History 201-206 seminars are open to history majors only during pre-registration. If the course does not reach its enrollment maximum, it will be open to all students beginning with drop/add on a first-come first-serve basis.
HIST 204 American Civil Religion
Taught as schedule allows (consult the Course Directory)
R | SEM
The United States enjoys freedom of worship and is, in fact, the most religious of developed nations. But can it also be said America itself is a sort of religion? Consider this seminar an archeological "dig" through the rhetoric of American politics in search of the founding myths, prophecies, martyrs, moral codes, and millenarian (heaven on earth) expectations that the American people have embraced over the past 230 years. The seminar counts as U.S. history, of course, but can also count in the Diplomatic history core if students select a foreign policy topic for their term papers. This is a new experimental course which should be fascinating and fun. We shall do much reading in the documents of the nation's Founders, Presidential inaugural addresses, and books and articles about our "civil religion," but I also hope to screen a series of history documentaries about the secular and spiritual forms the "American faith" has taken over two centuries.
Admission to this seminar is by permission of the instructor. Applications can be found outside Dr. McDougall's office door, College Hall 317B, or obtained via email.
