Professor Jack Rakove looks at the creation of the Bill of Rights by the Founding Fathers, focusing particularly on James Madison's work and beliefs related to the Bill of Rights. He uses writings by Madison as a framework.
Professor Caroline Cox looks at the U.S. Constitution, its perception today, and the cultural and social context within which it was written. She argues that the Constitution represents a language and vocabulary within which society of the day was immersed.
Professor Jennifer Spear reviews the life of free black woman Jacqueline Lemelle in 18th-century New Orleans. Spear uses Lemelle's life as a frame to discuss 18th-century race relations and 18th-century New Orleans.
Professor Caroline Cox reviews the life of George Washington, examining the difficulties of sorting factual historical information from created mythology.
Professor Dee Andrews reviews the life of Benjamin Franklin, focusing on Franklin's own written materials as a window into his personality and the culture and times within which he lived.
Professor Clarence Walker reviews the life of ex-slave and abolitionist Olaudah Equiano (1745-1797), using his autobiography as a frame for discussion. He looks at Equiano's experiences of the slave trade and life as both a slave (in North America and other locations) and a free man (in England).
Professor Clarence Walker reviews the life of abolitionist Frederick Douglass, drawing on Douglass's first autobiography.
Professor Harry V. Jaffa analyzes the text of the Declaration of Independence, focusing particularly on its reference to equality. He interprets equality as resting on freedom of religion and on the separation of church and state—that is, on rejecting individual divine favor as setting anyone above anyone else.
This lecture continues from The Declaration in American History and World History, Part One.
Professor Harry V. Jaffa analyzes the text of the Declaration of Independence, focusing particularly on its reference to equality. He interprets equality as resting on freedom of religion and on the separation of church and state—that is, on rejecting individual divine favor as setting anyone above anyone else.
This lecture continues in The Declaration in American History and World History, Part Two.
Professor Michael Anton traces the trend of U.S. popular cynicism and criticism of government back through the history of the U.S. to the Federalist Papers. He continues further back in time to consider whether the Founders' cynicism was inspired by classical sources such as the Greeks and Machiavelli's The Prince.
This lecture continues from Republicanism: Cynicism and Nobility in Theory and Practice, Part One.