The
Constitution in
American Political Development
Political Science 3390 & Honors 3030
Fall 2003
"The past is never dead;
it's not even past."
-- William Faulkner, Requiem for a Nun
Seton Room, Honors College, 2:00-4:30, Mondays
Professor
Dave Robertson
Office: 800 Tower; Phone 314-516-5855, Fax 314- 516-7236
e-mail: DaveRobertson@umsl.edu
Office Hours, 12:00-2:00pm Wednesday, 7:00-8:00pm Monday & Wednesday
Here are links to the draft chapters of
The Constitution
and
America's Political Destiny
Preface
*
Chapter 1 *
Chapter 2 *
Chapter 3 *
Chapter 4 *
Chapter 5 * Chapter 6 * Chapter 7 * Chapter 8 * Bibliography
These are required reading for the first 1/4 of the course.
1. The Course Agenda
The Constitution is a solution, but what is it a solution to? This course explores the politics of designing the U.S. Constitution, and the way the Constitution changed the path of America’s political destiny. It examines the underlying interests of the framers, the issues that united and divided them, their negotiations over these issues, the compromises that resulted in specific Constitutional provisions, and the effects of those provisions on the subsequent evolution of American political parties, political institutions, and public policy.
2. Required Books
Five books are required for the course. These are available at the University of Missouri - St. Louis bookstore.
q
Richard Franklin Bensel, The Political Economy of American Industrialization,
1877-1900 (New York: Cambridge University Press, 2000); ISBN
0-521-77604-x
q
E.J. Dionne, Why Americans Hate Politics: The Death of the Democratic Process
(New York: Touchstone Books, 1992); ISBN 0671778773
q John Gerring, Party Ideologies in America, 1828-1996
(New York: Cambridge University Press, 2001); ISBN 0521785901
q Byron E. Shafer and Anthony J. Badger, eds., Contesting Democracy:
Substance and Structure in American Political History, 1775-2000
(Lawrence: University Press of Kansas, 2001); ISBN 0-7006-1139-8
q Stephen
Skowronek, The Politics Presidents Make: Leadership from John Adams
to Bill Clinton (Cambridge, MA: Belknap Press, 1997); ISBN 0674689372
In addition, you will read the draft chapters of Constituting American Politics, which are available for downloading (see above). Several historical documents are also required, and are available in electronic versions (see below).
3. Grading
q Participation: 20%
q Three Short (2-3) reaction papers, 10% each
q Research Paper: 30%
q Final Exam: 20%
4. Participation
This is a seminar style class. Its success depends on your preparation and participation. You are expected to participate in all seminar sessions and to contribute thoughtful and informed questions and comments to the discussion. If you do so you will receive an "A" for this part of the grade. Remember, this seminar will succeed only to the extent that you participate.
Questions for the following week will be assigned the week before each class session.
5. Short Reaction Papers
You will write three short papers reacting to a week's readings. Each paper
should be 2-3 pages long (typed). Each should summarize the reading's
argument in a paragraph or two, and then critique the strengths and weaknesses
of the argument in two or three paragraphs. Papers are due at class.
The due dates are staggered by groups as follows. Groups will be assigned
the first day of class.
Group A: Papers due September 8,
October 13, November 17
Group B: Papers due September 15,
October 20, November 24
Group C: Papers due September 22,
October 27, December 1
Group D: Papers due September 29,
November 3, December 8
Group E: Papers due September 8
(option: September 15), October 6, November 10
6. Research Paper
You will write a research paper on a topic of your choice. A one paragraph statement of the paper topic is due on September 29. The paper is due in my mailbox December 3.
You are encouraged to use the
American Political
Development Bibliography for additional
readings in your area of interest and additional research resources.
7. Final Exam
The final exam is a "take-home" exam due at my office. It will consist of two questions. Here is one question:
1. How much does the Constitution explain about "why Americans hate politics"?
The other question will be assigned later. You will be expected to write a 5-10 page answer in response to each question.
Detailed Course Schedule
August 25 (Monday): Introduction / What did the Framers Intend?
- READ: The
United States Constitution
Federalist 10, 51
September 1 (Monday): Labor Day; Class does not meet.
