(Re)Forging Democracy:
Teaching The American Revolution & Its Aftermath
Thursday, August 6, 2026
8:00 am - 3:00 pm
(doors open at 7:45)
Adriance Memorial Library
93 Market St. Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
What happens in the wake of war, and what is it like to live through the creation of democracy being forged and reforged? Questions about how ordinary people respond to and endure moments of national transformation feel just as urgent today as they did 250 years ago. In the aftermath of the American Revolution, old institutions gave way to new systems, communities healed from the war, and the young United States began the difficult work of establishing its democracy.
During this professional development workshop, educators will gain concrete curricular resources and replicable strategies for student engagement inspired by the 2026 Big Read theme, “America at 250: Revolutionary New York.” The 2026 Big Read selections,Fire and Freedom by Thomas Wermuth, The Fateful Hour by Al Rosenblatt, and Forgotten Founders: Black Patriots, Women Soldiers, and Other Thinkers and Heroes Who Shaped Early America by Mifflin Lowe and Wiliam Luong, examine the American Revolution and its aftermath through stories from the Hudson Valley.
By the end of the workshop, participants will be prepared to:
- Engage students with underreported local stories of heroic individuals whose actions shaped the Revolutionary era and its aftermath.
- Foster democratic classrooms by helping students build consensus, set shared goals, and participate in meaningful civic decision-making
- Use drama-based teaching practices to deepen learning across subject areas while building confidence and engagement.
- Integrate the 2026 Big Read titles into their curriculum!
Lunch will be provided, and each participant will receive complimentary copies of the featured books. There is no cost to attend this workshop.
The Big Read is an annual community reading program coordinated by the Poughkeepsie Public Library District. This current iteration will run throughout Fall 2026. The Big Read is designed to broaden the local community’s understanding of history, local heroes, and one another through the joy of discussing great books.
