HIST440D: Citizens and Persons  

The definition and substance of citizenship have changed dramatically in the course of history. Modern societies in particular have experienced struggles over who belongs to the nation, who deserves to protect it and be protected by it, as well as ideas about individual and group rights. These conflicts continue to the present day, as seen in the public debates over access to the ballot box, immigrant rights, marriage equality, inclusion of people with disabilities, the persistence of state violence against minorities, and other issues. 

In this class, we will trace the evolution of expanding (and occasionally contracting) political and civil rights and responsibilities over time; our exploration has a broad geographic scope, with an emphasis on events in multicultural American nations. Our approach emphasizes the history of ideas in action – how laws, institutions, social practices, unique historical contexts, and individuals’ understanding of self and other have mutually produced each other. 

Citizens and Persons is part of the Symposium “Being Human” and thus we will engage this semester in an interdisciplinary conversation exploring fundamental concepts such as: personhood, conceptions of humanity, definitions of rights and responsibilities, dehumanization. We will also discuss and assess a range of proposals for the amelioration of abuses and inequalities perpetuated in the past and present. 

Nari Ward, We the People (2017)