HIST 2650 - CL History of American Democracy
Fall 2026 Syllabus, Section 11, CRN 43842,
Credit hours: 3
Course Meeting Times
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Instructor
John Patrick
Email: jjpatrick@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 |
Declaration of Independence
U.S. Constitution
Federalist Papers no. 10, 39,42,51,78
Wealth of Nations
Emancipation Proclamation
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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Schedule of Topics and Assignments
| Week of | Reading(s) | Proposed Topic | Due/To Prepare for Class |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8/24 | Winthrop, "A Model of Christian Charity" (1630) Maryland's " Act of Religious Toleration" (1649) from Statutes of Virginai (1667-1682) |
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 (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 | 2b The New Republic | Quiz-21 September Comparative Source Assignment 23 September Primary Source Assignment 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 & Sentiments" (1848) Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857) |
Comparative Source Assignment 5 October Primary Source Assignment 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 (1865-1870) Chief Joseph, "An Indian's View on Indian Affairs" (1879) |
Comparative Source Assignment-19 October Primary Source Analysis-a-22 October Primary Source Analysis-b-23 October |
|
| 10/26 | from Riis, "How the Other Half Lives (1890) (images) 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) (audio) Nixon, "The Kitchen Debate" (1959) (audio/visual) |
Comparative Source Assignment- 4 November Primary Source Analysis-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) selection of protest music (audio) |
Comparitive Source Assignment-18 November Primary Source Analysis-20 November |
|
| 11/23 | Schlafly, "What's Wrong with 'Equal Rights' for Women" (1972) Carter, "Crisis of Confidence" (1979) (audio/visual) Reagan, First Inaugural Address (1981) (audio/visual) |
7: Modern America | PRETEST FOR FINAL 23 November Quiz-24 November |
| 11/30 | Buchanan, "Address to the RNC" (1992) (audio/visual) Bush, State of the Union (2002) (audio/visual) |
Comparative Source Assignment-2 December Primary Source Analysis-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.