September 8 (Monday): Aspirations for the Constitutional Convention
- READ: Jack N. Rakove, "The Perils of Originalism," from Original Meanings:
Politics and Ideas in the Making of the Constitution
(New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1996), pp. 3-22 [on Reserve]
Charles Beard, Selections from An Economic Interpretation of the Constitution
(New York: Macmillan, 1935) [on Reserve]
James Madison, "Vices of the Political System of the United States"
James Madison's letter to George Washington, April 16, 1787
David B. Robertson, Constituting American Politics,
drafts of Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3 & Chapter 4
-
View the Madison's Treasures
Exhibit at the U.S. Library of Congress
September 15 (Monday): The Constitution and American Politics
- READ:
James Madison's
letter to Thomas Jefferson, October 24, 1787
Madison's record of the Convention debate, June 30, 1787
David B. Robertson, Constituting American Politics,
drafts of Chapter 5 * Chapter 6 * Chapter 7 * Chapter 8
Stephen Skowronek, The Politics Presidents Make, pp. 1-58
- View the website of the U.S. Constitution Center
September 22 (Monday): America's First Political Cycle
- READ: Ronald Formisano,
"State Development in the Early Republic,"
in Shafer and Badger, Contesting Democracy, pp. 7-35
Jefferson's First Inaugural Address
Stephen Skowronek, The Politics Presidents Make, pp. 59-127
September 29 (Monday): The Beginnings of Modern Political Parties
Paper Topic due
- READ:
President Jackson's
Veto Message on the Bank of the United States
David Waldstreicher, "The Nationalization and Racialization of American Politics,"
in Shafer and Badger, Contesting Democracy, pp. 37-64
Joel H. Silbey, "'To One or Another of These Parties Every Man Belongs,"
in Shafer and Badger, Contesting Democracy, pp. 65-92
John Gerring, Party Ideologies in America, 1828-1996, pp. 3-54, 161-186
Stephen Skowronek, The Politics Presidents Make, pp. 129-197
October 6 (Monday): The Republicans and the Gilded Age
- READ:
John Gerring, Party Ideologies in
America, 1828-1996, pp. 57-124
Lincoln's Gettysburg Address / Second Inaugural Address
Stephen Skowronek, The Politics Presidents Make, pp. 198-227
Michael Holt, "Change and Continuity in the Party Period,"
in Shafer and Badger, Contesting Democracy, pp. 93-115
Peter H. Argersinger. "The Transformation of American Politics,"
in Shafer and Badger, Contesting Democracy, pp. 117-147
October 13 (Monday): Party Competition and Industrialization
- READ: Richard F. Bensel, The Political Economy of American Industrialization, pp. xvii-204
October 20 (Monday): Democracy, Development and Public Policy
- READ: "Czar
Reed"
Richard F. Bensel, The Political Economy of American Industrialization, pp. 205-388, 432-456
October 27 (Monday): Republican Consolidation
- READ:
Theodore Roosevelt,
The New
Nationalism
Richard F. Bensel, The Political Economy of American Industrialization, pp. 457-528
Stephen Skowronek, The Politics Presidents Make, pp. 228-285
November 3 (Monday): Democratic Opposition
- READ: William Jennings
Bryan,
Cross of Gold Speech
Woodrow Wilson, The New Freedom
John Gerring, Party Ideologies in America, 1828-1996, pp. 187-231
Richard Jensen, "Democracy, Republicanism, and Efficiency,"
in Shafer and Badger, Contesting Democracy, pp. 149-180
November 10 (Monday): New Deal and Republican Opposition
- READ:
President Roosevelt's First Inaugural Address
Stephen Skowronek, The Politics Presidents Make, pp. 287-324
Anthony J. Badger, "The Limits of Federal Power and Social Politics, 1910-1955"
in Shafer and Badger, Contesting Democracy, 181-200
John Gerring, Party Ideologies in America, 1828-1996, pp. 125-158
James T. Patterson, "The Rise of Rights and Rights Consciousness ..."
in Shafer and Badger, Contesting Democracy, pp. 201-223
[November 11 (Tuesday): Last day that students may drop a course]
November 17 (Monday): The Decline of the New Deal political order
- READ: John Gerring, Party Ideologies in
America, 1828-1996, pp.
232-253
Stephen Skowronek, The Politics Presidents Make, pp. 325-446
President Reagan's First Inaugural Address
Byron E. Shafer, "The Two Majorities and the Puzzle of American Politics,"
in Shafer and Badger, Contesting Democracy, pp. 225-249
November 24 (Monday): The Origins of Contemporary Politics: The Democrats
- READ: E.J. Dionne, Why Americans Hate Politics, pp. 9-144
December 1 (Monday): The Origins of Contemporary Politics: The Republicans
- READ:
December 3 (Wednesday): --- Research Paper Due in my mailbox
December 8 (Monday): Where are We At?
- READ:
Carl M. Cannon, "Family Tree, Party Roots," National Journal July 21,
2001 [on Reserve]
John Gerring, Party Ideologies in America, 1828-1996, pp. 257-286
Byron E. Shafer, "Afterword,"
in Shafer and Badger, Contesting Democracy, pp. 2251-263
December 15 (Monday): --- Final Exam Due in my mailbox
Plagiarism
Plagiarism means taking the written ideas of someone else
and presenting them in your writing as if they were your ideas, without giving
the author credit. Plagiarism (a
word which comes from the Latin word for kidnapping) is deceitful and
dishonest. Violations that have
occurred frequently in the past include not using quotation marks for direct
quotes and not giving citations when using someone else's ideas; using long
strings of quotations, even when properly attributed, does not constitute a
paper of your own.
Plagiarism in written work for this class is
unacceptable. The University's
Student Conduct Code classifies plagiarism as a form of academic dishonesty. Depending on the severity of the
plagiarism, punishment can include receiving no credit for the assignment,
failing the course and referral for university disciplinary action.