The Ohio State University Department of History

HISTORY 2003: American Civics Through History

Washington Crossing the Delaware

HISTORY 2003: American Civics Through History

How have people from across the spectrum of political power shaped American civic traditions?

This course fulfills the new American Civic Literacy
credit requirement for incoming Class of 2030 students.

Slideshow of historic photographs depicting scenes ranging from a child working a cotton mill to a presidential debate

How has civics been crucial to the development of the historical United States?

In this course students explore the complex and consequential histories that have informed the American civic tradition, from the seventeenth century to the present. With a focus on primary source documents and texts, students will uncover firsthand the diverse range of peoples, events, and experiences that have influenced enduring debates over the extent and limits of freedom in America. Reading and analyzing the perspectives of Indigenous leaders, Virginia farmers, Civil War soldiers, Gilded-Age sweatshop workers, Black Freedom fighters, business leaders, presidents, policymakers, and more, students will deepen their understanding of the multifaceted- and often contradictory- relationship between freedom and liberal democracy, and between rights and responsibilities.

Autumn 2026 Term Sessions

Section #38285

Full Session | Online Asynchronous
Associate Professor, Daniel Rivers

Section #38288

Full Session | Online Asynchronous
Lecturer, Eric Limbach

Section #37462

Second Session | Online Asynchronous
Lecturer, Eric Limbach

Course Overview

  • Unit 1: Colonial America
  • Unit 2: Revolutionary Stirrings
  • Unit 3: A New Republic Emerges
  • Unit 4: The Early Years
  • Unit 5: The Expansion Years
  • Unit 6: A House Divided: Civil War & Emancipation
  • Unit 7: Reconstruction: Capital, Labor, and Rights in the Gilded Age
  • Unit 8: Freedom in the Progressive Era
  • Unit 9: To Make the World Safe for Democracy
  • Unit 10: New Deal Freedoms, A World at War
  • Unit 11: Wartime America and Freedom Struggles
  • Unit 12: The Cold War, Civil Rights
  • Unit 13: Countervailing Voices, Backlash & Unfinished Business
Smiling woman in a leather coat sitting in front of a stone wall

"The History Department’s top teachers, award-winning scholars, and students collaborated to create a wonderful course in HIST 2003. You’ll discover things that surprise you and learn about people and ideas that inspire you. Students will leave the course with a better understanding of America’s past--and its present. It should be an absolute banger!"

– Dr. Margaret Newell, Arts and Sciences Distinguished Professor of History

“We designed this class to be fun, interesting, and fulfilling. The course brings students face-to-face with some of the most important people, events, documents, and ideas in American civic history. Exploring issues ranging from war and diplomacy to congressional representation and voting access, HIST 2003 not only offers fresh perspectives on familiar figures and moments in American history, but offers a dynamic deeper understanding of how that history continues to shape the present.”

– Dr. Christopher McKnight Nichols, Professor of History and Woody Hayes Chair in National Security Studies

Man with glasses in a suit presenting on stage
Man with dark hair and glasses in front of a dark stone wall

“This exciting new course brings America’s civic past to life. Students will develop a deeper understanding of democracy, freedom, rights, and civic responsibility while building the critical thinking and analytical skills needed to navigate contemporary issues, evaluate competing viewpoints, and participate thoughtfully in daily life. Ohio State’s award-winning historians explore how the American experience has been molded by key moments, debates, voices, and traditions.”

– Dr. Nicholas Breyfogle, Professor of History and Chair of the Department of History