HIST 2650 - CL History of American Democracy
Fall 2026 Syllabus, Section 13, CRN 44121,
Credit hours: 3
Course Meeting Times
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Instructor
Brian Moffat
Email: bemoffat@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 | The Declaration of Independence | Thomas Jefferson | |
| Required | United States Constitution | James Madison | |
| Required | Federalist Papers (No. 10, 39, 42, 51, 78) | James Madison/Alexander Hamilton | |
| Required | The Wealth of Nations | Adam Smith | |
| Required | The Emancipation Proclamation | Abraham Lincoln | |
| Required | The Gettysburg Address | Abraham Lincoln | |
| Required | Letter from the Birmingham Jail | Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. |
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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Daily Schedule
| Day | Date | Reading(s) | Proposed Topic | Due/To Prepare for Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mon | 8/24 | Class Orientation | ||
| Wed | 8/26 | Declaration of Independence | The enlightenment's effect on Independence | |
| Fri | 8/28 | Declaration of Independence | Why Independence? | |
| Mon | 8/31 | Declaration of Independence | Dissecting the text | |
| Wed | 9/2 | Winthrop, “A Model of Christian Charity” Maryland’s “Act of Religious Toleration” |
Class discussion on the readings | |
| Fri | 9/4 | Statues of Virginia (1667-1682) Haudenosaunee “Great Law of Peace” (c. 1750) |
Class discussion on the readings | Comparative Analysis Primary Analysis |
| Mon | 9/7 | NO CLASS | ||
| Wed | 9/9 | Federalist Paper No. 10: faction/partisanship | What are the Federalist Papers? Class discussion on the readings |
|
| Fri | 9/11 | No. 39: Republicanism | Class discussion on the readings | |
| Mon | 9/14 | No. 42: powers of Congress/states | Class discussion on the readings | |
| Wed | 9/16 | No. 51: federalism/checks and balances | Class discussion on the readings | |
| Fri | 9/18 | No. 78: independent judiciary | Class discussion on the readings | |
| Mon | 9/21 | Articles of Confederation Constitution of the United States |
Why the Articles of Confederation Failed Federalism versus Democratic Republicanism. |
|
| Wed | 9/23 | Constitution of the United States | The Bill of Rights | |
| Fri | 9/25 | Constitution of the United States | The amendments and the future | Comparative Analysis Primary Analysis Comparative Analysis Primary Analysis |
| Mon | 9/28 | Smith, The Wealth of Nations | Class discussion on the reading Building America on Capitalism |
|
| Wed | 9/30 | Owen, “Discourses” | Class discussion on the reading | |
| Fri | 10/2 | from De Tocqueville, Democracy in America | Class discussion on the reading | |
| Mon | 10/5 | “Declaration of Rights & Sentiments” | Class discussion on the reading | |
| Wed | 10/7 | Dred Scott v. Sandford | Class discussion on the reading | Comparative Analysis Primary Analysis |
| Fri | 10/9 | Stephens, “Cornerstone Speech” | Class discussion on the reading | |
| Mon | 10/12 | Lincoln, The Emancipation Proclamation | The Civil War and the Union on the brink Class discussion on the reading |
|
| Wed | 10/14 | Lincoln, The Gettysburg Address | Class discussion on the reading | |
| Fri | 10/16 | The Reconstruction Amendments (1865-1870) | Overview of Reconstruction Class discussion on the reading |
|
| Mon | 10/19 | The Reconstruction Amendments (1865-1870) | Class discussion on the reading | |
| Wed | 10/21 | Chief Joseph, “An Indian’s View on Indian Affairs” | Class discussion on the reading | Comparative Analysis Primary Analysis #1 Primary Analysis #2 |
| Fri | 10/23 | from Riis, How the Other Half Lives | Class Discussion on the pictures | |
| Mon | 10/26 | from Turner, “The Sig. of the Frontier” | Video on How the Other Half Lives Class Discussion on the reading |
|
| Wed | 10/28 | DuBois, “Returning Soldiers” | Class Discussion on the reading | |
| Fri | 10/30 | Roosevelt, “The Four Freedoms” | Class Discussion on the recording | |
| Mon | 11/2 | Nixon, “The Kitchen Debate” | Class Discussion on the video | |
| Wed | 11/4 | King, “Letter from Birmingham Jail” Protest songs |
Video of Civil Rights Movement Listen/Watch a few examples |
|
| Fri | 11/6 | King, “Letter from Birmingham Jail” | Class Discussion on reading | |
| Mon | 11/9 | Hernandez v. Texas | Class Discussion on reading | |
| Wed | 11/11 | NO CLASS | ||
| Fri | 11/13 | The Port Huron Statement | Class Discussion on reading | |
| Mon | 11/16 | from Friedan, The Feminine Mystique (1963) | Class Discussion on reading | |
| Wed | 11/18 | "Practice" Exam Review | ||
| Fri | 11/20 | "Practice" Final Exam | If you pass the "Practice" Final (60%+) you do not have to take the Final Exam. If you want to take the Final to get a better score, I will give you the higher of the two scores. | Comparative Analysis Primary Analysis |
| Mon | 11/23 | Schlafly, “What’s Wrong with ‘Equal Rights’ for Women” | Class Discussion on reading | |
| Wed | 11/25 | NO CLASS | ||
| Fri | 11/27 | NO CLASS | ||
| Mon | 11/30 | Carter, “Crisis of Confidence” | Watch and discuss the video | |
| Wed | 12/2 | Reagan, First Inaugural Address | Watch and discuss the video | |
| Fri | 12/4 | Bush, State of the Union | Watch and discuss the video | |
| Wed | 12/9 | Final Exam |
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.