• Tuition for this course is $200.
• Rosenbach members at the Contributor level and above receive a 10% discount on tuition. If you are unsure if you qualify for the discounted tuition please call (215) 732-1600 x 138 or email [email protected].
• Not a member? We invite you to join upon registration. Click here for more information about membership.

Description

Kermit Roosevelt explores the ideas that shaped American history, law, and culture through the documents and books in the Rosenbach’s Americana collection, such as the first printing of The Federalist Papers, a draft of the Declaration of Independence, materials related to the election of 1800, and writings from Lincoln and Jefferson about the concept of liberty.  Participants will read these original documents and discuss the ways they have transformed American history and thought. How have our understandings of basic American ideals such as liberty and equality changed over time? How are these changes visible in our history and constitutional structure?

The Rosenbach will provide links to the texts of all documents used in the class.

Syllabus

Download the American Ideas course syllabus here

For the second session on October 10, we will discuss Thomas Jefferson’s original draft of the Declaration of Independence, which you can find here:

https://jeffersonpapers.princeton.edu/selected-documents/jefferson%E2%80%99s-%E2%80%9Coriginal-rough-draught%E2%80%9D-declaration-independence

First session September 12 will mainly cover Federalist Paper No 46, but also Nos 51 and 10.  You can read them all online here:

http://avalon.law.yale.edu/subject_menus/fed.asp

About the Instructor

Kermit Roosevelt is a Professor of Law at the University of Pennsylvania Law School.

About Rosenbach Courses

Revisit beloved classics or experience new ones with Rosenbach courses. Book lovers delve into fiction, history, and poetry with the guidance of a literary expert and the company of other readers.