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HIS 3345: Colonial & Revolutionary America: Home

Course Description

This course will examine the history of North American colonies that in 1788 became the United States of America. On a comparative basis, we will also look at Spanish, French, and British Caribbean colonial experience. Course readings and class time will give special attention to the genre of cultural history, and to the topics of family and gender, slavery, and revolution. Three themes will be important to our study: 1) cultural encounters, 2) colonialism and empire and, 3)nationalism and national identity.

Image of West Library building from the front on a sunny day

Library Hours
Day of the Week Hours Open
MONDAY 7:30 am to 12:00 midnight
TUESDAY 7:30 am to 12:00 midnight
WEDNESDAY 7:30 am to 12:00 midnight
THURSDAY 7:30 am to 12:00 midnight
FRIDAY 7:30 am to 5:00 pm
SATURDAY 11:00 am to 5:00 pm
SUNDAY 1:00 pm to 12:00 midnight

*See Library Hours Calendar for hours in-between semesters.

Benjamin West, Penn's Treaty with the Indians, 1771-1772, oil on canvas, 190 x 274cm, Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, Philadelphia.
The Treaty of Shackamaxon is a legendary treaty between William Penn, Quaker and founder of the province of Pennsylvania, and Tamanend (also known as Taminent and Tammany), Chief of the Turtle Clan of the Lenni-Lanape nation in the Delaware Valley. The treaty was signed in 1682. The treaty agreement was that Penn and Tamanend would live in peace and this peace endured for over 50 years before the continued trend of Native displacement by Europeans. 
Authenticity of this supposed treaty has been questioned by scholars because there is no record of a written treaty. However there is evidence of meeting taking place including a Wampum belt at the Philadelphia Historical Museum supposedly given to William Penn at the treaty signing. The belt depicts two men holding hands suggesting an agreement between them.