The United States is often thought of as a "young" nation. But in fact, it is the oldest continuing democracy in the world. What were the philosophies and social forces that made this country unique—that enabled it to become the first successfully self-governing republic in modern times?
In American Ideals: Founding "Republic of Virtue," Professor Daniel N. Robinson explores the principles that guided the founding of the United States, the conditions that led to the break with Great Britain, and the creation of such founding documents as the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.
This course deepens your understanding of fundamental ideas—the role of government, and human nature—that inspired American independence, and which continue to have a profound influence on American thought.