Provides a biographical sketch of Reinhold Niebuhr. Focuses upon an examination of the essential ideas of the mature Niebuhr. Makes the point that his ideas transcend political labels, and discusses the political legacy of this influential thinker. Calls for social theorists to apply his insights to the contemporary situation. (KO)

The history of the United States Constitution is outlined in this account of the 1787 Constitutional Convention. The document is grouped according to 12 topical headings, which follow a brief account of the participation of George Washington and James Madison. Section 1 deals with the conceptualization and development of the Articles of…

The "great national discussion" of 1787 involved deliberations, writings, debates, and speeches concerning the newly created U.S. Constitution. Both the framers and the critics of the Constitution utilized philosophies of: (1) republicanism; (2) Lockean liberalism; (3) work-ethic Protestantism; and (4) state-centered theories of power…

Reviews the political conditions surrounding the Red Scare following World War I. Features a June, 1920 letter from a prominent newspaper editor which supported Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer's anti-Communist policies. Includes teaching suggestions along with a two-page reprint of the original letter. (JDH)

Provides a sociological analysis of the works of Bernard Bailyn, Lawrence Cremin, Joel Spring, Samuel Bowles, and Herbert Gintis. Maintains that even though there are ideological differences among these authors, their themes are all informed by a functionalist perspective. Argues that their works lead to a deterministic, fatalistic, and…

Maintains that there were three forces operating in colonial American culture which led to the drafting of the Constitution. These were: English law and tradition, the lifestyle of the colonies, and the Enlightenment. Provides examples of how these forces were expressed in the events surrounding the birth of the United States Constitution. (JDH)

Illustrates the relationships between John C. Calhoun's slavery-era political philosophy regarding minority rights within a democratic political organization and the actions of Daniel P. Moynihan as United States' Ambassador to the third-world-dominated General Assembly of the United Nations. (JDH)

Noting that recent years have produced an explosion of work in the fields of constitutional and legal history, this article identifies the conclusions and interpretive issues such studies have generated. The impact of social scientific historical methodology and social history are also assessed. (JDH)

Reviews the nature of fascism as it arose in Europe between World Wars I and II. Examines the nature of 'proto-fascist' trends in the United States during the 1920s and 1930s, and offers some tentative conclusions as to why the trend failed to achieve greater strength. (JDH)

Discusses the importance of the Northwest Ordinance to the nation, the Northwest Territories, and Indiana Territory. Concludes the document is fundamental for U.S. history instruction and advocates that it should be studied in the social studies classroom. (RKM)

Provides a lesson plan and primary source material for exploring whether Richard M. Nixon should have been prosecuted for obstruction of justice following his resignation from the Presidency. Contains a reproduction of the special prosecutor's memorandum that lists the factors which support or detract from a decision to prosecute Richard Nixon.…

Reviews classical economists' views on the issue of public debt. Notes that from antiquity to modern times, it has always been rare for a state not to be in debt. Includes an examination of a state's repudiation of its debt and the impact such an action might have on its international relations. (JDH)

This study examined the use of footnotes and visuals in 8,634 research articles published in core journals in sociology, political science, and economics between 1886 and 1985. It was found that use of footnotes and visuals within a discipline vary over time and that agreement on presentational standards increases as the discipline matures. (61…

This book seeks to establish a broader picture of the issues that confronted those who framed the U.S. Government during the founding period. This collection of primary historical documents shows how the founders arrived at consensus from the many conflicting viewpoints that characterized the debate on establishing the constitutional republic. A…

Reports on the story of Daniel Shays' sale of a sword given to him by General Lafayette. The story was used by Shays' contemporaries as a means of attacking the rebellion. Notes that while Shay died a poor and homeless man, we remember and honor him for devotion to principle and the responsibility he showed toward his neighbors. (JDH)