THE OLD REPUBLIC: 1776-1828
Grades 11-12
First semester
.50 credit, class meets daily.

This class traces the emergence of the nation from its revolutionary origins to the nineteenth-century celebration of the common man.  The synthesis of philosophic and experimental forces which produced the Old Republic is examined through the founding documents (e.g. The Declaration of Independence, The Articles of Confederation, The Constitution of the United States, etc.).  The study further examines the development of political parties and the divergent views of American possibilities associated with the Hamiltonian-Jeffersonian tradition.  Emphasis will also be given to the contending views of constitutional construction…within the rising sprit of “Politics for the Common Man.”

Objectives:
To examine the significance of a revolutionary legacy.
To examine in detail the primary documents which formed and defined the United States.
To examine the origin of the political parties and the consequences of their formation.
To examine economic, philosophic, and social conditions which modified and refined national ideals within the period 1776-1828.

PARTIES AND ELECTIONS
Grades 11-12
First semester
.50 credit, class meets daily.

This course involves an examination of the following concepts: psychological and sociological studies related to an individual's party identification and participation in the electoral process; the history of suffrage requirements in the U.S.; the positions of the Democrat and Republican parties; and the various forms of nominating and electoral procedures involving local to national candidates.  We will analyze presidential campaigns on the basis of the following questions: Are presidential primaries the most appropriate way to nominate candidates?  How significant are the national conventions?  What directions are the political forces headed in our times?  How should campaigns be financed?

Objectives:
To examine the historical evolution of suffrage requirements in the U.S. and the significance of voter rights legislation and Supreme Court decisions related to current voter requirements.
To identify the basic functions of an American political party.
To examine the major American political parties by comparing and contrasting the basic positions of each. 
To understand the importance of the nomination process, with particular emphasis placed upon the primary system.
To evaluate the electoral process by analyzing past election results and projecting future elections in the form of voter profiles, maps and charts.
To understand the complexities in the methods by which the President and Vice-President are nominated and elected and to critically analyze the Electoral College.
To assess contending views on financing political campaigns.

Text
Patterson, The American Democracy 8th edition

POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY
Grade 11-12
First semester
.50 credit, class meets daily.

This course explores the roots and the evolution of Western political thought.  We begin by focusing on the debate on democracy versus absolutism (Pericles, Plato, Machiavelli, Hobbes) and move to the age of ideology with its legacy of comprehensive political theories. Ideological and anti-ideological ways of thought will be examined with attention to primary and secondary sources.  Such issues as the relationship of the individual to society, the relationship between equality and liberty, and the question of natural versus acquired rights will be examined.  Each section of the course will focus on the impact of the developments in political thought on the American mind and political process.  Students must possess the ability to grasp abstract concepts within the context of historical fact.

Objectives:
To acquaint the student with the evolution of political concepts in the European and American
tradition.
To examine ideological ways of thought (liberalism, socialism, fascism, communism) and to consider consequences and alternatives.
To examine anti-ideological ways of thought (classical conservatism, nationalism, pragmatism).
To examine means/ends of various political theories.
To evaluate the connection between political and economic theory.
To examine conflicting views of human nature and how they effect political theory.
To examine the American political experience in the light of the Western political tradition.
To acquaint students with some of the outstanding political theorists (Locke, Smith, Jefferson, Burke, Marx, Mill, Russell, etc.).
 
RECONSTRUCTION AND THE RISE OF MODERN AMERICA: 1865 - 1900
Grades 11-12
First semester
.50 credit, class meets daily.

This course explores American life after the Civil War and includes reconstruction of the South, the closing of the western frontier, the rise of urban society, and the origins of American empire.  Themes of Social Darwinism, industrialization, and urbanization will be examined, along with the attending issues of race, gender, and ethnicity within the national experience. Executive leadership and the rise of third party political groups, along with the attending economic concerns will be considered.

Objectives:
To understand the unique problems reuniting the nation after the Civil War.
To examine the closing of the frontier and the attending consequences, both for the United States and the native American nations.
To examine the urban development and the ordeal of industrialization.
To explore the agrarian revolt and the impact of the populist movement.
To identify the complex problems of race, gender, and ethnicity in this period of American life.

Text
Tindall and Shi, America: A Narrative History

WESTERN THOUGHT AND THE AMERICAN MIND
Grade 12 (Grade 11 with Instructor permission)
First semester
.50 credit, class meets daily.

This course searches into the origins of contemporary American thought by examining the primary assumptions and expressions that characterize distinct phases of the Western tradition.  The patterns of Medieval, Enlightened, Romantic and Modern thought are examined through principal authors. Philosophic, aesthetic, economic, and political expressions are identified with an emphasis on concepts embodied in American assumption and institutions.  Such themes as Natural Law, Natural rights, innate depravity, Social Contracting, consent of the governed, minority rights, majority rule and general will are explored in detail.  Modern thought is explored through an image of multiple streams  with an eye to the dual responsibility of drawing useful generalizations without destroying the vitality of unique and personal perspectives. This study encourages students to explore the assumptions that compose the modern context. Students must possess the ability to grasp abstract concepts within the context of historical fact.

Objectives:
To provide multiple opportunities for students to develop a personal orientation to the history of artistic, political, and ethical expressions.
To illustrate the rich and varied schools of thought that comprise the Western Heritage.
To examine and analyze the American political tradition within the context of a larger tradition.
To acquaint students with the primary individuals who contributed to Western Thought and the American Mind.
To demonstrate the essential need for tolerance and respect for individuals, ideas, systems, and expressions that differ from our own.