The Idea of America

3 Credits · Level: Graduate

The United States has been described as a nation founded on an idea, making it unique from other countries. The “idea” is commonly traced to the Declaration of Independence, considered the defining statement of our national identity and the moral statement by which we live as a nation. With the approaching 250th anniversary in July 2026 setting the stage, the purpose of this course is to identify the ideas expressed in the Declaration of Independence, their origin, their evolution, their expression in the Declaration, and their fate in the years following independence. Attention will be paid not only to the unfolding narrative of this critical period in our history, but also to the seminal documents and interpretations that contribute to our understanding of the ideas in the Declaration of Independence.