20th Century Civil Liberties and Rights
The course will accentuate the history, struggles, successes, and similarities of diverse groups of twentieth century Americans who protested on behalf of civil liberties and civil rights. The course will begin with an understanding of America’s founding documents—The Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution—and the conceptual and historical paradoxes of each. A foundation of the course will be an understanding of Jefferson’s creed that “…all men are created equal…,” as well as, the document’s interpretation and applicability over the course of the twentieth century. The course will also emphasize the flexibility of the U.S. Constitution, and specifically the impact of additional amendments over time and their varying interpretations on both civil liberties and civil rights during the twentieth century.
