AMDM 1575-110 “Engaging with American Democracy” Syllabus (Fall 2025)
Major Assignments on Canvas
August 19th: Introduction to class
August 21st: The Declaration of Independence (July 4, 1776)
August 26th: The Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence (May 20, 1775)
Abigail Adams to John Adams “Remember the Ladies” (March 31 & April 5, 1776)
August 28th: de Crèvecoeur [krev-kur], J. Hector St. John. “What is an American?” (1792)
Discussion Post #1
September 2nd: Madison, James. The U.S. Constitution (1789)
September 4th: de Tocqueville, Alexis. “Chapter IV: On the Principal Causes Tending to Maintain a Democratic Republic” (1835)
Discussion Post #2
September 9th: Washington, George. Farewell Address (1796)
September 11th: No Class Meeting—Test #1 on Canvas
September 16th: Rosen, Jeffrey. “Order” from The Pursuit of Happiness (2024)
September 18th: The Bill of Rights
Discussion Post #3
September 23rd: Key Amendments, especially the Twenty-Seventh (XXVI) Amendment to the Constitution (1992)
September 25th: Madison, James. Federalist Paper #10
Discussion Post #4
September 30th: Madison, James. Federalist Paper #58
October 2nd: Hamilton, Alexander. Federalist Paper #71
Discussion Post #5
October 7th: No Class Meeting—MIDTERM on Canvas
October 9th: Fall Break—No Class Meeting
October 14th: Stowe, Harriet Beecher. “In Which it Appears that a Senator is but a Man” from Uncle Tom’s Cabin (1852)
October 16th: Lincoln, Abraham. The Emancipation Proclamation (1863)
Discussion Post #6
October 21st: Lincoln, Abraham. The Gettysburg Address (November 19, 1863)
October 23rd: Bryan, William Jennings. “Cross of Gold” (1896)
Discussion Post #7
October 28th: King, Martin Luther, Jr. Letter from Birmingham Jail (1963)
October 30th: Dwight D. Eisenhower:
News Conference (June 17, 1953)
Farewell Address (January 17, 1961)
Discussion Post #8
November 4th: Debate Showcase
November 6th: No Class Meeting—Test #2 on Canvas
November 11th: No Class Meeting—Veteran’s Day
November 13th: Chavez, Cesar E. “United We Shall Stand: Delano Manifesto” (1966)
Discussion Post #9
November 18th: Powell, Lewis F., Jr., “The Memo” (1971), excerpt pp. 1-20
November 20th: Le Guin, Ursula K. “A Left-Handed Commencement Address” (1983)
Discussion Post #10
November 25th: Reagan, Ronald W. “Farewell Address to the Nation” (1989)
November 27th: No Class Meeting—Thanksgiving Break
December 2: Last Day of Class
December 9: No Class Meeting—Final Exam on Canvas