This institute will examine the central ideas of the American Revolution and American Founding. Our study will focus on the writings of American revolutionaries and founders and on American political documents from the late eighteenth century. Through these writings and documents, we will rediscover the historic political "conversation" and deliberation that gave rise to a new America between 1776 and 1791.

In the course of our discussions, we will explore the meaning, implications, and political logic of such ideas as equality, liberty, government by consent, representation, the rule of law, separation of powers, limited government, natural rights, civil rights, republicanism, federalism, and constitutionalism.

The primary texts will be Philip B. Kurland and Ralph Lerner's edited collection, The Founders' Constitution; The Federalist Papers; James Madison's Notes of the Debates in the Federal Convention of 1787; Gordon Lloyd and Margie Lloyd, eds. The Essential Bill of Rights; William B. Allen and Gordon Lloyd, eds. The Essential Antifederalist.

Faculty: Christopher Flannery is Professor and Chair of the Department of History and Political Science at Azusa Pacific University. He has written and taught for many years about the American Founding and American Founders. Gordon Lloyd is Professor of Public Policy at Pepperdine University. Among his publications related to the American Founding are the books The Essential Antifederalist and The Essential Bill of Rights .

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