KC Johnson

American Presidency (Fall 2026)–group 1

This course will explore the history of the American presidency from George Washington until the present day.

Requirements

  • Primary-source based document assignments OR Research paper: 50%
  • Participation: 30%
  • Study Questions/Supplementary Reading: 20%

Books

Primary source assignment:

Either 15-17pp. research paper–using primary sources, answering research question; or 2pp. weekly document analyses/signficiance from a document based on the time period covered in that week’s classes.

Contact:

email: kcjohnson9@gmail.com

cell: 207-329-8456

course zoom link:

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87473218683?pwd=93qxFtmegCKVIVVvAOy6Pg8nQf3rsI.1

Schedule

Week 1: Introduction

Week 2: Early Presidency

Chervinsky, Making the Presidency

Constitution-Era Documents

Week 3: Jefferson

Appleby, Jefferson

Week 4: J.Q. Adams

Traub, John Quincy Adams

Supplementary: HW Brands, Andrew Jackson, pp. 363-528 only

Week 5: Buchanan

Baker, James Buchanan

Supplementary: Walter Bornman, Polk (Sarah)

Week 6: Lincoln

Donald, Lincoln

Week 7: Reconstruction

Simpson, Reconstruction Presidents

Supplementary: William McKinley (Jeremy)

Week 9: Wilson

Cooper, Woodrow Wilson

Supplementary: Jean Yarborough, Theodore Roosevelt and the American Political Tradition (Caroline)

Week 10: FDR

Kevin McMahon, Reconsidering Roosevelt on Race

Supplementary: Lash, Roosevelt and Churchill (Anthony)

Week 11: LBJ

Dallek, Lyndon Johnson

Week 12: Nixon

Farrell, Nixon

supplementary: Lou Cannon, Reagan (Alhussen)

Week 13: Obama

David Garrow, Rising Star

supplementary: Tim Naftali, George H.W. Bush (Christopher)

Week 14: Presidency in the Contemporary Era