This is an online course, using Desire2Learn (click here to enter). However, there are 4 mandatory in-person class meetings in Lecture Hall B10:

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1 POLS 4421 American Political Thought Spring 2013 Course Syllabus CRN semester credit hours (3-0-3)(Prerequisite: POLS 1101) This is an online course, using Desire2Learn (click here to enter). However, there are 4 mandatory in-person class meetings in Lecture Hall B10: Saturday, January 12, 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.: Introduction Saturday, February 9, 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.: Exam 1 Saturday, March 30, 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.: Exam 2 Saturday, May 4, 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.: Exam 3 Professor Sean Mattie, Ph.D. Homepage: seanmattie@clayton.edu Note: When ing, you MUST use your CSU account and indicate the course name. Office Telephone: Office Location: NBS 101 Office Hours: Mon., Wed., 9:00 11:00 a.m., 5:15-6:15 p.m., or by appointment Course Overview This course is a survey of the leading ideas or principles that have informed the United States experiment in popular, constitutional government by free citizens, through the public speeches and actions of Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln thought deeply about these ideas, and in his political career he had to articulate and apply them the turbulent politics of the 1850s-1860s first in the national debate about slavery expansion, then in secession and armed rebellion. These crises tested every principle and institution in American political life: equality, liberty, popular government, the rule of law, executive discretion, the power of the national government and of the states, the Constitution, and the meaning of the Union. Lincoln addressed each of these, not as a private person, but as U.S. President, whose decisions would affect those practical meaning of those ideas and institutions. Textbook and Readings Basler, ed., Abraham Lincoln: His Speeches and Writings (ISBN ) Occasional other documents (indicated by * and located in Documents module in Desire2Learn) Learning Outcomes The course intends for students to: learn the ideas behind and debates about the fundamental aspects of American politics, such as liberty, equality, and constitutional government. Graded Assignments First in-class examination, essay format [100 possible points] Second in-class examination, essay format [100 possible points] Third in-class examination, essay format [100 possible points] Weekly quizzes, brief response [10 possible points each/140 possible points total] NOTE: You are allowed to make up one of the first two exams if you are absent on its scheduled day. Make-up period will be during the session of the third exam. Course Grade (as Total Points Earned) = A; = B; = C; = D; 261 or less: F 1

2 Mid-Term Progress Report The DUCK with display a student s mid-term grade (based on graded assignments to date) by March 1, the deadline for withdrawing from the course with a W grade. Computer Policy and Related Requirements University policy requires that all students have access to a computer. Please contact the HUB to have your computer set up with sufficient software for coursework, internet access, and ing. Operation Study At Clayton State University, we expect and support high motivation and academic achievement. Look for Operation Study activities and programs this semester that are designed to enhance your academic success such as study sessions, study breaks, workshops, and opportunities to earn Study Bucks (for use in the University Bookstore) and other items. Disability Accommodations Individuals with disabilities who need to request accommodations should contact the Disability Services Coordinator, Student Center 255, , disabilityservices@mail.clayton.edu. Topics and Assignments (on next pages) 2

3 TOPICS and ASSIGNMENTS NOTE 1: Reading Question Sets - To focus your study of the assigned reading, sets of guiding questions are posted in Desire2Learn, and are listed with each week s reading. Each week s quiz will draw one question from the week s set. Exam 1 will draw its questions (two or three) from reading question sets for Weeks Two through Five. Exam 2 will draw is questions (two or three) from reading question sets for Weeks Six through Twelve. Exam 3 will draw is questions (two or three) from reading question sets for Weeks Twelve through Sixteen. NOTE 2: Reminder that reading marked with an asterisk * are located in the Documents module on Desire2Learn. WEEK ONE (Jan. 7 - Jan. 13) **MEETING** Saturday, Jan. 12, Lecture Hall B10 (for introduction) WEEK TWO (Jan Jan. 20) Lincoln s Political and Moral Philosophy, Pt. 1 Lincoln, Lyceum Address, 1838 (Speeches and Writings, pp ) [also: Reading Question Set 1] Response due by Wednesday, Jan. 16, 11:55 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 17, 7:00-8:00 p.m. on Desire2Learn WEEK THREE (Jan Jan. 27) Lincoln s Political and Moral Philosophy, Pt. 2 Lincoln, Temperance Address, 1842 (Speeches and Writings, pp ) [also: Reading Question Set 3] Response due by Wednesday, Jan. 23, 11:55 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 24, 7:00-8:00 p.m. on Desire2Learn (continued...) 3

