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HIST 17A WVC Project 1619 versus 1776 Commission Discussion

Introduction: I hope by now you have understood through the lectures how race has played a central role in the founding and formation of America. Whether it was the “Las Castas” system under the Spanish to Thomas Jefferson in his note to Virginia address (Links to an external site.) in which he tried to use “science” to explain and justify slavery to Alexander Stephen, the vice president of the Confederacy, proclaiming white supremacy as “the cornerstone” of the Confederacy (Links to an external site.), race has been a key factor, if not the factor, in shaping relations, policies, and sadly conflicts in American history since 1492. If you remember from the first topic of conversation on “critical race theory,” there is a political battle going on right now over what is being taught in the classroom—race or nationalism. Let’s continue the conversation on how history is taught even further by comparing The New York Times’ 1619 Project that centralizes race as the foundation of this country and the Project 1776 by former President Trump that emphasizes nationalism and America as a story of progress.

Review the following sources to familiarize yourself with both Project 1619, Project 1776, and how historians have responded.