American Constitutional Development
History/Political Science 407 A/B & Y/Z & 5507 Y/Z
(Prerequisites: HIS 211-212 or Instructor’s Consent)
Fall 2010
Professor Ron Howard
Nelson Hall, 111
Office: 925-3203
Home 924-6874
I.
Office Hours:
R 5-6 pm
Others by Appointments
at your convenience
OVERVIEW
The purpose of this course is to examine in historical perspective the ideas, practices, and
institutions that shaped the constitutional development of the United States.
Beginning with its English common law and colonial origins, we shall trace the
evolution of American “constitutionalism,” noting in particular what constitutionalism
is, the structure of colonial governments, the political thought of the Revolution, and
the creation of the federal Constitutional of 1787.
Special emphasis will be given to federal and state relations in the New Republic, to the
judicial nationalism of the Federalist Party and John Marshall, to the democratic
nationalism of the Jeffersonians, and to the dual federalism of Andrew Jackson and
Roger Taney.
We shall also examine the Constitution in the light of slavery and rising sectionalism,
the Civil War, and Reconstruction. Our study will conclude about 1877, with special
consideration of the fate of the former slaves, now freedmen.
II.
OBJECTIVES
1) Understand the major political principles in the American constitutional
tradition.
2) Learn the sequence of historical events that have shaped our Constitution.
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3) Explain the legal reasoning employed in interpreting the American constitutional
experience.
4) Apply critical thinking skills, precision and analysis in writing and speaking,
and mastery of published sources for research and further study are all skills
that should be refined in this course.
5) Deepen knowledge and understanding of American society and politics.
III.
BOOKS
1.
Melville I. Urofsky and Paul Finkelman, A March of Liberty: A Constitutional
History of the United States, vol. I: From the Founding to 1890. New York &
Oxford, 2002.
2.
John A. Garraty, ed., Quarrels that Have Shaped the Constitution, rev. &
expanded ed., 1987.
IV.
NATURE OF THE COURSE AND REQUIREMENTS
1. This course is a mixture of lecture, class discussion, and oral reports. Therefore,
you are REQUIRED to read each assignment before the class meets and be
prepared to discuss what you have read and reflected upon.
2. You MUST be thoroughly prepared for each class meeting if fellow students are
to get the full benefit of your best thinking. Your contribution to class discussion
will improve your final grade.
3. CLASS ATTENDANCE IS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY. According to the
MC Catalog, any student with more than one week of absences may have
his/her grade reduced one letter grade for each week of absences. Three
absences in this night class will automatically result in an F for the class on
the basis of inadequate attendance.
4. You will usually have a quiz over each assignment. Be prepared. The quiz will
be brief, but you must be fairly familiar with the assigned materials to make a
good grade. The quiz may include either objective or essay questions. NO
MAKEUPS. Missed quizzes are graded as zero.
5. This course is designated as writing intensive. You will be given separate
information regarding the writing assignments. Suffice it to say here that you
must write an essay every other week and prepare a full-length research
paper.
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6. You will also report orally to the class on the topic of your term paper. That
report is due whenever we reach your topic in our reading assignments.
Suggested topics are included in the writing assignment syllabus.
GRADING
Your grade will be based on the following work:
1.
2.
3.
Three exams throughout the term, 20% each=60%
Term paper and oral report, together counting 20%
Quizzes, weekly essays, and class discussion, counting 20%
(Most of this will come from your quiz grades, but good jobs on your
essays and class discussions can boost your final grade)
Missed exams will be penalized a full letter grade (10 pts) and can be taken only with the
final exam (possibly earlier with agreement between student and instructor).
Grading scale:
V.
A
B
C
D
F
90-100
80-89
70-79
60-69
59-
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
Students are on their honor, both in terms of taking quizzes, exams and writing papers.
This means that any type of cheating is absolutely prohibited, including plagiarizing or
copying others work. Please consult the Mississippi College Undergraduate Catalog
(p. 60) for a more detailed explanation of academic integrity at MC. You are required to
turn in an e-copy of your term paper, and it will be checked against the plagiarism
software, TurnItin.
VI. STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES
In order for a student to receive disability accommodations under Section 504 of the
Americans with Disabilities Act, he or she must schedule an individual meeting with the
Director of Student Counseling Services immediately upon recognition of their
disability (if their disability is known they must come in before the semester begins or
make an appointment immediately upon receipt of their syllabi for the new semester).
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The student must bring with them written documentation from a medical physician and/or
licensed clinician that verifies their disability. If the student has received prior
accommodations, they must bring written documentation of those accommodations
(example Individualized Education Plan from the school system). Documentation must
be current (within 3 years).
