Humanitas: American Republic Program

About this curriculum

Unlike most contemporary approaches to history, which reflect the fashions and biases of the fleeting present, Humanitas offers students something more substantial. Following C.S. Lewis’ stout defense of reading primary sources in “On the Reading of Old Books,” Humanitas will help “persuade the young that firsthand knowledge is not only more worth acquiring than secondhand knowledge, but it is usually much easier and more delightful to acquire.” Geared towards history, humanities, and humane letters courses, the Humanitas series offers a continuous, unfolding narrative of Western Civilization through a collection of carefully curated primary source documents. Full program includes: Humanitas: American Republic Humanitas: The American Republic brings students through a series of primary documents that trace the growth and evolution of the American experiment. In addition to exploring the creation of a new government and culture, students will encounter texts from early American literature, religious movements, and the path toward emancipation. The fascinating narrative covers the onset of the Civil War and moves through the societal reckonings of the reconstruction era.…