Upcoming Institutes

The American Revolutionary War: Part I (Spring 2026 Webinar)

On January 27, 2026, Humanities Texas will hold a webinar examining the American Revolutionary War from its beginnings in 1775 through the Battle of Saratoga in 1777. This is the fourth in a series of webinars during 2025–2026 commemorating the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution.

The series features leading scholars sharing the latest research on the American Revolutionary War and the consequences of American independence. Special attention is given to the long struggle to secure independence and the many groups and perspectives of the revolutionary era, including American patriots, British soldiers and loyalists, women, Native Americans, and African Americans.

Curriculum and Faculty

The webinar will take place on Zoom from 5:00–6:15 p.m. CT on January 27, 2026.

This session will examine the Revolutionary War from its beginnings in 1775 through the Battle of Saratoga in 1777 to show how fighting an international war fundamentally shaped the character of the American Revolution in its first years. The webinar will consider important questions about how the war both confirmed and challenged ideas about power in society that were at the heart of the Revolution: How did the mobilization and creation of the Continental Army and its leadership relate to republican ideas about military power? How did winning and losing battles (or even avoiding some battles) relate to the political legitimacy of the new nation as the United States declared its independence? Why did it matter who was allowed to fight in American military forces? How did everyday men and women express their political ideas by either supporting or opposing the war? Would the Declaration of Independence matter if the United States lost the war, and how did the war itself influence other global powers to view the infant United States of America? Participants will learn how the Revolutionary War developed in ways that really mattered for the beginnings of the nation in the first years of the American Revolution.

Content will align with the TEKS for U.S. history and government. Like all Humanities Texas teacher programs, the webinar will be content-based and teacher-centered, with an emphasis on teaching with primary sources and developing effective pedagogical strategies.

Sarah Purcell (Grinnell College) will lead the webinar.

Eligibility

The webinar is open to secondary-level humanities teachers in Texas schools.

CPE Credit

The online program is free to teachers and their schools. Participants will receive CPE credit and a wealth of curricular materials. CPE hours will be based on Zoom attendance and adjusted if a participant misses any portion of the program. In order to attend the webinar and receive CPE credit, you must be a registered participant.

How to Apply

Complete the online application for "The American Revolutionary War: Part I" webinar.

Sponsors

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