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M1 American Civilization (2019-2020)
COURSE DESCRIPTION & AIMS:
The course aims at providing students with the key elements to comprehend American Politics, and the main intellectual, social, and political movements and ideas that shaped 20th and early 21st Century America at home and its behavior abroad. Some key issues in US society are also to be dealt with. Students will be provided with basic knowledge through the study of secondary and primary sources. The final aim is to enhance students’ ability to get autonomy in critical reading, analysis, and synthesis of relevant historical and political material.
A series of short research papers will be given as assignments to students (pair works). The research topics will not be limited within the program of this year. Those short research assignments aim at consolidating the students' background knowledge in US history, politics, society, and culture.
3 hours/ week: a lecture (1h30) and a tutorial (1h30)
MASTER 1/ SEMESTER 1: “American Politics”
- The US System of Government – The Idea of Democracy – The Constitution – Federalism – The Three Branches - Checks and Balances – The Law-Making process - Elections
- The Role and Weight of Interest Groups in US Politics.
- Political and Ideological Movements: Radicalism, Liberalism, Conservatisms, Libertarianism, etc…
MASTER 1/ SEMESTER 2: “US Domestic Issues”
- African Americans in US History: Slavery, Segregation, Civil Rights, and the African American quest for equality; Contemporary Challenges.
- Classes, Identity, Ethnicity, and Other Contemporary Debates in the United States of America.
EVALUATION: - 1 achievement test per semester
- 2 short tests + 1 written (research) assignment + participation (readings & discussion)
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Par salimk le 15 Octobre 2016 à 08:59
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MAKE UP SESSION for GROUP 2 on TUESDAY DECEMBER 10 at 11:20 (CEIL where we will find a spare room)
MAKE UP TEST (for those who have missed the 1st or2nd test, and the latecomers) on MONDAY DECEMBER 16 at 12:50 (CEIL where we will find a room - meeting place: room 1)
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HANDOUT:
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POWER OF CONGRESS/ IMPEACHMENT
THE LATEST REPORT/
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NEW: TD / EVALUATION
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WEEK 4 OF OCTOBER 2019
- The Idea of Democracy
- The American Revolution and the Origins of the US System of Government.
WEEK 1 OF NOVEMBER 2019
- The Articles of Confederation & the Constitution
download « lectures 1-2-3.pdf »
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Group 2 -MAKE UP SESSION ON TUESDAY NOV. 12AT 11.20 - meeting in the CEIL compound to find a room
NEW
Readings for October 27 2019 (group 1) and October 30, 2019 (group 2)
1. Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan (excerpt)
Download Thomas-Hobbes-Leviathan-reading.pdf »
2. John locke, The Second Treatise of Government (excerpts)
Download « locke_second_treatise_excerpts.pdf »
3. VERY IMPORTANT (excerpt from Kimberly Hutchings (1998) "Modelling democracy," Global Society, 12:2,159-175, DOI: 10.1080/13600829808443158) Download «Two Stories of Democracy.pdf »
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research assignments MASTER 1
Topics:
paper template:
Télécharger « paper template.pdf »
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NEW: Readings for November, 3 (group 1), November 6 (group 2), 2019
Paine's Common Sense (excerpt): (no summary)
download « Paine s Common Sense excerpt.pdf »
Declaration of Independence (1776) (no summary)
https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/declaration-transcript
download « documents_articles of confederation excerpt.pdf »
download « The Making of the Constitution.pdf »
The Constitution and the Federalist Papers:
download « Federalist Papers excerpt.pdf »
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NEW: Readings for November 2019
An interpretation:
download « behind the framing of the constitution.pdf »
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THE POWER OF THE CONGRESS/
Case 1: Impeachment
https://www.democracynow.org/live/watch_house_of_representatives_intelligence_committee
CHECKS AND BALANCES/
cases:
US vs Alvarez (2012)
http://www.uscourts.gov/educational-resources/educational-activities/holding-us-v-alvarez
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New
The US Congress / quick facts-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
MLA
Télécharger « Codex-MLA8.pdf »
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Required Readings
Declaration of Independence (to be downloaded and printed):
Paine's Common Sense (excerpt):
download « Paine s Common Sense excerpt.pdf »
The Articles of Confederation (excerpt):
Other Sources:
Paine's Common Sense:
download « Common Sense_Paine 1776.pdf »
John Adams' Letters to wife Abigail (selected):
https://www.masshist.org/digitaladams/archive/browse/letters_1774_1777.php
Federalist Papers:
Télécharger « Essential-Federalist-Papers.pdf »
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Elections: From M. J. C. Vile, Politics in the USA 6th ed. (New York: Routledge, 2007)
Gerrymandering:
INTEREST GROUPS/
LOBBYING/
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Par salimk le 11 Février 2017 à 19:39
1. African Americans in US History
A/ Historical Background: Slavery, Segregation (19th to mid-20th centuries)
read documents 1-2-3-4 (due date: Feb. 05 & 6)
Read documents 5-6-7-8 (due date Feb. 12 & 13)
+
Télécharger « What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July.docx »
Abolitionists
Read documents 3, 4, 5, 8 (due date Feb. 19 & 20)
below
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Readings for Feb. 26 & 27
The Atlanta Compromise: Booker T. Washington Vs W.E.B Du Bois
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NEW
Read document "Exodus from the South" (due date: March 04 & 05)
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PAPER TEMPLATE
Télécharger « paper-template.pdf »
Template / WORD FORMAT:
Télécharger « paper template.docx »
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How to read primary and secondary sources:
Télécharger « milestone documents.pdf »
READINGS/ PRIMARY SOURCES:
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IDENTITY & PROTEST THROUGH THE ARTS:
AFRICAN AMERICANS NATIONALISM & SEPARATISM:
B/ Contemporary Challenges:
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