"Public opinion sets bounds to every government, and is the real sovereign in every free one."
- James Madison, 1791
Welcome to SHEAR Civics Exchange
This site connects you with members of the Society for Historians of the Early Republic (SHEAR) who can speak to your organization, club, or institution about the history that has shaped our civic institutions and civic culture, and the relationship of the past to our present-day civic institutions and civic life. SHEAR Civics Exchange speakers are expert in a variety of topics from the American Revolution to the Civil War, including, but not limited to, the origins and significance of the American Revolution, the Constitution and the Founding Era, the impact of the Civil War on issues of civics and citizenship, the idea and ideal of the rule of law, and the roles played by a wide variety of people living in the early United States in shaping our governing and civic institutions, institutions that in broad form and outline shape our lives today.
You can navigate this webpage to find a speaker in your area if you are planning an in-person event, or anywhere throughout the United States and the world if your event is taking place online. By clicking on the map of the United States, you can find speakers in your state or nearby. You can also search by topic or simply browse until you find what you are looking for.
There is no fee for using this webpage but please note that the people you find on the speaker page are highly trained professionals, and like all professionals should receive a fee for service. That fee is a matter to discuss with the person you contact. SHEAR asks for no payment from those who use this webpage to find speakers for their events. If you find our service useful and would like to donate to SHEAR to help us to maintain this service and support the scholars who provide it, we would be delighted.
Where to Find Civic Educators
LATEST NEWS
SHEAR Civics Exchange Hosts Launch Event with the American Philosophical Society
SHEAR Civics Exchange Partners with the National Judicial College
SHEAR Receives Major Civics Grant from the Luce Foundation.
FAQs
What is the history of SHEAR?
Established in 1977, the Society for Historians of the Early American Republic (SHEAR) is an association of scholars dedicated to exploring the events and the meaning of United States history between 1776 and 1861. SHEAR’s mission is to foster the study of the early republican period among professional historians, students, and the general public. It upholds the highest intellectual standards of the historical profession and encourages the broad diffusion of historical insights through all appropriate channels, including schools, museums, libraries, electronic media, public programming, archives, and publications. SHEAR cherishes a democratic ethos in scholarship and cultivates close, respectful, and productive exchanges between serious scholars at every level of experience and recognition. SHEAR membership is open to all; most members are professional historians employed in colleges, universities, museums, and historical parks and agencies, as well as independent scholars and graduate students.
Who are the SHEAR Civic Educators?
All educators are members of SHEAR. They are both subject experts and experienced teachers.
Is SHEAR a political organization?
No, we do not have a political affiliation, and SHEAR Civic Educators do not advocate partisan positions in their presentations.
Is there a charge for this?
There is no set fee for engaging a SHEAR Civic Educator. All of the people listed are professionals, however, and some may request a speaking fee or ask for travel expenses. Please discuss this directly with the SHEAR Civic Educator.
How do I get in touch with the SHEAR Civic Educators?
Just click on the links above and contact the educator(s) directly via email.
Help! I want to organize something for my group but don’t know where to start!
Contact our SHEAR Civic Education Coordinator at shear@wm.edu to discuss how to find the right speaker for your event or interview.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Contact A Civic Educator
The primary purpose of this website is to facilitate direct connections between SHEAR Civic Educators and the people who would like to hire them. If you’re interested in booking a SHEAR Civic Educator, we strongly encourage you to contact them personally using the email address listed on their profile. Please use the map or ‘Browse Scholars’ functions on this website to get started.
General Inquiries
For more information about SHEAR, guidance on how to be listed as a scholar on this website, assistance finding a scholar for your event, or any other general inquiries, please send us a message to shear@wm.edu.