Enjoyed reading your thought process. One aspect you might consider adding to your thoughts is trying to anchor some of the events and ideas to actual people and their experiences with the era in question. Making people "real" with respect to history has been a sure way for me to get excited about a topic. I especially enjoy reading about the outsiders and fringe characters who seem to highlight the contrast between what's said to be happening, and what's really going on.
Your Peppermint Kings book and the Charles Knowlton biography connected with me through the characters you made "real". I hope you are able to include some of that aspect in your courses.
Thanks, Judy! Yes, I hope I'll be able to include lots of primary sources, as I was able to do in US I, so readers can experience the voices of people (including regular people) from the times I discuss.
Enjoyed reading your thought process. One aspect you might consider adding to your thoughts is trying to anchor some of the events and ideas to actual people and their experiences with the era in question. Making people "real" with respect to history has been a sure way for me to get excited about a topic. I especially enjoy reading about the outsiders and fringe characters who seem to highlight the contrast between what's said to be happening, and what's really going on.
Your Peppermint Kings book and the Charles Knowlton biography connected with me through the characters you made "real". I hope you are able to include some of that aspect in your courses.
Thanks, Judy! Yes, I hope I'll be able to include lots of primary sources, as I was able to do in US I, so readers can experience the voices of people (including regular people) from the times I discuss.