Stanford Professor Jack Rakove discusses the difference between the constitutionalization of politics verses politicizing the constitution, and how constitutional interpretation varied dependent upon political convictions. (December 5, 2009)

24. The Protestant Republic (December 5, 2009)

Stanford Professor Jack Rakove discusses the difference between the constitutionalization of politics verses politicizing the constitution, and how constitutional interpretation varied dependent upon political convictions. (December 3, 2009)

23. Jeffersonâ€™s Empire of Liberty (December 3, 2009)

Stanford Professor Jack Rakove discusses the ratification of the US constitution, the legality and legitimacy of this process, and the advent of the new framework for the US government. (December 1, 2009)

22. Why the 1790's Matter (December 1, 2009)

22. Three Myths About the Constitution (November 21, 2008)

James Madison

Stanford Professor Jack Rakove discusses the the physical manuscript of the constitution, which shows the political mind at work; it allows us to see how President James Madison intellectually pondered its development. (November 19, 2008)

21. James Madison, Thinking (November 19, 2008)

Stanford Professor Jack Rakove discusses the development of representation and suffrage policy in the constitution and the differing opinions of John and Abigail Adams. (November 17, 2008)

20. Two (Or More) Roads to Philadelphia (November 17, 2008)

Professor Jack Rakove discusses the major dilemmas facing state governments in America as they attempted to draft and ratify constitutions following American independence. (November 14, 2008)

19. Republican Reforms (November 14, 2008)

Professor Jack Rakove discusses American and British strategy during the Revolutionary War, focusing on the importance of revolutionary politics and the role of American civilian militias in securing American victory. (November 12, 2008)

18. The Mirror of Representation (November 12, 2008)

Stanford Professor Jack Rakove argues that the length of the Revolutionary War caused the colonists to lose their easy patriotism. He discusses the first two phases of war. (November 10, 2008)

17. How Revolutionary Was the War for Independence (November 10, 2008)

Jack Rakove discusses the Boston Tea Party and the ensuing legal acts and public actions that led the Americans to revolt against British rule and taxation. (November 5, 2008)

15. The Crisis of Independence (November 5, 2008)

Jack Rakove discusses the conclusion of the American revolution and the advent of the constitution as a circumstantial product of a legally aware citizenry. (November 7, 2008)

16. Leaving the State of Nature (November 7, 2008)

Stanford Professor Rakove discusses the dilemma of colonial America's refutal of British taxation, and the repercussions of the British government's fateful choices. (October 29, 2008)

14. The View From London: Or, The Dilemma of Empire (October 29, 2008)

Stanford Professor Rakove begins to lay out the causes of the American Revolution and asserts the neo-whig argument that the revolution was primarily a result of constitutional disagreements. (October 27, 2008)

13. Constitutional Impasse (October 27, 2008)

Stanford Professor Rakove discusses empire as a set of political relationships, commercial arrangements, and cultural norms. (October 22, 2008)

12. Commerce and Culture (October 22, 2008)

Stanford Professor Rakove discusses English history political reformation of the seventeenth century. (October 20, 2008)

11. The Political Heritage (October 20, 2008)

Stanford Professor Rakove discusses the vitality and evolution of American religiosity, and the division of denominations caused by the empowerment of congregations. (October 15, 2008)

10. Puritans and the Dilemma of Conversion (October 15, 2008)

Stanford Professor Rakove discusses the influence of religion on American culture through a separation of church and state, but with the creation of a code of laws that reflect religious values. (October 13, 2008)

9. America As A Post-Reformation Society (October 13, 2009)

Professor Rakove discusses methods to weigh the importance of the manifest and latent implications of slavery. He illustrates the idea that race was used as a distinction between classes (being poor verses being a slave). (October 10, 2008)

8. From African To African American (October 10, 2008)

Professor Rakove discusses how slavery is similar to feudalism with the major distinction that a slave owner was not obligated to keep their slave alive. He explains how slavery was essential in shaping American culture and the evolution  (October 8, 2008)

7. The Origins Of Racial Slavery (October 8, 2008)

Professor Rakove discusses the idea that slavery, as a status, has existed far longer than has the notion of liberty and equality, and that contemporary thought about slavery is foreign to historical viewpoints. (October 6, 2008)

6. Slavery And The Plantation Complex (October 6, 2008)

Great class and a really interesting overview of Revolutionary history.

Fantastic course

So interesting that I listened to it twice!  Prof. Rakove is a very interesting lecturer.

Very interesting and informative!

Colonial and Revolutionary America

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