The student must meet with SCS face-to face and also attend two (2) additional follow
up meetings (one mid semester before or after midterm examinations and the last one at
the end of the semester). Please note that the student may also schedule additional
meetings as needed for support through SCS as they work with their professor throughout
the semester. Note: Students must come in each semester to complete their
Individualized Accommodation Plan (example: MC student completes fall semester IAP
plan and even if student is a continuing student for the spring semester they must come in
again to complete their spring semester IAP plan).
Student Counseling Services is located in Alumni Hall Room #4 (near the Post Office) or
they may be contacted via email at christia@mc.edu or rward@mc.edu. You may also
reach them by phone at 601-925-7790. Dr. Amy Christian is director of MC Student
Counseling Services.
VII.
GRADUATE STUDENTS
If you are taking this course for graduate credit, the quality level of your work term paper, oral report, and exams - should be higher than that of undergraduates
and will be graded more rigorously.
1. In addition, you must read three additional books - relating to each of the
three Sectional Headings we cover in the Syllabus - and write a book review,
due at the time of each sectional exam.
2. You will share make copies and distribute your book review to the other
graduate students at each exam date. The week following the exam,
graduate students will meet in an extra class session to discuss their reading
with each other and Dr. Howard. Info on the book review is on the Writing
Syllabus, distributed separately.
3. For the style of both the book review and the term paper, please consult the
History Department’s WRITING HANDBOOK. 2nd floor Jennings Hall. This
guide should be purchased from the book store.
Book review grades will be calculated as part of the 20% for quiz, essays, and class
participation.
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Weekly Assignments
UNIT I:
1.
FROM ENGLISH COLONIES TO AMERICAN NATION
August 26
Introduction to American Constitutionalism
Colonial Government: The Founding & Imperial
Policy
Read: U & F, Ch. 1, pp. 1-16.
Select topic for oral report & term paper.
2.
September 02
Colonial Government: Theory & Practice &
Revolution
Read: U & F, Chs. 2-3, pp. 17-60.
Chapter Essay due on Chs. 1-3.
TURN IN 3 TOPICS FOR ORAL REPORT
AND PAPER
3.
September 9
Revolutionary Constitutionalism
Read: U & F, Ch. 4, pp. 61-119.
EXTRA CREDIT LECTURE Sept. 16, Thursday, 2:00 PM. Upstairs
in BC Roger Board Room (West End): Constitution Day Speaker
Professor Matt Steffey, MC School of Law
4.
September 16
Republican Constitutionalism
Read: U & F, Chs. 5-6, pp. 80-119.
Essay due on Chs. 3-6.
5.
September 23
EXAM I
U & F, Chs. 1-6.
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UNIT II:
6.
FROM NATIONAL SUPREMACY TO DUAL
SOVEREIGNTY
September 30
Launching the Gov’t & Courts
Read: U & F, Chs. 7-8, pp. 120-164.
Essay due on Ch. 7 or 8.
Graduate Student Discussion Session
Octber 6
7.
Writing Proficiency Exam, 3 and 6 PM, Anderson Hall
October 7
Law & Politics in the Young Republic
Read: U & F, Chs. 9-10, pp. 165-206.
Garraty, 1-20.
8.
October 14
John Marshal & Nationalism & Sectionalism
Read: U & F, Chs. 11-13, pp. 207-270.
Garraty, 21-70.
Essay due on Chapters 9-11
October 16
9.
October 21
October 29
Homecoming Weekend
Exam II
U & F, Chs. 7-13.
Garraty, 1-70.
DROP DEADLINE: For Traditional Courses
UNIT III: ANTEBELLUM POLITICS, SLAVERY
ANDCONSTITUTIONAL CRISIS
10.
October 28
Antebellum Politics
Read: U & F, Chs. 14-15, pp. 271-319.
Garraty, 71-87.
Essay on Ch. 14 or 15.
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November 8
Registration for Sping Semeters 2010 begins
11. November 4
Justice Roger B. Taney & Slavery
Read: U & F, Chs. 16-17, pp. 320-365.
Essay due on Ch. 16.
12. November 11
Civil War
Read: U & F, Chs. 18-19, pp. 365-428.
Garraty, 88-119.
13. November 18
Reconstruction
Read: U & F, Chs. 20-21, pp. 429-478.
TERM PAPERS DUE
NOVEMBER 23
Thanksgivng Holidays
November 23 5:00 PM thru November 26
14. December 2
Reconstruction Aftermath
Read: U & F, Chs. 20-21, pp. 429-478
15. December 9
Final Exam, 6 PM
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