities. Teachers received books and other instructional materials.

Faculty

Program faculty included Richard Bell (University of Maryland), Charles Flanagan (educational consultant), Signe Peterson Fourmy (The University of Texas at Austin), and Michelle Kuhl (University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh).

Location and Schedule

The workshop took place at the Joe C. Thompson Conference Center on the campus of The University of Texas at Austin on February 24, 2026. The workshop schedule is available here.

Sponsors

This workshop was made possible with major funding from the State of Texas with ongoing support from the National Endowment for the Humanities.