Watch The US Constitution through History

2023
1 Season

In The US Constitution through History, Professor Eric Berger of the University of Nebraska takes you on a journey through America's constitutional history. In 24 riveting lectures, unpack the ideas of America's founding and trace the evolution of those ideas through the schisms of the 19th century, the transformations of the 20th century, and into our present era.

The US Constitution through History is a series that ran for 1 seasons (24 episodes) between November 23, 2023 and on The Great Courses

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Seasons

24. The Unresolved Constitution

November 23, 2023

The American experiment continues. Despite more than two centuries of debates, disagreements, reforms, and setbacks, Americans continue to push for change. In our present age, the political divide and media noise arguably pose a unique threat to the Constitution. What happens next? Will we continue the search for a more perfect union?

23. History in Constitutional Interpretation

November 23, 2023

How much, if at all, should history figure into constitutional interpretation? Throughout this course, we have seen how historical events have shaped constitutional law. In this penultimate lecture, take a step back to consider the debate over the Framers

22. Conservatism, Christianity, and the Court

November 23, 2023

In another swing of the pendulum, the progressive movement of civil rights and women

21. The ERA and the Battle over Women

November 23, 2023

Alongside the push for civil rights, women were engaged in their own battle for equality of the sexes. Review the case law and the push for an Equal Rights Amendment guaranteeing rights for women

20. The Backlash against Brown v. Board of Education

November 23, 2023

The landmark Supreme Court case Brown v. Board of Education legally ended segregation, but it did not provide a blueprint for desegregation in American schools. For that, a nationwide civil rights movement was needed, culminating in the passage of the Civil Rights Act in 1964.

19. Challenging Jim Crow in the Courts

November 23, 2023

The legal transformations of the New Deal brought about remarkable constitutional change, as well as new protections for everyday Americans. But with Jim Crow laws still on the books in many states, not everyone benefitted from the New Deal. Delve into many post-World War II-era civil rights cases that broke the back of Jim Crow.

18. The New Deal: The Constitution Transformed

November 23, 2023

Interpretations of the Constitution often are intertwined with the economy. Following the stock market crash of 1929 and his election in 1932, President Roosevelt made the case for dramatic changes to save the country. Survey the changes and reforms FDR enacted as part of his

17. World War I and the Birth of Free Speech

November 23, 2023

Today, we think of the First Amendment as offering nearly unlimited free speech, but when you step back 100 years, you see surprising restrictions on speech. Here, go back to World War I and explore the Supreme Court

16. The Constitution in the Progressive Era

November 23, 2023

The late 19th and early 20th centuries saw disruptive economic and social transformations. The anxieties of this age inspired major political reform movements

15. Equal Protection at the Turn of the Century

November 23, 2023

African Americans had made gains during Reconstruction, but that era came to an end when white Southerners seized control of state governments. Here, shift your attention to the myriad state laws that enacted formal racial segregation and disenfranchised African American voters. Then, reflect on discrimination faced by American immigrants and women.

14. Reconstruction

November 23, 2023

In this final lecture on constitutional changes during Reconstruction, consider the new role of the federal government in securing rights for all citizens. Find out how the realities of Reconstruction fell short of its promises, thanks in large part to corrupt politicians, as well as a national economic depression in 1873.

13. Reconstruction Politics and Voting Rights

November 23, 2023

Continue your study of Reconstruction and the political power struggle between President Andrew Johnson (who was obstructing rights for freed persons) and the Congressional Republicans. Unpack the impeachment of Johnson and the struggle to win voting rights for freed persons.

12. The Fourteenth Amendment and Freedom

November 23, 2023

The 13th Amendment ended slavery, but it did not define what rights freed persons would enjoy. After the Civil War, the nation engaged in a prolonged debate about the meaning of freedom and equality. Here, consider the goals and shortcomings of Reconstruction and the ratification of the 14th Amendment, which outlined the rights of free citizens.

11. Emancipation and the Thirteenth Amendment

November 23, 2023

President Lincoln

10. Lincoln, Civil War, and the Constitution

November 23, 2023

Although Abraham Lincoln was not elected as an abolitionist president, the era

9. Constitutional Roots of Sectional Tensions

November 23, 2023

Disagreement over slavery divided the country along sectional lines. In the infamous Dred Scott decision, the Supreme Court ruled that a person of African descent could not be a citizen. Dive into the rising tensions of the 19th century that culminated in secession and war.

8. The Law of Slavery under the Constitution

November 23, 2023

The US was founded on the principle that

7. Constitutional Issues of Westward Expansion

November 23, 2023

The early republic

6. The Rise of Federal Power: Hamilton

November 23, 2023

The size and scope of the national government has been at the heart of American political debates for centuries

5. The Bill of Rights as a Concession

November 23, 2023

During the ratification process, many states complained that the Constitution did not include a Bill of Rights. A movement started to create amendments to protect individuals against governmental tyranny. Explore the role of James Madison and others in creating the first 10 amendments to the US Constitution.

4. The Ratification of the Constitution

November 23, 2023

After the Philadelphia Convention approved the new Constitution, at least nine states needed to ratify it. Travel the new nation in the late 18th century to see how different states viewed a new federal government

3. Dilemmas of the Constitutional Convention

November 23, 2023

While America

2. Failures of Early American Governments

November 23, 2023

When war broke out between England and the American colonies, the Continental Congress drafted the Articles of Confederation, a loose framework by which the colonies could be governed as a nation-state. Reflect on the origins of this system, as well as its inability to deal with economic, military, and diplomatic crises of the day.

1. America

November 23, 2023

America was born out of a group of ideas and a series of conflicts with England. Begin your course on the US Constitution with a look at the English tradition that underpins American law and the tensions with England that led to revolution.

Description

Where to Watch The US Constitution through History

The US Constitution through History is available for streaming on the The Great Courses website, both individual episodes and full seasons. You can also watch The US Constitution through History on demand at Apple TV Channels and Amazon Prime and Amazon.