Promises of Consent and Equality? Public Education after the American Revolution

The American Revolution led to the birth of public education as we know it because, as many founders argued, unlike aristocracy where a few men born to power ruled, democracy required an educated citizenry who could govern themselves. While educating the public took place on the state level, not the national, and policies were thus characterized by dramatic differences, the promises of the Revolution opened a national debate over what those promises meant. The founders’ ideas about who could or should consent to their own government framed their policies for who should be educated and in what disciplines and to what degree: these promises of equality did not necessarily include everyone.

As part of “Democracy Then and Now: Citizenship and Public Education,” Professor Holly Brewer will present her "Promises of Consent and Equality? Public Education after the American Revolution" during History Week (October 17th - 21st). 

The event is co-hosted by the Department of History and the Center for Global Migration Studies.

For more information on Democrary Then and Now, visit there website, here.