U.S. History

Service Description

Fall 2025 Sept. 9, 16, 30; Oct. 7, 21, 28; Nov. 4, 11, 18, 25; Dec. 2, 9 (12 days) No Class 9/23 Rosh Hashana, 10/14 Shemini Atzeret & Simchat Tora Fee: $420+$40 material fee (Sibling 1 $400 +$40 material fee, Sibling 2 $375+$40 material fee) Winter 2026 Jan. 6, 13, 20, 27; Feb. 3, 10, 17, 24; Mar.3, 10 (10 days) Fee: $350 + $40 material fee per term (Sibling 1 $325+$40 material fee, Sibling 2 $300+$40 material fee) Spring 2026 March 17, 24; April 7, 14, 21, 28; May 5,12, 19, 26 (10 days) No Class Tues. 3/31 Spring Break Fee: $350 + $40 material fee per term (Sibling 1 $325+$40 material fee, Sibling 2 $300+$40 material) What you say (or write) in private can explain what you do in public. This is true for political and cultural leaders as well as for ordinary citizens. History is created and recreated by trying to explain what everyone did and why – and reading letters is a big help in discovering reasons why. When stranded on a Pacific island during World War II, JFK wrote a “letter” for help on a coconut - and help arrived. Benedict Arnold betrayed the newly formed United States to the British, and then fled the country after asking a big favor in a letter to George Washington. Anita Hill criticized Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas at an infamous hearing; civil rights pioneer Rosa Parks chimed in with a letter to the committee. Along with many letters, we’ll read diaries, autobiographies, and articles to provide context. We’ll focus on these periods in American history: colonization; the War for Independence; the Civil War (before, during and after); Abolition, citizenship, and voting; and modern times.