Professors Lucas E. Morel and Diana Schaub discuss the Founding Fathers' intentions in drafting the founding documents of the United States and the views of slavery, freedom, and equality that may be taken from these documents.

Professor David Tucker looks at the views of religion, government, and the ideal American citizen and way of life presented in early 20th-century writing and contrasts them with the views on the same subjects held by the Founding Fathers. He uses writing by the authors Flannery O'Connor (1925–1964), Herbert Croly (1869–1930), and Howard W. Kellog.

Professor Christopher Flannery looks at the autobiography of novelist, journalist, historian, and academic Henry Adams (1838–1918). Flannery focuses on what it says about the "American character" and how Adams saw it changing at the turn of the century.

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.

Professor David Tucker compares and contrasts John Quincy Adams and Andrew Jackson's views of the ideal American citizen and government, as suggested in their presidential speeches.

Professor Christopher Flannery walks through the Federalist Papers. He focuses particularly on the view they suggest of human nature.

Professor Christopher Flannery examines the ideals and values associated with being "American," what those ideals mean, and where they originated. Flannery looks at the founding documents of the United States and the positions of the Founding Fathers and of other notable figures throughout U.S. history.

Professors Mackubin T. Owens and Lucas E. Morel discuss Lincoln's second Inaugural Address and his second election as President. They examine what Lincoln's view for the future of the nation was and also discuss the Northern and Southern troops' and generals' views of each other.

Professor Mackubin T. Owens looks at the role of African-American soldiers in the Civil War and the effects of the Emancipation Proclamation on the U.S. African-American population in general.

Professor Mackubin T. Owens describes Lincoln's actions as a leader during the Civil War, the strategies he employed during the war, and his success or failure as such a leader.