Professor Matthew Spalding looks at the U.S. Constitution and the idea of originalism—that is, responding to the Constitution based on its Founders' original intent and meaning. He examines the document in an attempt to discover that original intent and meaning.
This lecture continues from the lecture Originalism and the Constitution, Part One.
Professor Matthew Spalding looks at the U.S. Constitution and the idea of originalism—that is, responding to the Constitution based on its Founders' original intent and meaning. He examines the document in an attempt to discover that original intent and meaning.
This lecture continues in Originalism and the Constitution, Part Two.
Professor Ralph A. Rossum examines the ways in which recent and current U.S. Supreme Court Justices interpret or seek to interpret their duties and the founding documents of the U.S. He looks at what precedents and interpretations of the Founders' intent are incorporated in contemporary justices' thought.
This lecture continues in Contemporary Supreme Court Approaches to Constitutional Interpretation, Part Two.
Professor David Hackett Fischer traces how definitions of the ideals of liberty and freedom have changed over the course of U.S. history, from the American Revolution to the present day. He looks particularly at visual and literary symbols that have been created to stand for these ideals.
Part Two of this lecture is currently not functioning.
Professor Victor Davis Hanson discusses the United States' military heritage, focusing on its dual use of large armies and small overseas intervention corps and on the U.S. definition of war. He relates this discussion to the current debates over the war in Iraq. This lecture continues from the lecture "The American Way of War, Part One."
Professor Victor Davis Hanson discusses the United States' military heritage, focusing on its dual use of large armies and small overseas intervention corps, and the U.S. definition of war. Hanson relates this discussion to the current debates over the war in Iraq.
Professor Christopher Flannery examines the prominence of the Declaration of Independence in U.S. history and present life, the context in which it was written, and the intentions of its drafters. He looks at the ethics and morality represented in the document.
To listen to this lecture, select the real audio link for session two.
Professors Christopher Flannery and David Tucker examine the definitions of the ideal American character, government, and values today and how they are both different from and similar to those of the past. They focus on the relations of the U.S. with the rest of the world and how these values affect these relations.
To listen to this lecture, follow the link below, and scroll down to the first seminar under Friday, August 6.
Robert Alt talks about what it means to be a United States citizen in the present day and world, focusing on discussion of the Patriot Act.
To listen to the lecture, follow the link below, and scroll down to the guest lecture under Thursday, August 5.
Professor David Tucker discusses the role of religion in the founding of the United States, its views by the Founding Fathers, and historical perceptions of religion and its relationship with the ideal American citizen and government. He examines the temperance movement and Abraham Lincoln's response to it.
To listen to this lecture, scroll down to 4:30 pm-6:00 pm on Tuesday, August third. This should be the lecture "Religion and America." Click on the Real Audio image or text in the gray bar to the left of the main text.
An older version of the lecture can be found here.