An in-depth look at the American Revolution, this course has two primary goals: (1) To understand revolutions not as heroic endeavors but as messy, complicated affairs that introduce new problems as they solve old ones and circumscribe liberties for some as they secure them for others; (2) To think, in a global sense, about how revolutionary goals and movements not only feed off one another, but also diverge from one another to fit the needs and oppressive circumstances of different polities. Prerequisites: Honors eligibility required.