This seminar, led by Drew McCoy of Clark University, will explore the period in U.S. history from 1789 to 1844, offering "in-depth exploration of historic personalities, themes, and events and intensive work with primary source materials."

"This course examines the development of American political parties, focusing on the meaning of parties and historic moments in the rise and fall of political parties from the Founding era to the present. Topics may include re-aligning elections, changing coalitions within American parties, and the contemporary Democratic and Republican parties."

"Franklin's 'Autobiography' and Jefferson's 'Notes on the State of Virginia' are exemplary expressions of the principles that inform the American way of life. The course aims to recover what such a claim means by paying careful attention to what the books say about nature, human desires, reason, education, religion, government, farming, commerce, and several other things. As time permits, we will consider related writings of Franklin and Jefferson."

"This course is an intensive study of the constitutional convention, the struggle over ratification of the Constitution, and the creation of the Bill of Rights. It will include a close examination of the Federalist Papers and the antifederalist papers."

"This course examines the lives, character, political thought and political practice of two of America's leading thinkers and statesmen, viz., James Madison and Woodrow Wilson. Close attention will be given to the relationship between ideas and actions in their political careers."

"James Madison's 'Notes' are by far the best record we have of the deliberations in the Constitutional Convention. They are one of the most authoritative records we have of the intentions of the framers of the Constitution when they were drafting that document. In this course we will study these 'Notes' as thoroughly as we can, aiming at a fuller understanding of the Constitution and the founding statesmanship that produced it."

"This course focuses on three topics: political developments in North America and the British empire and the arguments for and against independence, culminating in the Declaration of Independence; the Revolutionary War as a military, social and cultural events in the development of the American nation and state; and the United States under the Articles of Confederation."

"The Federalist is a complex political work comprised of arguments about war, economics, national unity, and liberty (among other things) based on appeals to human nature, history, reason, and prudence. In this course we will examine and discuss the Federalist as fully and as deeply we can, aiming to understand how (or whether) its parts fit together in a coherent whole and its enduring contribution to our understanding of politics."

"This course is an intensive study of the constitutional convention, the struggle over ratification of the Constitution, and the creation of the Bill of Rights. It will include a close examination of the Federalist Papers and the antifederalist papers."

"This course focuses on three topics: political developments in North America and the British empire and the arguments for and against independence, culminating in the Declaration of Independence; the Revolutionary War as a military, social and cultural events in the development of the American nation and state; and the United States under the Articles of Confederation."