Time Schedule:
Lawrence J Cushnie
POL S 318
Seattle Campus
Major thinkers and themes in American political and cultural development from Puritan origins to the Civil War.
Class description
This course explores American political thought from the American Revolution to the modern era. We will focus upon different American thinkers who worked at the fringes of mainstream political theory, and expanded the boundaries of thought and practice. Beginning with the American Revolution, we explore the work of individuals who left the beaten path of political thought, and innovated to change the discussions and situations of the American state and its peoples. These political philosophers understood the available channels of change and protest as unacceptable and set their own rules for challenging the status quo. Areas of focus include: the American Revolution, Transcendentalists, Abolitionists, Anarchism, Socialism/Worker’s Rights, Civil Rights, the Student Movement, and Environmentalism. Themes of the class include: freedom, equality, protest, legitimacy, and democracy to name a few.
Student learning goals
General method of instruction
Recommended preparation
Class assignments and grading
