What's New at the Bell Research Center
This page was last updated: August 17, 2010
The Bell Research Center
is pleased to announce our Fall Lecture Series
.....FOUNDING THE REPUBLIC   1500-1783....
Please mark your calendars and join us as Dr. Bill Potter returns to the Bell Research Center with a remarkable journey through the foundations of our nation’s history.
The lectures will once again be on Tuesday Evenings, at 7:00 PM.

Our venue has changed however, and we will be hosting the series at the Brannon-Heard House, located at 111 Pilgrim Mill Road, across the street from the Historic Cumming Schoolhouse.


I. August 24th   "Foundations"
This lecture will cover the influence of the Protestant Reformers, both spiritual and intellectual, upon the nation of England, especially in regard to the men whose lives unwittingly prepared the way for the English-speaking settlers who came to America in the 17th century. The impact of the Reformation in England affected all of society from the university intellectuals to the cut-throat sea dogs who raided the Spanish Main.

II. September 7th   "First Colonies"
The Jamestown, Plymouth, and Massachusetts Bay Colonies all contributed to the cultural uniqueness of the United States. The mortar for those earlier foundations of freedom was pointed and shaped in those places and in the subsequent colonies. Struggles with the environment, both human and ecological, almost defeated the early efforts at permanent settlement. Perseverance and courage won out.

III. September 21st   "Fighting for Mother"
Beside several wars with the natives of the Eastern seaboard, the American Colonies had to fight all the enemies of Britain whenever the Mother country went to war. After 1688 France became the perennial international foe. King William’s War, Queen Anne’s War, and King George’s War brought military challenges to the American colonists and established a pattern of conflict with foreign nations that persisted until 1815.

IV. October 5th  "French and Indians"
The most important and far-reaching colonial war was known as "The Seven Years War" in Europe and "The French and Indian War" in America. Fought in the forests and fields of North America, victory for England doubled the size of the empire. The results of that war led to resistance and rebellion and finally independence.

V. October 19th  "Fathers Take a Stand"
Who were the men who brought about independence and formed the Republic? Some are well known to us but many are not. We will investigate the issues for which many Americans were prepared to fight and assert their independence: unconstitutional taxes, oppressive interference with local government, a high-handed tyrannical executive backed by an unresponsive legislature.

VI. November 9th  "Freedom is Costly"
This program will cover the length and breadth of the War for American Independence. The basic strategies and campaigns will be discussed along with some of the heroes whose names should be known by all Americans, but have been lost in the stew of what masquerades as American history in most schools.