HIST 151-01, Crisis of American Civil Liberties, Spring 2009

Abstract

This course will focus on the development of critical thinking and writing skills through the study of debates over civil liberties in 20th Century American history. Students will examine different historical moments where Americans have argued about definitions of acceptable dissent and struggled to interpret the meaning of important terms such as “patriotism” and “consensus.” By entering into these debates, students will be expected to express their own views about both the events being studied, but also the larger questions of civic participation in American democracy. The class will take students through the process of developing effective essays, including peer editing and multiple draft revisions, in order to produce college-level writing and to clearly express your ideas and research. By the end of the course, students will comment on the current state of debates about civil liberties in the United States and suggest future directions these discussions may take.