Goals:

This course, over two semesters, will trace the roots of America’s founding through the history of thought regarding political and religious liberty and then through the major events that have defined America since her founding.

In the first semester, the great historical conflicts over religious and political freedom in Europe and primarily England will be studied.  These conflicts, from the Reformation to the British Civil War and the Glorious Revolution had a profound effect upon our founding fathers.  Students will gain a great appreciation for biblical worldviews (both implicit and explicit) contained in elements of the Magna Carta, English common law, the writings of Blackstone, Locke and others.

The second semester will focus on great events after America’s revolution that have shaped and changed her thinking.  Students will understand the socio-political thinking behind all the major events  throughout America’s history.  Examples of events and ideas that will be studied are the constitutional convention,  Jacksonian Democracy, manifest destiny, states rights, slavery, The Civil War, reconstruction, industrialization, the Spanish-American War, WW I, the Great Depression, WW II, the U.N., the Korean conflict, Vietnam, global communism, the civil rights movement, Reagan economics, and many others taking us up to our modern day.

A biblical worldview will be used to interpret all events and thinking of America and her leaders.

Secondary supporting texts (not required to be purchased):

The Magna Carta, Petition of Right, Selected writings of John Locke, The Mayflower Compact, Selected Colonial Charters, Articles of Confederation, The US Declaration of Independence, Selected writings of George Washington, John Adams, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, James Madison (Federalist Papers), Patrick Henry (Anti-Federalist Papers), The U.S. Constitution, The Monroe Doctrine, Laws regulating servants and slaves, The Missouri Compromise, Selected writings of Andrew Jackson, Abraham Lincoln and others.