When we think about Americans who changed the course of history, we rarely think about children. In the popular imagination, young people usually stand on the sidelines of history, sheltered and coddled by the adults who really make things happen. In reality, however, children have played a vital part in American politics and culture since the colonial era.
In this online talk, Dr. Anna Mae Duane of the University of Connecticut explored the often-overlooked role of children in shaping the course of early American history. From the Salem Witch Trials to the Revolutionary War and the fight against slavery, Dr. Duane revealed how young voices and actions influenced pivotal moments in our nation’s past, including revolutionary changes in social and political structures.
