Harvard Course Ignites Debate: Two Americas, One Constitution?

Harvard's Online Course Sparks Debate on American Identity: A Look at the US Constitution's Competing Interpretations. The recent release of Harvard University's free online course, "American Government: Constitutional Foundations," has ignited a renewed discussion about the core principles of American identity. The course, which explores the historical context of the US Constitution, has become a focal point for contrasting viewpoints. One interpretation, often associated with conservative perspectives, emphasizes the principles of state rights and individual liberties as established in 1776. In contrast, a more liberal perspective highlights the Constitution's supremacy as defined in 1789, emphasizing the need for a strong federal government to ensure equality and justice for all citizens. "The important question where we started to disagree was: what is America?" says the presenter in the video, which uses the course as a springboard for this discussion. The video also references the Fourteenth Amendment and its promise of equal protection under the law, underscoring the ongoing challenges to achieving this ideal. The discussion underscores the importance of engaging with the historical context of the Constitution to better understand the complexities of modern-day American politics.