American Government / Economics

Grades 11-12 

This rigorous Socratic investigation explores the foundations of the American Republic and the logic of economic theory. As a historian’s approach to civics, the course is built on the conviction that inalienable rights are not granted by government, but are inherent to the individual and protected by the 1787 Constitution. Designed as an intellectual bridge to the university level, we prioritize critical thinking over rote memorization, equipping students with a firm philosophical foundation before they enter the college world.

Unlike our other courses, the writing component utilizes digital discussion boards to facilitate scholarly debate and evidence-based “briefs” rather than traditional essays. These digital exchanges are then directly followed up and extended during our live Socratic discussions, where students must defend their positions and dive deeper into the week’s topics. By analyzing original sources through a constitutional and Austrian School lens, students develop the analytical maturity to navigate complex ideas with confidence. Furthermore, we emphasize the value of open discourse, training students to engage in respectful, logical conversations with those who do not share their views—a skill essential for leadership in a free society.

Class Information

• Prerequisite: American History
• Ages: Grades 11-12  Class meets once weekly, for 1.5 hrs, 30 times per year.
  • Required Textbooks (Price varies. Buy used!! Thriftbooks, Abebooks, or Amazon are good places to look.)
    • Basic American Government by Clarence Carson, ISBN 978-1931789196  
    • Lessons for the Young Economist by Robert P. Murphy, ISBN 9781933550886
  • Registration fee: $65
  • Tuition: $75/Month
  • The Scholar’s Workflow
    • The Foundation: Weekly reading accompanied by vocabulary and comprehension questions. These assignments ensure students possess a firm grasp of historical facts and economic principles before we begin our high-level analysis.
    • The Digital Brief: Rather than traditional essays, students participate in college-prep digital discussion boards. Each week, they craft a concise, evidence-based “brief” where they analyze original sources and take a principled stand in writing.
    • The Scholarly Exchange: Before our live meeting, students engage in written peer-to-peer “logic checks.” This phase is dedicated to open discourse, where students learn to challenge ideas and respond to opposing views with respect and logical rigor.
    • The Socratic Extension: These digital exchanges are not static assignments; they are the spark for our live Socratic discussions. We use class time to follow up on the board debates, extending the conversation and diving deeper into the nuances of the week’s topics in real time.
  • A Note on Evaluation: Writing and debate are subjective arts. We meet students exactly where they are, providing the mentorship and guidance needed to refine their unique voice and strengthen their logical reasoning.

Course Content

Students will apply high-level critical thinking and historical analysis to open-ended questions across two primary disciplines. Our focus is on the development of the “Socratic mind”—learning to weigh evidence, identify first principles, and argue from a place of logical certainty.

The American Republic: Foundations & Departures

• The Roots of Liberty: Analyzing the ancient Hebrew, Greek, Roman, and British influences that shaped the American mind and the concept of inalienable rights.
• The Social Contract: A deep dive into the Declaration of Independence and the moral foundations of a government designed to protect, not grant, liberty.
• The Constitution: Examining original intent, the structure of the three branches, and the critical “checks and balances” essential to a self-governing Republic.
• Modern Departures: Using the Carson text to analyze how 20th-century shifts and institutional expansions have moved the government away from its 1787 constitutional bounds.
• The Mechanics of the Republic: Investigating the role of the individual, the electoral process, and the media in maintaining a constitutional order.

Economics: The Logic of Human Action

• Economic Foundations: Exploring the logic of choice, scarcity, and subjective value through the lens of the Austrian School (Mises/Rothbard).
• The Power of the Market: Understanding the division of labor, the necessity of entrepreneurial calculation, and the vital role of price signals in a free society.
• The State & Interventionism: Analyzing the “Broken Window Fallacy,” the role of the Federal Reserve, and the inescapable consequences of planned versus free economies.
• The Intersection of Policy & Theory: Discussing globalization, trade, and how economic principles must ground political policy to avoid the pitfalls of interventionism.

The Socratic Bridge: Why This Course Over Dual Credit?

Many parents consider Dual Credit as a way to “check the box” for college credit. However, we believe that for a subject as vital as the American Republic and Economic Logic, foundational mastery is more important than a transcript entry.

Here is why families choose this course over standard college-prep alternatives:

The “Best of Both Worlds”: While our focus is on the development of the mind, we recognize the value of college credit. Because we use high-level texts like Carson and Murphy, students are naturally prepared for the rigor of the CLEP exam. Families may choose to facilitate credit independently via Modern States while using our class for the deep-dive education and scholarly interaction that a survey course simply cannot provide.

Depth Over Breadth: Standardized paths like Dual Credit are often “a mile wide and an inch deep,” prioritizing the rote memorization of surface-level facts to pass an exam. Our approach is the opposite. We dive deep into the “why” of history and the logic of human action, ensuring students don’t just know the names of government branches, but understand the philosophical pillars—such as inalienable rights—that support a Republic.

Firm Foundations vs. Institutional Standards: Mainstream college texts often follow institutional standards that overlook original constitutional intent or the logical rigor of the Austrian School. We equip students with a firm foundation in the principles of liberty, giving them the intellectual armor they need before they enter a university environment.

Active Debate vs. Passive Listening: In a typical Dual Credit setting, a student is a note-taker. In this class, they are an active participant. By utilizing digital discussion boards that extend into live Socratic debate, students learn to defend their ideas logically and respectfully. This habit of open discourse with those who hold differing views will serve them far better in life than a memorized date for a test.