“Missed Lessons” American History Applied to Current Affairs
TIME: TBD by Students’ Availability
(We will pick a time that works for 90+% of the students who sign up)
Dive into the depths of American history to uncover the lessons that have been overlooked, forgotten, or misunderstood, and directly connect them to the issues and events shaping our current national dialogue. This is a compelling course designed to bridge the gap between the past and the present, offering a comprehensive understanding of American current affairs, domestic politics, and geopolitics. Through case studies of past and the future, students will gain insights into the repeating patterns of history and brainstorm the ways to: Change the World.
Course Overview:
Module 1: Missed Lessons from the Constitution - Let’s go back to the beginning. The Constitution wasn’t perfect (its allowance of slavery as a prominent, abhorrent example), but it did place a lot of guardrails against corruption. What happened in the past several decades that the Founding Fathers warned against? Such as professional lobbying, hyper-partisanship — and how can we, as citizens, turn it around?
Module 2: Missed Lessons from Economic Crises -
Module 3: Missed Lessons from Wars - The U.S. has engaged in dozens of wars — and even though none of it fought on American soil since the Civil War, the costs were still astronomical. From the Cold War to Vietnam, from the proxy wars we fight in the Middle East, there are so many lessons we learned and forgot. How can we stop history from repeating itself? What is a good level of involvement in foreign battles? How can foreign policy be shaped better? What should the Pentagon do more or do less?
Module 4: Missed Lessons from the Civil Rights Movement - The Civil Rights Movement was one of the most inspiring times in the U.S. where people came together and changed the country for the better. Still, there was a lot going on behind the scene, a lot of division despite the appearance of unity. We are in a similar time: there are many different movements asking for rights, and different forces against them. No matter whose side you are on, what are the lessons we missed that could learn to make our country better for everyone?
Module 5: Missed Lessons from the Industrial Revolution - In the final module, we will reflect on a time that is similar to ours — the Industrial Revolution from the 18th-19th century. Historians and technologists say that we are experiencing the 5th Industrial Revolution, and like last time, a lot of jobs will be automated by machines. Last time, there were many advances as well as human rights violations — let’s examine those lessons and make sure we do better this time.
Key Features:
Fascinating Topics: Everything we learn in this class is applicable to our current life and politics. Gain a deeper understanding of how we can change our country and world for the better through lessons from history.
Interactive Assignments: Apply what you've reflected on from our lessons and engage in lively exchange of ideas with the instructor and classmates.
Expert Instructor: Learn from experienced educators who are passionate about helping people understand the importance of learning from history and make it accessible and enjoyable for all ages.
Amazing Community: Join a community of enthusiastic citizens eager to change the world — to share experiences, insights, and encouragement.
