HIST 2650 - CL History of American Democracy
Fall 2026 Syllabus, Section 07, CRN 43838,
Credit hours: 3
Course Meeting Times
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Instructor
Jonathan Lower
Email: jslower@ysu.edu
Course Description
2650. CL History of American Democracy. A one semester survey of the American past focusing on history and civic literacy. The emphasis will be on important developments in American political, economic, and social history; particularly on the emergence and evolution of the concepts of democracy and the American economic system. No prerequisite. Meets state "Civic Literacy" requirements. 3 s.h.
Course Readings
| Group | Title | Author | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Required | 1. The Declaration of Independence | Thomas Jefferson | |
| Required | 2. The Constitution of the United States | Constitutional Congress | |
| Required | 3. Five of the Federalist Papers (No. 10, 39, 42, 51, 78) | James Madison and Alexander Hamilton | |
| Required | The Wealth of Nations | Adam Smith | |
| Required | 5. The Emancipation Proclamation | Abraham Lincoln | |
| Required | 6. The Gettysburg Address | Abraham Lincoln | |
| Required | 7. Letter from Birmingham Jail | Martin Luther King Jr. | |
| Required | US. History | Open Stax |
No required purchases; all materials are open-access.
The course readings are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances, research developments, current events, and/or to ensure better learning.
Assignments/Assessments
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Schedule of Topics and Assignments
| Week of | Reading(s) | Proposed Topic | Due/To Prepare for Class |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8/24 | Winthrop, "A Model of Christian Charity" 1680 Maryland's "Act of Religious Toleration" 1649 from Statues of Virginia 1667 |
1. Origins of the United States | Quiz - 26 August |
| 8/31 | from Haudenosaunee "Great Law of Peace" c. 1750 Declaration of Independence |
Comparative Source Assignment - 31 August Primary Source Analysis - 4 September |
|
| 9/7 | Articles of Confederation 1777 | 2a Founding the Republic | Quiz - 9 September |
| 9/14 | Northwest Ordinance 1787 Constitution of the United States |
Comparative Source Assignment - 14 September Primary Source Assignment - 18 September |
|
| 9/21 | The Federalist Papers No. 10: faction/partisanship No. 39 Republicanism No. 42 powers of Congress and State No. 51 Federalism No. 78 Independent Judiciary | 2b. Founding the Republic | Quiz - 21 September Comparative Source - 23 September Primary Source - 25 September |
| 9/28 | Smith, The Wealth of Nations 1776 Owen, "Discourses" 1825 from De Tocqueville, Democracy in America 1835 |
3: American Capital | Quiz - 30 September |
| 10/5 | "Declaration of Rights and Sentiments 1848 Dred Scott v. Sandford 1857 |
Comparative Source - 5 October Primary Source - 9 October |
|
| 10/12 | Stephens "Cornerstone Speech" 1861 Lincoln, The Emancipation Proclamation 1863 Lincoln, The Gettysburg Address 1863 |
4: Union and Liberty in Crisis | Quiz - 14 October |
| 10/19 | The Reconstruction Amendments 1870 Chief Joseph, "An Indian's view on Indian Affairs" 1879 |
Comparative Source - 19 October Primary Source - 22 October Primary Source - 23 October |
|
| 10/26 | from Riis "How the Other Half Lives" 1890 from Turner "The Sig. of the Frontier" 1893 DuBois "Returning Soldiers" 1919 |
5: Democracy at Home and Abroad | Quiz - 28 October |
| 11/2 | Roosevelt "The Four Freedoms" 1941 Nixon "The Kitchen Debate" 1959 |
Comparative Source - 4 November Primary Source - 6 November |
|
| 11/9 | Hernandez v. Texas 1954 The Port Huron Statement 1962 King "Letter from Birmingham Jail" 1963 |
6: Pursuit of the American Promise | Quiz - 10 November |
| 11/16 | from Friedan "The Feminine Mystique" 1963 selections of protest music (audio) |
Comparative Source - 18 November Primary Source - 20 November |
|
| 11/23 | Schlafly "What's wrong with Equal Rights for Women" 1972 Carter, "Crisis of Confidence" 1979 Reagan, First Inaugural Address 1981 |
7: Modern America | Pretest for the Final Exam - 23 November Quiz - 24 November |
| 11/30 | Buchanan, Address to the RNC 1992 Bush, State of the Union 2002 |
Comparative Source - 2 December Primary Source - 4 December |
|
| 12/7 | Final Exam | retest if necessary |
The course schedule, policies, procedures, and assignments in this course are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances, by mutual agreement, and/or to ensure better learning.