HIST454

The interaction of government, law, and politics in the constitutional system. The nature and purpose of constitutions and constitutionalism; the relationship between the constitution and social forces and influences, the way in which constitutional principles, rules, ideas, and institutions affect events and are in turn affected by events. The origins of American politics and constitutionalism through the Constitutional Convention of 1787. Major constitutional problems such as the origins of judicial review, democratization of government, slavery in the territories, secession, and civil war.