History Russia: The Meaning of the Revolution 100 Years Later
2017 marks the 100th anniversary of the Russian Revolution, an event that inspired literature, music, art, academic scholarship, as well as attempts at similar uprisings around the world. Why, then, in a political year in which Russia has dominated American headlines, few news stories have acknowledged the Revolution and its impact on shaping current opinions about Russia and its people? Join Andrea Maestrejuan, associate professor of History at MSU Denver, to explore the meaning of the Russian Revolution, both for Russians and for the world. Explore the events leading up to the Revolution itself. What were the conditions that led the revolutionaries to rise up? Who were the Bolsheviks? Why did the Revolution and its immediate aftermath result in long-held stereotypes labeling Russia as a land of autocrats, totalitarians, Commies, kleptocrats and hackers? Do such labels diminish the significance of a universal human moment when a suppressed, marginalized people sought to create a new society based on freedom, equality and justice? What is the legacy of Vladimir Lenin, and why isn’t President Putin celebrating him or the Revolution? How did this historic event shape the Russia we know today, as well as its relationship with the United States and other countries? Come away with a deeper understanding of how the Revolution transformed not only Russia but the world.
Five sessions
Thur., 6:30–8:30 pm, Oct. 12, 19, 26, Nov. 2, 9, 2017 $205
Andrea Maestrejuan, associate professor of History at Metropolitan State University of Denver, teaches courses on modern European and world history. She has special expertise in the history of science and technology and in oral history.
The Forgotten War: The Mexican-American War, 1846–1848
Credit: Library of Congress
The war between the United States and Mexico is today often forgotten, at best a footnote in the westward expansion of the United States. Yet, this war and its outcome are of fundamental importance to the nation’s history. As a result of the war, the United States gained much of its current territory, including the states of Arizona, California, New Mexico, Nevada and Utah, as well as parts of Colorado and Wyoming; Mexico relinquished its claim to Texas. Military conquest required the U.S. to confront the issue of what to do with the native Mexicans who suddenly found themselves U.S. citizens after the war. The legacy of the war continues to affect us today as the nation grapples with questions of cultural diversity, immigration and trade. Led by Professor José Roberto Juárez of the Sturm College of Law, this course offers a historical context for the war. Begin with a historical overview of the Spanish and Mexican exploration and settlement of what is today the Southwestern United States. Then examine the causes of the war and the effect of the conduct of the war on both the U.S. and Mexico. Conclude with an examination of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, which ended the war, and of the war’s continuing legacy in today’s political climate. Gain new insight into a war that is often forgotten north of the Mexican border.
Four sessions
Thur., 6:30–8:30 pm, Sept. 14, 21, 28, Oct. 5, 2017 $175
José Roberto Juárez, Jr. is a professor of Law at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law, where he also previously served as dean. His research interests include the legal history of Mexican-Americans in the United States. Credit: Library of Congress
Call 303-871-2291 or visit www.universitycollege.du.edu/enrichment
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