History 7434

History 743.4
U.S. Constitutional History
KC Johnson

Wednesday evenings, at 6.20pm

This course will examine U.S. constitutional history from the Revolutionary Era until the present day. Topics include the origins of the Constitution; the Marshall and Lincoln Courts; civil rights and affirmative action; and the current court in historical context.

The following books, which are required, can be purchased at Shakespeare; or online at amazon.com by following the links below:

Floyd Abrams, Speaking Freely: Trials of the First Amendment
Bernard Bailyn, Ideological Origins of the American Revolution
Barry Cushman, Rethinking the New Deal Court: The Structure of a Constitutional Revolution
Daniel Farber, Lincoln's Constitution
John Ferren, Salt of the Earth, Conscience of the Court: The Story of Justice Wiley Rutledge
Eric Foner, A Short History of Reconstruction
Howard Gillman, The Constitution Besieged: The Rise and Demise of Lochner Era Police Powers Jurisprudence
Linda Greenhouse, Becoming Justice Blackmun: Harry Blackmun's Supreme Court Journey
Michael Klarman, From Jim Crow to Civil Rights: The Supreme Court and the Struggle for Racial Equality
Jean Smith, John Marshall: Definer of a Nation
Mark Tushnet, A Court Divided: The Rehnquist Court and the Future of Constitutional Law
Gordon Wood, The Radicalism of the American Revolution
Robert Zelnick, Swing Dance: Sandra Day O'Connor and the Michigan Muddle

Requirements:

Research Paper (15 pages): 50%
Informed Class Participation: 30%
Preparation Study Questions: (two sets, 10% apiece)

Schedule:

August 31: Introduction

September 7: Bailyn, Ideological Origins of the American Revolution
study questions

September 14: Wood, The Radicalism of the American Revolution
study questions (Ken, Sevi, Moshe)

Documents:
This week we'll be exploring the debate over the Constitution. The four documents pair specific Federalist Papers with Brutus over two contentious constitutional issues (the military, the Senate).

Military Power: Brutus No. 8; Federalist No. 8 (Michael W.)
Nature of Senate: Brutus No. 16; Federalist No. 62 (Michael L., Patty)

September 21: Smith, John Marshall: Definer of a Nation Pages 1-20; 282-524
study questions (Josh, Allan, Justin)

Documents: Marshall decisions:

· Marbury (Joshua)

· McCulloch (Karia)

· Cherokee Nation (Sandy)

September 28: Farber, Lincoln's Constitution
study questions (David, Daniel G., Laura)

Documents:

· Ex parte Milligan (David G.)

· Gettysburg Address (1863) (Adi)

· Emancipation Proclamation (1863) (Gimel)

October 5: No class: college holiday

October 12: No class: college holiday