KC Johnson

History 7448 (summer 2024) (Tuesday Group)

History 7448: American Constitutional History

This course explores American constitutional history from the Revolutionary Era to the present day. It will be taught partly synchronously–in two groups–and partly asynchronously.

Requirements:

  • Research Paper (40%)
  • Participation (30%)
  • Review Summaries & Case Readings (20%)
  • Asynchronous Lecture Questions/Reactions (10%)

Required Books:

Schedule:

w/o July 15. Foundations

(asynchronous): Slavery, Expansion, and the Crisis of the Constitution

w/o July 22. Reconstruction & the Gilded Age

  1. [Tyrone] U.S. v. Cruikshank:
  2. [Bajram] Civil Rights Cases: 
  3. [Julia] Bradwell v. The State: 
  4. [George] Yick Wo v. Hopkins:

(asynchronous): The Progressive Constitution

w/o July 29: FDR & Civil Rights

cases:

  1. [Joanna] Korematsu v. United States: 
  2. [Leila[ West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette: 
  3. [Miriam] Meyer v. Nebraska: 

The Cold War & the Constitution

w/o Aug. 5: Civil Rights & the Constitution

[Leila] Michael Klarman, From Jim Crow to Civil Rights

cases:

  1. [Owen] Sweatt v. Painter:
  2. [Andre] Smith v. Allwright: 
  3. [Bajram] Reitman v. Mulkey: 

(asynchronous): Political Scandal & the Constitution

w/o August 12: Battles over the Court

cases:

  1. [Tyrone] Bethel School District v. Fraser: 
  2. [Julia] Planned Parenthood v. Casey:
  3. [George] Romer v. Evans:

(asynchronous): Approaching the Modern Era

closing class. The Modern Era

August 22. Final Papers Due by 11.59pm