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PSI 2206 American Political Thought
Instructor: Peter Schimert
Office Hours: Tues. and Thurs., 14:00-15:00; and by appointment
Methods: Discussion
Goals: To expose the student to some of the leading political ideas and theories that have shaped the history of the United States; 2, To improve the student' s ability to understand and explain the events that have helped to establish and develop American democracy.
Required Reading: Kenneth M. Dolbeare and Michael Cummings, eds., American Political Thought (6th edition).
Course Requirements: Each student is expected to attend class regularly, do the assigned readings, contribute to the class discussions, take the midterm test and the final examination, as well as write a brief research paper on some narrower aspect of American political theory.
Evaluation: Grades will be determined in the following manner:
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Contributions to the class discussions 20%
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Brief research paper (6-8 pages) 20%
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Midterm Test 20%
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Final Examination 40%
Attendance: The student is expected to attend classes regularly. In accordance with the regulations of McDaniel College, students with more than three unexcused absences will have their grades reduced.
Schedule of Reading Assignments and Discussions:
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Introduction
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American History
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Colonial Political Thought (15-28)
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Benjamin Franklin (28-39)
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Samuel Adams, Benjamin Rush, and Thomas Paine (39-58)
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The Declaration of Independence and the Articles of Confederation (58-67)
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John Adams; the Constitution (67-88)
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Arguments for the Adoption of the Constitution, (88-123)
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Arguments against the Adoption of the Constitution (124-137)
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Alexander Hamilton' s Program (137-149)
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Thomas Jefferson' s Principles and Program (150-174)
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George Washington (175-183)
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Civil Disobedience, Women' s Suffrage (221-236)
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Hungarian Public Holiday! No Class
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Midterm Test
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The Great Debate over Slavery (203-207, 236-262)
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Abraham Lincoln (263-277)
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Civil Rights, Women' s Rights, Liberalism (291-301)
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Spring Break, No Class
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Spring Break, No Class
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Populism (334-339, 346-356)
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Minorities: Indians and Blacks (359-364, 374-386)
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Emma Goldman: Anarchism and Women' s Rights (386-399)
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Herbert Croly (415-425)
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Progressivism (425-431, 438-443)
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Franklin Delano Roosevelt (452-466)
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Hungarian Public Holiday, No Class
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John F. Kennedy, Civil Rights and Women' s Rights (478-488, 510-515)
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Aldo Leopold, the Environment (515-526)
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Ronald Reagan and Patrick J. Buchanan (541-550, 575-579)
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Final Examinations
Please Note! This class will be conducted in strict observance of the Honor Code and all written work must be pledged and signed before it can be graded.
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