America 250: The American Revolution - Part 1 (1775-1777)
Study Group (2-3 session | Registration opens Tuesday, February 3, 2026 10:00 AM
Join Mike Horsman, retired educator and lifelong student of American History, to explore the early years of the War for Independence as America celebrates its 250th birthday in 2026. This class will investigate the causes of the war and the conduct of the war from Lexington & Concord to Princeton. No one gave the plucky Colonists a chance against the might of Great Britain, the dominant military in the world. Despite the long odds, the colonists achieved several important victories against the British.
We will also be joined remotely by Larry Sands, from Massachusetts, during the second session of this class to share stories of the little-known Marblehead Mariners, their leader Colonel John Glover, and their indispensable service to General George Washington in the early days of the conflict. The final six years of the war will be covered in the subsequent two semesters.
*Note: The second session (3/12) will last 2.5 hours instead of 2.
This program will meet in person at OLLI Headquarters (HQ), located at 481 S. Shiloh Drive, Fayetteville, AR 72704. Please read your class reminder email for the exact room location.
Class changes occasionally happen; please watch for (and read) announcements or emails from OLLI regarding your class.
Click on the link below for a Google map shot of our location:
OLLI HQ
Michael Horsman
Mike Horsman is a retired educator with over 20 years of experience in the elementary school classroom. Before his teaching career, he excelled in sales and sales management for 22 years, honing his skills in communication and teamwork.
Now enjoying his retirement, Mike dedicates his time to traveling and engaging with his community. He is an avid Canasta player, passionate about sharing the game with others. With his approachable demeanor and wealth of experience, Mike creates a welcoming environment for players of all levels. Join him to learn, play, and connect through the joy of Canasta!
Larry Sands
Larry is Captain of Glover’s Marblehead Regiment, a Revolutionary War reenactment unit based in Massachusetts.
He has been a member since 1990 and has been involved in numerous reenactments along the East Coast.