America 250: Revolution & Constitution, Class 1 - The Meaning of Freedom, 1763-1775

June 25, 2026
7:00pm - 8:00pm

At the conclusion of the Seven Years’ War, known in North America as the French and Indian War, Great Britain had become the dominant empire. Yet, the coffers in London sat bare and money needed to be raised to repay loans, station troops, and administer the empire. Parliament and the prime ministers under King George III enacted a series of taxes. The British also set a figurative line down the Appalachian Mountains as part of the Proclamation of 1763.

How would the colonists, jubilant in their part of defeating the French, pushing back the Native American presence, and promised land for their prior service? How about the bevy of new taxes levied on them? What ensued in the twelve years, from 1763 to the first shots in a Massachusetts town in April 1775, provides the answer.

See the FULL BROCHURE

Instructor Phillip S. Greenwalt is the co-founder of Emerging Revolutionary War and a full-time historian with Emerging Civil War. He is the author or co-author of seven books on the American Revolution and Civil Wars. He is a 2008 graduate of Wheeling Jesuit University with a degree in history. He also holds graduate degrees in American history from George Mason University and International Affairs and Leadership from Arizona State University. A current resident of Baltimore, Maryland, he has worked for the National Park Service in various roles for the last 19 years. And, yes, being from Baltimore, he is an avid Orioles baseball fan.

Don't miss our new exhibit: "AMERICA 250: A Republic If We Can Keep It" in the main exhibit area from late June through September, 2026.  Experience period artifacts and an amazing amount of information about our Founding Fathers, Founding Mothers, and Founding Docments.

PLUS--> The New America 250 Spring/Summer Edition of the Upper Ohio Valley Historical Review will explore "Wheeling and the Ohio Valley in the National Story."

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ABOUT THE OCPL'S PEOPLE'S UNIVERSITY SERIES:

In 1951, the Ohio County Public Library's librarian, Virginia Ebeling, referenced British historian Thomas Carlyle, who said, “the public library is a People’s University,” when she initiated a new adult education program with that name. Miss Ebeling charged the library with the responsibility of reaching “as many people in the community as possible.” In keeping with that tradition of public libraries as sanctuaries of free learning for all people, the Ohio County Public Library revived the series in 2010.

The People’s University features courses (taught by experts in each subject) that enable patrons to pursue their goal of lifelong learning in classic subjects such as history, music appreciation, philosophy, and literature. Patrons may attend as many classes as they wish. There are no tests of other requirements and all programs are free and open to the public. For more information about PU: Fairy Tales for Grown-Ups, EMAIL US,  visit ohiocountylibrary.org or call the library at 304-232-0244.