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Everything You Every Wanted to Know About Connecticut History

Connecticut History in Four Episodes, (#2 of 4)

The Simsbury Free Library is offering a series of lectures titled "Connecticut
History in Four Episodes" with professor Tom Ratliff.  The series will cover everything you every wanted to know about our state's history (and geography, politics, social movements, religion, industry, education, heroes and villains, and much more) in four one hour lectures.

Connecticut's rich historical past is explored from 200 million years ago to modern times, with a focus on the process of change:  how we evolved from Native American landscape to Puritan colonies, from Puritan to Yankee, from Yankee to American, from farm community to mill village, and from textiles, clocks, and guns to the "arsenal of democracy". 

The second lecture is titled "The Provision State:  From the Revolution to the New Constitution (1763-1818)".

The third and fourth lectures, titled "Yankee Ingenuity: Our Industrial Heritage (1767-1820)" and "Not So Steady Habits: Changing Demographics (1820-1950)" respectively, will be scheduled for the spring of 2014.

This program is free for members and $5 for non-members.

To reserve a seat, call 860-408-1336, or email simsburyfreelibrary@gmail.com.

About the Speaker

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Tom Ratliff is a former English and Social Studies teacher who writes historical fiction for young adults.  An expert on Connecticut History and the Civil War, he has a master's degree in Early American History.

For the past 20 years, Mr. Ratliff has taught at Central Connecticut State University in both the History and Secondary Education Departments.  Currently he is teaching online for the community college system and writing a book about Connecticut's role in the American Revolution.

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