As part of its 2026 annual meeting in Chicago, the AHA will convene a cohort of 25 educators to explore the theme of revolutions across periods and regions. This innovative program provides a structured experience to help navigate the largest annual history conference in the United States and delve into the potential implications of new scholarship for the history classroom.
Program Description
Both scholars and educators use the concept of revolution to explain change over time across multiple scales of historical development. What makes an event, an idea, or an individual revolutionary? How do we distinguish between incremental change and profound rupture? And how is new scholarship revolutionizing our understanding of the past? As we approach the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, will discuss sources, topics, assignments, and strategies to help students understand various moments of great change that have shaped our current world. We will hear from and interact with historians who study well-known revolutions: American, French, Russian, and Haitian, for example, as well as sexual, industrial, digital, and AI.
Our goal will be to use the AHA Annual Meeting to create opportunities for teachers across different kinds of institutions—secondary schools, colleges, universities, and museums—to engage, learn from, and collaborate with a growing community of practice focused on adding depth and nuance to the histories we share in the classroom. The content cohort program will include focused discussions in a small group setting, opportunities to interact with leading historians, and a welcoming way to experience and enjoy a major history conference.
Applications to join the content cohort are open to educators who work in secondary, post-secondary, or public history contexts. We welcome the participation of middle and high school teachers and curriculum specialists; faculty at two- and four-year colleges; and museum educators or others engaged in educational programs for the public. Preference will be given to early career classroom educators, and at least 15 spots will be reserved for middle and high school teachers.
All participants in the Content Cohort must register to attend the annual meeting. Anyone may register to attend the annual meeting, whether or not they are accepted for the Content Cohort.
AHA staff will contact cohort participants after the end of the annual meeting to schedule an optional follow-up session.