Gene Fein, Ph.D., Adjunct Assistant Professor of History
Office Telephone (718) 817-3905 (Mon.-Fri., 9:00 AM-5:00 PM)
E-Mail: fein@fordham.edu
Course Meeting Times: June 6-7, 8:30 AM-5:00 PM; July 11-12, 8:30 AM-5:00 PM
Room: Westchester Campus
LGPO 3015 ― US Constitutional Moments
Summer 2015
This course is a study of the watershed moments in US Constitutional history. Several times in the history of the
United States, the US Constitution has undergone dramatic change, calling into question the meaning and legal
definitions of personal rights and liberties. Often, these moments changed the path of civil rights in the country, for
example: the passage of the Bill of Rights, the Reconstruction Amendments, and the New Deal era. Students will
explore these moments – and the moments change was considered but not accomplished – within the greater
historical and legal policy context of the United States.
Required Texts for Course:
Bodenhamer, David J. The Revolutionary Constitution, (Oxford UP, 2013).
ISBN 978-0199360444
Course Schedule
June 1
Pre-assignment due (see page 2 of syllabus under “Course
Requirements”); e-mail assignment to professor, fein@fordham.edu
Read: US Constitution (on Blackboard); Bodenhamer, Chap. 1
June 6 (morning)
Introduction to course
Topic: Writing & Ratification of the Constitution
Read: Bodenhamer, Chap. 2-4
June 6 (afternoon)
Moot Supreme Court: Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857)
You must submit your presentation selection at the end of class.
June 7 (morning)
Topic: Balance & Property
Read: Bodenhamer, Chap. 5-6
June 7 (afternoon)
Moot Supreme Court: Roe v. Wade (1973)
July 11 (morning)
Topic: Representation & Equality
Read: Bodenhamer, Chap. 7-8
July 11 (afternoon)
Moot Supreme Court: TBA
July 12 (morning)
Topic: Rights & Security
Read: Bodenhamer, Chap. 9-10
July 12 (afternoon)
Presentations
July 20, 11:59 PM
Paper is due; e-mail assignment to professor by 11:59 PM,
fein@fordham.edu
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Academic Integrity
Students are expected to follow the academic standards of Fordham University, as stated in the
“Undergraduate Arts & Sciences Policy of Academic Integrity” section of the Student Handbook. Any
violation of academic integrity will be dealt with swiftly and severely. Plagiarism and/or cheating on
exams will result in failure in addition to the penalties associated with academic dishonesty. Consult the
Student Handbook on www.fordham.edu/student_affairs for complete details.
Course Requirements
Pre-Assignment: Read Chapter 1, “Antecedants,” in David Bodenhamer The Revolutionary Constitution.
In a brief essay (2-3 pages), relate a Constitutional article or amendment to a particular issue, idea, event,
etc. discussed in chapter 1.
Classroom Attendance & Participation: This includes attendance, classroom preparedness, participation
in discussions, and ability to fulfill assignments. Students are expected to attend every meeting,
contribute to class, and submit any written assignments on the expressed due date. Absences are not
acceptable in intensive courses. Being absence will not be tolerated and may result in failure of the
course.
Presentation: Each student will select one of the presentation topics and present that topic in class on the
afternoon of July 15. The presentations should be 15 minutes.
Presentations must include (but are not limited to) the following:
• The historical context in which the topic took place;
• A critical analysis of the topic;
• Constitutional ramification(s) as a result of the decision/issue/event;
• Answer the question, “Why was this a Constitutional moment?”
Students may use any tools to enhance their presentations, such as PowerPoint presentations, handouts,
websites, etc. You must submit your presentation selection at the end of class on June 9.
Paper: Each student will be required to submit a paper based on your presentation. The paper must be a
minimum 10 pages that are typed and double-spaced, with proper margins. The paper should be a more
in-depth analysis of the presentation topic. There should be considerable (3-4 pages) focus on the
historical event and/or historical context in which the topic took place. This will require students to use
at least two secondary sources, such as a historical monograph, journal article, acceptable website (.edu
or .org site that must be approved by the professor), etc. The paper must be properly footnoted and
include a list of works cited.
Grading Policy
Each student’s final grade will be determined in the following manner:
Pre-Assignment ― 10% of grade
Classroom attendance & participation ― 30% of grade
Presentation ― 30% of grade
Paper ― 30% of grade
Letter grades are equivalent to the following numerical grades:
A = 93-100
C+ = 77-79
A- = 90-92
C = 73-76
B+ = 87-89
C- = 70-72
B = 83-86
D = 60-69
B- = 80-82
F = 59 & below
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Gene Fein, Ph.D., Adjunct Assistant Professor of History
Office Telephone (718) 817-3905 (Mon.-Fri., 9:00 AM-5:00 PM)
E-Mail: fein@fordham.edu
Course Meeting Times: June 6-7, 8:30 AM-5:00 PM; July 11-12, 8:30 AM-5:00 PM
Room: Westchester Campus
LGPO 3015 ― US Constitutional Moments
PRESENTATION & PAPER TOPICS
Selection is due at the end of class on June 6, 2015.
*If students wish to do a topic not on this list, you must get permission from the professor.
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Instructions: Examine the following list and indicate three choices in order of preference (e.g. #1 = 1
preference).
Name:
1. Establishing Early Jurisdiction: Marbury v. Madison (1803), McCulloch v. Maryland (1819), Gibbons v.
Ogden (1824) (Choice # _____ )
2. Louisiana Purchase (Choice # _____ )
3. Missouri Compromise (Choice # _____ )
4. Andrew Jackson’s Constitution Crises: Nullification Crisis, Bank War, & the Trail of Tears
(Choice # _____ )
5. The Constitution & Road to the Civil War: Compromise of 1850, Kansas-Nebraska Act, & Southern
Secession (Choice # _____ )
6. The Constitution & Lincoln: the Emancipation Proclamation and Suspension of Habeas Corpus
(Choice # _____ )
th
th
th
7. The Constitution & Reconstruction: 13 , 14 , 15 Amendments, Ex parte Milligan, & the Impeachment
of President Andrew Johnson (Choice # _____ )
8. Sherman Anti-Trust Act and Progressives’ Trust-Busting (Choice # _____ )
9. Constitutional Jim Crow: Mississippi Plan (1890), Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) & Brown v. Board of
Education (1954) (Choice # _____ )
th
st
10. Prohibition: 18 & 21 Amendments (Choice # _____ )
th
11. Women’s Suffrage: 19 Amendment (Choice # _____ )
12. Civil Liberties During World War I: Espionage and Sedition Acts of 1917 & 1918 (Choice # _____ )
13. FDR & the New Deal vs. the Supreme Court (Choice # _____ )
14. Cold War: Smith Act, McCarran Internal Security Act, Communist Control Act (Choice # _____ )
15. Affirmative Action (Choice # _____ )
16. Watergate Crisis (Choice # _____ )
17. President Bill Clinton and Impeachment (Choice # _____ )
18. Presidential Elections in Question: Elections of 1800 and 2000 (Choice # _____ )
19. War on Terror (Choice # _____ )
20. Affordable Care Act (Choice # _____ )
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