HIS 3313 (LUOA), HIUS 313 (LUO): The American Founding

11/08/2019 to 04/16/2020 • Modified 05/11/2026

Course Description

An overview and analysis of the origins of the United States Constitution, its ratification, and initial implementation.

For information regarding prerequisites for this course, please refer to the Academic Course Catalog.

Rationale

The purpose of the course is to provide the student with a rich understanding of the Constitution. In particular, the student will learn the deep, historical roots of the Constitution, the importance of state constitutions and ratification conventions, the importance of federalism, and how Anti-Federalists were also founders of the United States.

Course Assignment

Textbook readings and lecture presentations

Course Requirements Checklist

Discussions (2)

Discussions are collaborative learning experiences. Therefore, the discussions in this course are meant to foster a spirit of community and collegiality. However, the student must also view these as academic assignments with formal requirements. The discussions in this course will expand the student’s Christian worldview as it relates to the American Founding. For each discussion, the student will post an initial thread of 700-800 words in length in response to the provided prompt. Then, the student should reply to 2 of his/her peers with posts 200-250 words in length. All threads must demonstrate comprehension of course material and refer specifically – through paraphrase, summary, or quotation – to content from course readings and presentations. In the initial post, the student must cite the number and types of sources indicated in the discussion prompt (at a minimum). For the Discussion Thread: Faith of our Founders specifically, the student is expected to use at least 3 scholarly sources (1 primary source and 2 secondary sources). Citations for replies are encouraged but not required. Footnote citations and bibliographic information should be provided for all sources used in current Turabian style. (CLO: A, B)

Liberty and the Limits of Confederation Assignment

This assignment asks you to analyze how ideas of liberty and authority influenced the structure of the Articles of Confederation and contributed to the constitutional challenges that led to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. By examining a specific structural weakness of the Articles, you will evaluate how colonial experience, political ideas, and fears of centralized authority shaped early American governance. This assignment emphasizes historical reasoning, the use of primary sources, and an explanation of why constitutional reform became necessary in the 1780s. The student will will write a formal analytical essay examining one major structural weakness of the Articles of Confederation, totaling 900-1,100 words. The student must use at least 4 sources (3 primary sources and 1 secondary source). The paper must be formatted in current Turabian formatting. (CLO: B, C, D)

Research Design Assignment

The student will write a 2-page research design in current Turabian formatting that is a detailed explanation of the topic to be studied, the process by which the student answers a question of historical significance, and the principal sources for research. It must include a research topic, research thesis, research question(s), explanation of historical significance, and a preliminary (non-annotated) bibliography with at least 3 primary and 2 secondary sources. This assignment will provide the student with a plan for completing his/her research paper assignment. (CLO: B, C, D, E, F)

Research Paper Assignment

The student will write a 6 page research-based paper in current Turabian format that focuses on some aspect of the American Founding. The student will complete this assignment using evidence gleaned from course materials as well as by researching online and other available sources. The paper must include a minimum of 12 sources (8 primary sources and 4 scholarly secondary sources). (CLO: B, C, D, E, F)

Did America have a Christian Founding Assignment

This assignment asks the student to critically evaluate the claim that the United States had a Christian founding by drawing on course readings, lectures, and historical evidence. The student will assess whether the American founding was fundamentally Christian in nature and engage directly with Mark David Hall’s argument in Did America Have a Christian Founding?: Separating Modern Myth from Historical Truth. This assignment emphasizes historical reasoning, careful use of evidence, and thoughtful engagement with scholarly interpretation rather than personal opinion alone. The student will write a formal analytical essay totaling 900-1,100 words. The student must use at least 3 sources (1 primary source and 2 secondary sources). The paper must be formatted in current Turabian formatting.

Quizzes (6)

For each module assigned, the student will complete a quiz on the materials for that module. Quiz questions may consist of a variation of 11 multiple-choice, true/false, or essay questions. Each quiz will have a time limit of 45 minutes, will be open-book/open-notes, and will allow for one attempt. Each essay question requires at least 100 words. (CLO: A, B, C, D, E, F)