Short course
A Fight for Liberty? Revolution in Britain, America, and France, 1642–1799
Course status:
Applications being accepted
Location:
Online
Dates:
15/04/2027 - 24/06/2027
Study format:
Online - live
Fees:
£430.00
This course examines the history of revolutionary politics in Britain, America and France during the tumultuous 17th and 18th centuries, when the very foundations of established monarchical rule were increasingly challenged by the growing cries for popular ‘liberty’. That all three states eventually emerged as liberal power bases would seem to confirm this, the revolutions shaping and framing the triumphant ascendancy of modern liberal democracy overall. Closer examination, however, reveals a much more complex picture, where the championing of new liberties sat side by side with the birth of new totalitarianism and terror.
How and why this complex picture emerged will be the key focal point of this course, as we explore the nature of the revolutionary challenge in each of the three states, and how they evolved through time – sometimes in ways their original creators could never have imagined. In the process, we will examine the roles played by key revolutionaries and reactionaries alike, asking how they helped shape the course of events, and how this impacted both their national and personal destinies. We will also explore the critical role of enlightened thought throughout, from Hobbes to Locke and from Voltaire to Rousseau, asking whether, and to what extent, the revolutions shared a common philosophical identity.
Book this course
Book your place online using the button below.
Programme details
This course begins on the 15 Apr 2027 which is when course materials are made available to students. Students should study these materials in advance of the first live meeting which will be held on 22 Apr 2027, 14:00-15:00pm (UK time).
Week 1: Introduction and Overview. Key Issues and Events
Week 2: A Question of Sovereignty? Charles I and the origins of the English Civil War.
Week 3: The World Turned Upside Down: England and the Cromwellian Experiment.
Week 4: A Glorious Revolution: The English Bill of Rights and the Lockean legacy
Week 5: A Tax on Liberty? Colonial America and the impact of the Stamp Act
Week 6: Time to Part: Paine and the path to American independence
Week 7: An Enlightened Affair? Ancien Regime France and the Liberal Revolution.
Week 8: A Republic of Virtue: The Jacobin takeover and the politics of Terror.
Week 9: Return to Order? The revival of liberalism in France and the coming of Napoleon
Week 10: Concluding thoughts: the ongoing legacies
Level and demands
This course is open to all, and no prior knowledge is required.
This course is offered at FHEQ level 4 (first year undergraduate level), and you will be expected to engage in independent study in preparation for your assignments. Our 10-week Short Online Courses come with an expected total commitment of 100 study hours.
English Language Requirements
We do not insist that applicants hold an English language certification, but we warn that they may be at a disadvantage if their language skills are not of a comparable level to those qualifications listed on our website. If you are confident in your proficiency, please feel free to enrol. For more information regarding English language requirements, please see here.
Course aims
- To explore the historical development and nature of revolution in Britain, America and France.
- To outline the historical development of revolution in the 17th and 18th centuries
- To explore the links between that development and the emergence of modern political culture
- To critically evaluate that relationship through examination of primary and secondary source materials
IT requirements
Any standard web browser can be used to access course materials on our virtual learning environment, but we recommend Google Chrome. We also recommend that students join the live webinars on Microsoft Teams using a laptop or desktop computer rather than a phone or tablet due to the limited functionality of the app on these devices. Students will need a reliable internet connection and a computer that meets our recommended minimum computer specification.
Programme details
This course begins on the 15 Apr 2027 which is when course materials are made available to students. Students should study these materials in advance of the first live meeting which will be held on 22 Apr 2027, 14:00-15:00pm (UK time).
Week 1: Introduction and Overview. Key Issues and Events
Week 2: A Question of Sovereignty? Charles I and the origins of the English Civil War.
Week 3: The World Turned Upside Down: England and the Cromwellian Experiment.
Week 4: A Glorious Revolution: The English Bill of Rights and the Lockean legacy
Week 5: A Tax on Liberty? Colonial America and the impact of the Stamp Act
Week 6: Time to Part: Paine and the path to American independence
Week 7: An Enlightened Affair? Ancien Regime France and the Liberal Revolution.
Week 8: A Republic of Virtue: The Jacobin takeover and the politics of Terror.
Week 9: Return to Order? The revival of liberalism in France and the coming of Napoleon
Week 10: Concluding thoughts: the ongoing legacies
Teaching methods
This course takes place over 10 weeks, with a weekly learning schedule and weekly live webinar held on Microsoft Teams. Shortly before a course commences, students are provided with access to an online virtual learning environment, which houses the course content, including video lectures, complemented by readings or other study materials. Any standard web browser can be used to access these materials, but we recommend Google Chrome. Working through these materials over the course of the week will prepare students for a weekly 1-hour live webinar you will share with your expert tutor and fellow students. All courses are structured to amount to 100 study hours, so that on average, you should set aside 10 hours a week for study. Although the course finishes after 10 weeks, all learning materials remain available to all students for 12 months after the course has finished.
All courses are led by an expert tutor. Tutors guide students through the course materials as part of the live interactions during the weekly webinars. Tutors will also provide individualised feedback on your assignments. All online courses are taught in small student cohorts so that you and your peers will form a mutually supportive and vibrant learning community for the duration of the course. You will learn from your fellow students as well as from your tutor, and they will learn from you.
Learning outcomes
By the end of the course, students will be expected to:
1. Describe the historical development of revolution in the 17th and 18th centuries
2. Outline the role and impact of that development on modern political culture
3. Be familiar with the handling of source materials and their values and limitations.
Assessment methods
You will be set two pieces of work for the course. The first 500-word assignment is due halfway through your course. This does not count towards your final outcome, but preparing for it and the feedback you are given will help you prepare for your assessed piece of work of 1,500 words due at the end of the course. The assessed work is marked pass or fail.
Dr Kate Watson
Kate Watson is a Senior Associate Tutor for Oxford University Department for Continuing Education (OUDCE), and previously an Associate Lecturer and Moderator for the Open University. She is currently researching politics and identity in Georgian England.
Assessment methods
You will be set two pieces of work for the course. The first 500-word assignment is due halfway through your course. This does not count towards your final outcome, but preparing for it and the feedback you are given will help you prepare for your assessed piece of work of 1,500 words due at the end of the course. The assessed work is marked pass or fail.
Level and demands
This course is open to all, and no prior knowledge is required.
This course is offered at FHEQ level 4 (first year undergraduate level), and you will be expected to engage in independent study in preparation for your assignments. Our 10-week Short Online Courses come with an expected total commitment of 100 study hours.
English Language Requirements
We do not insist that applicants hold an English language certification, but we warn that they may be at a disadvantage if their language skills are not of a comparable level to those qualifications listed on our website. If you are confident in your proficiency, please feel free to enrol. For more information regarding English language requirements, please see here.
Fees
| Description | Costs |
|---|---|
| Course Fee | £430.00 |
Module code: O26P752HIZ
Please use the ‘Book now’ button on this page. Alternatively, please complete an enrolment form.