HIST 2650 - CL History of American Democracy
Fall 2026 Syllabus, Section 09, CRN 43840,
Credit hours: 3
Course Meeting Times
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Instructor
Daniel Ayana
Email: dayana@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.
Catalog Description
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.
Course Readings
| Group | Title | Author | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Required |
Students are required to read and demonstrate mastery over all of the following:
- The Declaration of Independence
- The Constitution of the United States
- Five of the Federalist Papers (No. 10, 39, 42, 51, 78)
- Adam Smith, The Wealth of Nations
- The Emancipation Proclamation
- The Gettysburg Address
- Letter from Birmingham Jail
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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Bi-Weekly Assignments
| Week of | Reading(s) | Proposed Topic | Due/To Prepare for Class |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8/24 | Withrop, "A Model of Christian Charity" (1630) Maryland's "Act of Toleration" (1649) from Statues of Virginia (1667-1692) From Haudenosaunee"Great Law of Peace" The Declaration of Independence (1776) |
Origins of the United States | Comparative Source Assignment Primary Source Analysis due: September 5, 2026 11:59 pm |
| 8/31 | No Assignments Due This Week | ||
| 9/7 | Articles of Confederation (1777) Northwest Ordinance (1787) Constitution of the United States |
Revolutionary Governments; beginnings of American Democracy | Comparative Source Assignment, Primary soruce Analysis due September 19, 2026. 11:59 pm |
| 9/14 | No Assignments Due This Week | ||
| 9/21 | The Federalist Papers 1787-1788 No. 10 (faction/partisanship, No. 39 republicanism; No. 42 Powers of Congress/States; No. 51 federalism/checks and balances. No. 78 Independent Judiciary |
Revolutionary Governments | Comparative Source Assignment, Primary source analysis due October 3, 2026 11:59pm |
| 9/28 | No Assignments Due This Week | ||
| 10/5 | A.Smith, The Wealth of Nations (1776) Owen, “Discourses” (1825) from De Tocqueville, Democracy in America (1835) “Declaration of Rights & Sentiments” (1848) |
Economic Transformations | Comparative Source Analsys Primary source Analysis due October 17, 2026 11: 59 pm |
| 10/12 | No Assignments Due This Week | ||
| 10/19 | Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857) Stephens, “Cornerstone Speech” (1861) Lincoln, The Emancipation Proclamation (1863) Lincoln, The Gettysburg Address (1863) The Reconstruction Amendments (1865-1870) Chief Joseph, “An Indian’s View on Indian Affairs” (1879) |
Union and Liberty in Crisis | Primary Source Analysis, due October 31, 2026, 11:59 pm |
| 10/26 | No Assignments Due This Week | ||
| 11/2 | from Riis, How the Other Half Lives (1890) [images} from Turner, “The Sig. of the Frontier” (1893) DuBois, “Returning Soldiers” (1919) Roosevelt, “The Four Freedoms” (1941) [audio] Nixon, “The Kitchen Debate” (1959) [audio/visual] |
Democracy at Home and Abroad | Comparative Source Assignment, Primary source Analysism, November 14, 2026, 11: 59 pm |
| 11/9 | No Assignments Due This Week | ||
| 11/16 | Hernandex v. Texas (1954) The Port Huron Statement (1962) King, “Letter from Birmingham Jail” (1963) from Friedan, The Feminine Mystique (1963) selections of Protest music [audio] |
Pursuit of American Promise | Primary source Analysis, due November 21, 2026 11:59 pm |
| 11/23 | No Assignments Due This Week | ||
| 11/30 | Schlafly, “What’s Wrong with ‘Equal Rights’ for Women” (1972) Carter, “Crisis of Confidence” (1979) [audio/visual] Reagan, First Inaugural Address (1981) [audio/visual] Buchanan, “Address to the RNC” (1992) [audio/visual] Bush, State of the Union (2002) [audio/visual] |
Modern America | Primary source Analysis, due December 5, 2026 11:59 pm |
| 12/7 | Final Exam | Revising Major topics in the above Modules Passing score 60% or above. | Final Exam Due Monday December 7, 2026, 11:59pm |
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.