HIST 2650 - CL History of American Democracy
Fall 2026 Syllabus, Section 15, CRN 44177,
Credit hours: 3
Course Meeting Times
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Instructor
Justin Madura
Email: jhmadura@ysu.edu
Course Description
Course Readings
| Group | Title | Author | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Required | OpenStax Textbook |
Students are required to read and demonstrate mastery over all of the following:
1. The Declaration of Independence
2. The Constitution of the United States
3. Five of the Federalist Papers (No. 10, 39, 42, 51, 78)
4. Adam Smith, The Wealth of Nations
5. The Emancipation Proclamation
6. The Gettysburg Address
7. Letter from Birmingham Jail
Students are also expected to utilize the following Supplemental documents:
Letter on First Voyage to America
A Model of Christian Charity
Maryland Act of Toleration
Statues of Virginia
Articles of Confederation
Northwest Ordinance
Tyranny Unmasked
Democracy in America
Declaration of Sentiments
Dred Scott Decision
Cornerstone Speech
Reconstruction Amendments
On Indian Affairs
Images from How the Other Half Lives
Significance of the Frontier
Returning Soldiers
Four Freedoms
Enemies from Within
The Sharon Statement
Port Huron Statement
The Feminine Mystique
Protest Music (Collection)
What's Wrong with (Equal Rights) for Women?
Crisis of Confidence
Reagan's First Inaugural Address
Buchanan's Address to RNC (Video)
Bush's State of Union Address (Video)
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 | Module 1 - “Letter on Voyage to America Module 1 - "A Model of Christian Charity" |
1: Origins of the United States | Quiz 1 due 8/28 |
| 8/31 | Module 1 - Maryland Act of Toleration Module 1 - Statutes of Virginia Module 1 - Declaration of Independence |
PSA 1 due 9/4 CSA 1 due Sunday, 9/6 |
|
| 9/7 | NO CLASS 9/7 - Labor Day Module 2a - Articles of Confederation Module 2a - Northwest Ordinance |
2a: Revolutionary Governments | Quiz 2a due 9/9 |
| 9/14 | Module 2a - United States Constitution Module 2b - Federalist No. 10 Module 2b - Federalist No. 39 |
2b: Revolutionary Governments, Continued | Quiz 2b due 9/14 PSA 2a due 9/18 CSA 2a due Sunday 9/20 |
| 9/21 | Module 2b - Federalist No. 42 Module 2b - Federalist No. 51 Module 2b - Federalist No. 78 |
PSA 2b due 9/25 CSA 2b due Sunday 9/27 |
|
| 9/28 | Module 3 - "The Wealth of Nations" Module 3 - "Tyranny Unmasked" Module 3 - "Democracy in America" |
3: Economic Transformations | Quiz 3 due 9/30 |
| 10/5 | Module 3 - Declaration of Sentiments Module 3 - Dred Scott v. Sandford Module 4 - Cornerstone Speech |
4: Union and Liberty in Crisis | PSA 3 due 10/9 CSA 3 due Sunday, 10/11 |
| 10/12 | Module 4 - Emancipation Proclamation Module 4 - Gettysburg Address Module 4 - Reconstruction Amendments |
Quiz 4 due 10/14 PSA 4a due Sunday, 10/18 |
|
| 10/19 | Module 4 - "On Indian Affairs" Module 5 - Images from "How the Other Half Lives" Module 5 - "The Significance of the Frontier" |
5: Democracy at Home and Abroad | PSA 4b due 10/23 CSA 4 due Sunday, 10/25 |
| 10/26 | Module 5 - "Returning Soldiers" Module 5 - "The Four Freedoms" Module 5 - "Enemies from Within" |
Quiz 5 due 10/26 PSA 5 due 10/30 CSA 5 due Sunday, 11/1 |
|
| 11/2 | Module 6 - The Sharon Statement Module 6 - Port Huron Statement Module 6 - Letter from Birmingham Jail |
6: Pursuit of the American Promise | Quiz 6 due 11/4 |
| 11/9 | Module 6 - "The Feminine Mystique" 11/11 - NO CLASS - Veterans Day Module 6 - Protest Music |
PSA 6 due 11/13 CSA 6 due Sunday, 11/15 |
|
| 11/16 | Module 7 - "What's Wrong with 'Equal Rights' for Women?" Module 7 - "Crisis of Confidence" |
7: Modern America | PRACTICE FINAL 11/16 |
| 11/23 | Module 7 - Reagan's First Inaugural Address NO CLASS 11/25 and 11/27 - Thanksgiving Break |
Quiz 7 due 11/23 | |
| 11/30 | Module 7 - Buchanan's Address to the RNC" Module 7 - Bush's State of the Union Address |
PSA 7 due 12/4 CSA 7 due 12/6 |
|
| 12/7 | FINAL EXAM 12/11 | FINAL EXAM 10:30AM to 12:30PM |
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.