Rethinking America in Global Perspectives

FAIN: EH-50154-07

AHA (Washington, DC 20003-3807)
John R. Gillis (Project Director: March 2007 to August 2009)

A four-week summer institute for twenty-five college and university teachers to study American history in a world-historical perspective.

In this era of increasing global interaction and interdependence, those concerned with the historical, geographical, and cultural dimensions of America are actively rethinking the geographical and chronological boundaries of their subject of study. A growing body of scholarship now prompts American historians to "look...beyond the official borders of the U.S. and back again." At the same time, world historians have been producing exciting transnational studies that connect America to other world regions. With a view to internationalizing American history at the college level, this institute would bring together teachers and experts for fours weeks at the Library of Congress. Using its unparalleled collections of American and global materials, the participants will explore individual research interests while developing curricular ideas and materials that will encourage students to become better citizens of an America faced with a multitude of global challenges and opportunities.