American Cultural History

Course Description

From 1490–2020, or from “before the beginning of America” to the world since the Cold War, this course is a cultural examination of American history. The course will conform to a Paideia model of Classical education with a mini-lecture in every unit, academic coaching, and a live seminar each week.

Course Objectives

The student will be able to:

1. Understand why the great American republican experiment established a land of hope.
2. Consider the ways that shape people’s beliefs, affections, commitments, capabilities, and actions as members of a community.
3. Understand the centrality of God and His Word to all social order, federal and local government by examining the Biblical purpose of governing authorities as historically formed.
4. Appreciate the basic relationship between social norms, customs, conventions, and rule of law and order.
5. Understand the definition of civil society.
6. Examine the essential and central place of faith within a free society and the undeniable impact of faith on the American experience.
7. Identify the proper scope, nature, and limits of the citizen and citizenry.
8. Identify the proper scope, nature, and limits of national and local governments.
9. Explore a kingdom response to the pervasive cynicism and apathy coupled with the general decline in patriotic sentiment and civic engagement.

Texts

• Land of Hope: An Invitation to the Great American Story by Wilfred McClay
• What So Proudly We Hail: The American Soul in Story, Speech, and Song by Leon Kass, et al.