Adult discussion seminar on Canada, Mexico, & the US

60 W Walton St, Chicago, IL | Get Directions »
$170.00

Interested adults can sign up now for an adult discussion seminar on a critically important period in the history of North America.

The seminar, entitled "Tumult and Transition in North America: Canada, Mexico, and the United States, 1857-1867," will be held at Chicago's Newberry Library, and led by Joseph S. Harrington of Morton Grove, who has led several Newberry seminars in the past.

Seminar sessions will be held 5:45-7:45 p.m. on six consecutive Thursdays, Oct. 11-Nov. 15. To register, go to http://newberry.org/10112012-tumult-and-transition-north-america-canada-mexico-and-united-states-1857-67

Most Americans are familiar with our Civil War, but few are aware that Canada and Mexico were going through formative crises of their own during the same time. It was by no means certain that three lasting unions would emerge on our continent.

This seminar will cover three major themes:

a. The Mexican "War of the Reform" and the triumph of Benito Juarez over Emperor Maximilian;

b. The diplomacy of the American Civil War; and

c. The deliberations leading to the creation of the Dominion of Canada.

Participants will discuss how these events influenced each other, but also prevented each country from becoming deeply entangled in the others' affairs. Because of that, the political resolutions were legitimate and longlasting, enduring through succeeding decades of social and economic turmoil.

For more information, contact Mr. Harrington at josephsharrington@comcast.net.