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American government was founded on the idea that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness. In this course we will examine some of the key debates about the meaning of those principles as they have developed in the history of American political thought. What is the meaning of our founding principles? How do American political institutions reflect and support those principles? What is the purpose of a principled constitution, and what is the nature of the relationship between constitutional government and democratic self-rule in the U.S.? Are political institutions enough to sustain the American principles, or is the character of citizens also important--and if so, what qualities of character do the American principles call forth? In what ways have the American principles been contested, and to what extent has the meaning of America changed over time? Can the American principles accommodate today's multiculturalism?
COURSE FORMAT: Lecture
Level: UGRD Credit: 1 Gen Ed Area Dept: SBS GOVT Grading Mode: Graded
Prerequisites: NONE
Last Updated on MAR-24-2000
Copyright Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut, 06459