The purpose of the US Constitution is to limit government power. 

Why? 

Because the Founding Fathers lived through a time when government agents could search houses with impunity with general warrants – warrants that did not need to be specific in who they were arresting or what they were searching for.

Because the English government taxed the colonists without giving them representation in the Parliament.

Because the English government could force colonists to board English soldiers in their homes – better to watch over any of those who opposed the government.

And for many other reasons, which are outlined in the Declaration of Independence.

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This course is designed to look at US History and the foundations of law in the United States through three core documents as well as a look at many of the laws and documents that influenced these foundational documents that were shaped by the Founding Fathers’ experience. 

The three core documents are: 

The Declaration of Independence, which outlines their reasons for declaring independence from the most powerful nation in the world; 

The Articles of Confederation, which was an over-correction into a government that was too weak to govern a nation effectively; and 

The United States Constitution, which separated and limited government powers and created an America that unleashed American ingenuity onto the world.

We will read each document and discuss the experiences and results of each document, and why they are important to us today. We will also read several supporting documents and understand the events that led up to creating the documents and what came after as well.

Below is a general overview of how the class will go, but this schedule may be adapted as needed:

Week 1 (August 20 - August 26): French and Indian War (1756 - 1763)
- 	The war between France and Great Britain
-	Look at the Stamp Act, Townshend Act, and the Tea Act and the Boston Tea Party

Week 2 (August 27 - September 2): The Intolerable Acts and Virginia’s Declaration of Rights
-	Punishing the colonies after the Tea Party: Boston Port Act, Massachusetts Government Act, Administration of Justice Act, and the Quartering Act
-	Virginia Declaration of Rights - Before The Declaration

Week 3 (September 3 - September 9): Declaration of Independence 
-	Why did the Founding Fathers write the Declaration?
-	What does it say?
-	Why is the Declaration so important?

Week 4: (September 10 - September 16) Articles of Confederation
-	A reaction to the totalitarian style of government
-	The Continental Congresses, First and Second, look at some of the Articles

Week 5: (September 17 - September 23) Articles of Confederation, continued
-	A look at a few more of the Articles - what do they do?
-	During the Revolutionary War and After (Northwest Ordinance)

Week 6: (September 24 - September 30) Articles of Confederation
- 	The failures of the Articles

Week 7: (October 1 - October 7) The Philadelphia Convention
-	The Main Issues
-	Federalists and Anti-Federalists

Week 8:  (October 8 - October 14): - The Federalist Papers
- 	A look at important parts of the Federalist Papers: Fed 10, Fed 39, Fed 51, Fed 68, and Fed 78

Week 9: (October 15 - October 21) The Constitution - Article I – Legislative Branch - The Design
-	What is in Article I?
-	What powers are given to Congress?
-	How are the requirements for being a Representative or a Senator?

Week 10 (October 22 - October 28) : The Constitution - Article I - Legislative Branch in Practice
-	Wickard v. Filburn (Commerce Clause ) 
-	Regulations – Federal Register – contains all the rules and regulations of the federal government
-	How are the other clauses of the Congress interpreted?

Week 11: (October 29 - November 4) The Constitution - Article II – Executive Branch - The Design
-	What is in Article II?
-	What powers are given to the Executive Branch?

Week 12: (November 5 - November 11) The Constitution - Article II – Executive Branch in Practice
-	Court Cases that affected the Presidential Powers
-	Executive Orders – 9066, etc.

Week 13: (November 12 - November 18) The Constitution - Article III – Judicial Branch - The Design
-	What is in Article III?
-	What powers are given to the Judicial Branch?
-	What does the federal judiciary system ourt look like today?

Week 14: (November 19 - November 25): The Constitution - Article III – Judicial Branch in Practice 
-	Marbury v. Madison – tell the story and the details
-	McCulloch v. Maryland (Necessary and Proper Clause)

Week 15: (November 26 - December 2): The Bill of Rights 
-	Anti-Federalist Opposition to the Constitution
-	The Arguments for and Against the Bill of Rights

Week 16: (December 3 - December 9) The Bill of Rights in Practice
-	A look at the amendments and how they’ve been applied in our society
-	Why are the amendments so important?
-	Class Wrap up