4 WEEK FOUR (Jan Feb. 3) Majority Rule and Slavery: Kansas-Nebraska Act and Lincoln s Response Kansas-Nebraska Act, May 30, 1854*; weblinks to maps of Missouri Compromise and Kansas- Nebraska Act*; Lincoln, Speech at Peoria, 1854 (Speeches and Writings, pp ) [also: Reading Question Set 4] Response due by Wednesday, Jan. 30, 11:55 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 31, 7:00-8:00 p.m. on Desire2Learn WEEK FIVE (Feb. 4 - Feb. 10) Confronting the Political Machinery of Slavery U.S. Supreme Court (Chief Justice Taney), Dred Scott v. Sanford (1857)*; Lincoln, Speech at Springfield, June 26, 1857, and House Divided Speech, 1858 (Speeches and Writings, pp ; ) [also: Reading Question Set 5] Response due by Wednesday, Feb. 6, 11:55 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 7, 7:00-8:00 p.m. on Desire2Learn **MEETING** Saturday, Feb. 9, Lecture Hall B10 (for Examination 1) WEEK SIX (Feb Feb. 17) Presidential Campaign and Election of 1860 Lincoln, Cooper Institute Address, 1860 (Speeches and Writings, pp ); Party Platforms in 1860 election*; Map of Electoral Vote, 1860* [also: Reading Question Set 6] Response due by Wednesday, Feb. 13, 11:55 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 14, 7:00-8:00 p.m. on Desire2Learn WEEK SEVEN (Feb Feb. 24) Secession versus Union: The Arguments South Carolina Declaration of Secession, December 24, 1860*; Lincoln, First Inaugural Address, 1861 (Speeches and Writings, pp ) [also: Reading Question Set 7] Response due by Wednesday, Feb. 20, 11:55 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 21, 7:00-8:00 p.m. on Desire2Learn 4

5 WEEK EIGHT (Feb Mar. 3) Executive Power versus Insurrection Lincoln, Presidential Proclamations on Raising Army, Suspending Habeas Corpus, 1861*; Message to Congress in Special Session, 1861 (Speeches and Writings, pp ) [also: Reading Question Set 8] Response due by Wednesday, Feb. 27, 11:55 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 28, 7:00-8:00 p.m. on Desire2Learn WEEK NINE (Mar. 4 - Mar. 10) Spring Break - no coursework WEEK TEN (Mar Mar. 17) Presidential Command of the Generals Lincoln, Letters to Gen. McClellan February 3, 1862* and October 13, 1862; (Speeches and Writings, pp ); Letters to General Hooker and General Meade, 1863 (Speeches and Writings, pp ; ) [also: Reading Question Set 9] Response due by Wednesday, Mar. 13, 11:55 p.m. Thursday, Mar. 14, 7:00-8:00 p.m. on Desire2Learn WEEK ELEVEN (Mar Mar. 24) Emancipation: Policy, Power, and Purpose, Pt. 1 Map of Slavery in 1860*; Lincoln, Letter to Greeley, 1862, Final Emancipation Proclamation, 1863 (Speeches and Writings, pp ; ) [also: Reading Question Set 10] Response due by Wednesday, Mar. 20, 11:55 p.m. Thursday, Mar. 21, 7:00-8:00 p.m. on Desire2Learn 5

6 WEEK TWELVE (Mar Mar. 31) Emancipation: Policy, Power, and Purpose, Pt. 2 Frederick Douglass, Men of Color, to Arms! March 21, 1863*; Lincoln, Letter to Conkling, 1863 (Speeches and Writings, pp ); Annual Message to Congress, 1863*; [also: Reading Question Set 11] Response due by Wednesday, Mar. 27, 11:55 p.m. Thursday, Mar. 28, 7:00-8:00 p.m. on Desire2Learn **MEETING** Saturday, Mar. 30, Lecture Hall B10 (for Examination 2) WEEK THIRTEEN (Apr. 1 - Apr. 7) Wartime Reconstruction: Restoring Loyal Citizens and State Governments Lincoln, Letter to General Banks, 1863; Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction, 1863 (Speeches and Writings, pp ; ) Annual Message to Congress, 1863*; Last Public Address, 1865 (Speeches and Writings, pp ) [also: Reading Question Set 12] Response due by Wednesday, Apr. 3, 11:55 p.m. Thursday, Apr. 4, 7:00-8:00 p.m. on Desire2Learn WEEK FOURTEEN (Apr. 8 - Apr. 14) Politics and Election during the Civil War Congress, Wade-Davis Bill, 1864*; Lincoln, Statement on Wade-Davis Bill, July 8, 1864*; Party Platforms in 1864 Election*; Response to Serenades, October and November 1864 (Speeches and Writings, pp ) [also: Reading Question Set 13] Response due by Wednesday, Apr. 10, 11:55 p.m. Thursday, Apr. 11, 7:00-8:00 p.m. on Desire2Learn (continued...) 6

7 WEEK FIFTEEN (Apr Apr. 21) Civil Liberties in the Civil War Lincoln, Address to Congress in Special Session, 1861; Letter to Corning, 1863 (Speeches and Writings, pp ; ); Congress, Habeas Corpus Act of 1863* [also: Reading Question Set 14] Response due by Wednesday, Apr. 17, 11:55 p.m. Thursday, Apr. 18, 7:00-8:00 p.m. on Desire2Learn WEEK SIXTEEN (Apr Apr. 28) The Meaning of the War and of the Union Lincoln, Address to Congress in Special Session, 1861; Gettysburg Address, 1863; Second Inaugural, 1865 (Speeches and Writings, pp. 608; 734; ) [also: Reading Question Set 15] Response due by Wednesday, Apr. 24, 11:55 p.m. Thursday, Apr. 25, 7:00-8:00 p.m. on Desire2Learn... **FINAL MEETING** Saturday, May 4, Lecture Hall B10 (for Examination 3) 7