OSHER 667 - The Constitution And Race Relations In America

This course will explore the long term impact of the compromise on slavery integral to the 1787 Constitution, focusing on the 13th, 14th and 15th Amendments and the statutory and judicial analysis, interpretation and implementation of those amendments. In addition to reviewing Supreme Court decisions and federal statutes, we will look at some of the important lower federal court decisions and state legislation, the continuing related battle between advocates of states' rights and strong federal government, and some of the still unresolved issues around the relations between African and European Americans. We will discuss issues confronting race relations today, including issues relating to reparations -- whether it makes sense at this point and, if so, how it might be structured.