Foundations of American Political Thought

Jonathan Barth is an Assistant Professor of History at Arizona State University, and Associate Lead of the Political History and Leadership Program, in the School of Historical, Philosophical and Religious Studies. He specializes in the history of money and banking, with auxiliary interests in politics, culture, theology, and the history of ideas. Barth received his Ph.D. in History from George Mason University in 2014. In 2005 he received his B.A. in Secondary Education from Appalachian State University, taught high school for two years, and received his M.A. in History at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in 2009.

1.     The Beginnings: Colonial America.

• The Founding of British North America;
• The English Constitution;
• Enlightenment and Awakening;

2.     American Revolution.

• The Road to Revolution;
• The Declaration of Independence;
• The American Revolutionary War;

3.     The US Constitution.

• The Articles of Confederation;
• The Constitutional Convention;
• Checks and Balances;

4.     The Ratification Debates.

• Madison and the Federalists;
• Brutus and the Anti-Federalists;
• The Bill of Rights

5.     The Early National Period.

• The Market Revolution;
• Jacksonian Democracy;
• The Politics of Slavery;

6.     The Union Divides.

• The American Civil War;
• The Gettysburg Address;
• Lincoln’s Second Inaugural;

7.     America Transformed.

• The Industrial Revolution;
• The Progressive Movement;
• The New Deal;

8.     America as Global Superpower.

• The Cold War;
• Culture Wars;
• America Divided;

Course Explanation