Center offers special course “1776, Then and Now” to commemorate the 250th year since the country’s founding

The John C. Danforth Center on Religion and Politics will offer a course, “1776, Then and Now,” which will be open to all WashU undergrads in the spring 2026 semester. The course will run one time only as a way to commemorate and respond in 2026 to the events of 1776 and the founding of the United States.

How did the United States come to be and what does that origin story mean for us today? This course explores that question by examining the American Revolution during its 250^th anniversary. The class will examine the founding of the United States from multiple perspectives and points of view, as well as the continuing relevance and consequences of those events. What happened, how did it happen, and why does it still matter? This course invites students to see how scholars with broad-ranging talents investigate the Revolution.

Renowned professors from WashU and around the country will show how scholars in multiple fields discuss American independence. Each class meeting will be led by a different scholar considering four themes:

Introduction: Setting the Scene will feature Peter Kastor (WashU History) and Kathleen DuVal (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)

Religion and Politics will feature Danforth Center on Religion and Politics professors Tazeen Ali, Leigh Schmidt, and Mark Valeri, and Sowande’ Mustakeem (WashU History)

Political Ideas and Further Contexts will feature John Inazu (WashU Law), Danforth Center on Religion and Politics professor Fannie Bialek, Rachael DeWitt and Hester Blum (WashU English), Lorri Glover (St. Louis University History), and WashU Chancellor Andrew Martin

Remembering the American Revolution will feature Eddie Glaude (Princeton African American Studies), Danielle Allen (Harvard University), and Abram Van Engen (WashU English and Danforth Center on Religion and Politics).

There will be two special evening events in April related to the course. Eddie Glaude will give a public talk on April 9, and Danielle Allen will give a public talk on April 16.

The course will be offered Thursdays, 4-5:20, and will merit 1.5 credits. It will be listed for course registration as RELPOL 1776.

Alumni, faculty, staff, and friends of WashU will be able to watch a livestream of each class (no credit offered).