HIST 370 American Constitutions and Revolutions

This course will provide students with an introduction to history, philosophy, and aftermath of the ideas and actions behind the American Revolution and the creation of the United States Constitution. It will include as a central component a re-enactment/reimagining of the American Constitutional Convention, where students will stage in-character discussions and debates and write their own Constitution. The course will consider the long-term ramifications and alterations of the ideas and documents brought to the fore in the revolutionary period, and help students understand early United States history in a global perspective—in part by learning about other early revolutionary representative governments in North America, like the Haudenosaunee Confederacy and the Haitian Republic.

Credits

3

Cross Listed Courses

POLS 370

Offered

Fall, odd years

Student Learning Outcomes

1. An overall understanding of the history of eighteenth-century America, and the political philosophy of the period.
2. An understanding of and sensitivity to issues of race, gender, class and nationality in the past and present.
3. An understanding of how history is made, and an introduction to critical analysis of evidence.
4. Development of analytical, critical thinking, communication, research, and reading skills.
5. Development of student-centered critical reflection and active learning.
6. Development of skills related to public speaking, performance, and persuasion.