Humanities Texas, the state af!liate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, conducts and supports public programs in history, literature, philosophy, and other humanities disciplines. These programs strengthen Texas communities and ultimately help sustain representative democracy by cultivating informed, educated citizens. www.humanitiestexas.org As the largest school at The University of Texas at Austin, the College of Liberal Arts forms the core of the university experience: a classic liberal arts education at a world-class research university. The college provides intellectual challenges, exposure to diversity, and learning opportunities that cross cultural boundaries and promote individual growth. Top-ranked programs set the standard for undergraduate excellence. www.utexas.edu/cola The University of Texas at San Antonio is dedicated to the advancement of knowledge through research and discovery, teaching and learning, community engagement and public service. As an institution of access and excellence, UTSA embraces multicultural traditions, serving as a center for intellectual and creative resources as well as a catalyst for socioeconomic development for Texas, the nation, and the world. www.utsa.edu The mission of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum is to preserve and protect the historical materials in the collections institutes for texas teachers of the Johnson Library and make them readily accessible, to increase public awareness of the American experience through relevant exhibitions and educational programs, and to advance the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum’s standing as a center for intellectual activity and community leadership while meeting the challenges of a changing world. www.lbjlib.utexas.edu A We the People initiative of the National Endowment for the Humanities, with support from Houston Endowment, a philanthropy endowed by Mr. and Mrs. Jesse H. Jones Cover image: Barry Faulkner (American 1881–1966), The Constitution, 1936. Oil on canvas. The National Archives. HUMANITIES TEXAS THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SYSTEM LYNDON BAINES JOHNSON THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SYSTEM 2009 BOARD OF DIRECTORS BOARD OF REGENTS 2008–2009 FOUNDATION BOARD OF REGENTS 2008–2009 Julius Glickman, Houston (Chair) James R. Huf!nes, Austin (Chairman) Robert Allbritton, Arlington, VA James R. Huf!nes, Austin (Chairman) Mary L. Volcansek, Fort Worth (Vice Chair) Colleen McHugh, Corpus Christi (Vice Chair) Ben Barnes, Austin Colleen McHugh, Corpus Christi (Vice Chair) Nancy Cain Marcus, Dallas (Secretary) Paul Foster, El Paso (Vice Chair) Jack Blanton, Houston Paul Foster, El Paso (Vice Chair) Michael L. Klein, Midland/Austin James D. Dannenbaum, P.E., Houston Joseph A. Califano Jr., New York, NY James D. Dannenbaum, P.E., Houston (Treasurer) Benjamin L. Dower, Dallas Elizabeth Christian, Austin Benjamin L. Dower, Dallas Joseph R. Krier, San Antonio (Past Chair) Printice L. Gary, Dallas Eleanor B. Crook, San Marcos Printice L. Gary, Dallas Alwyn Barr, Lubbock R. Steven Hicks, Austin Larry R. Faulkner, Houston R. Steven Hicks, Austin Leslie D. Blanton, Houston Janiece Longoria, Houston Wayne Gibbens, Washington, D.C. Janiece Longoria, Houston Albert S. Broussard, College Station Wm. Eugene “Gene” Powell, San Antonio William P. Hobby, Houston Wm. Eugene “Gene” Powell, San Antonio Maceo C. Dailey Jr., El Paso Robert L. Stillwell, Houston Admiral Bob Inman, Austin Robert L. Stillwell, Houston Virginia Dudley, Comanche Luci Baines Johnson, Austin George M. Fleming, Houston Chancellor W. Thomas Johnson, Atlanta, GA Chancellor Juliet V. García, Brownsville Francisco G. Cigarroa Ambassador Jim Jones, Washington D.C. Francisco G. Cigarroa Miguel Gonzalez-Gerth, Austin Jack Martin, Austin Robert J. Kruckemeyer, Houston President Cappy R. McGarr, Dallas President William S. Livingston, Austin William Powers Jr. Ambassador Lyndon L. Olson Jr., Waco Ricardo Romo Adair Margo, El Paso William Powers Jr., Austin "#$%"%&%'$ ()* %'+,$ %',-.'*$ Provost and Vice President for Janie Strauss McGarr, Dallas Executive Vice President and Provost Bernard Rapoport, Waco Academic Affairs Kit T. Moncrief, Fort Worth Steven W. Leslie Lynda Johnson Robb, McLean, VA FINAL REPORT John Frederick Tessa Martinez Pollack, San Antonio Hugh G. Robinson, Dallas Dean, College of Liberal Arts Caren H. Prothro, Dallas Roy M. Spence Jr., Austin Vice President for Randy L. Diehl Catherine L. Robb, Austin Robert S. Strauss, Washington, D.C. Community Services Ricardo Romo, San Antonio Larry E. Temple, Austin Jude Valdez Linda A. Valdez, Rockport Casey Wasserman, Los Angeles, CA George C. Wright, Prairie View Dean, College of Liberal and Fine Arts The LBJ Library and Museum Daniel J. Gelo Board Alumni Co-Chairs Acting Director J. Sam Moore Jr., El Paso Tina Houston Director, Of!ce of Ellen C. Temple, Lufkin Extended Education William P. Wright Jr., Austin Frank A. Salazar Executive Director Michael L. Gillette The U.S. Constitution and American History Project Director Eric Lupfer, Director of Grants and Education A We the People initiative of the National Endowment for the Humanities, with support from Houston Endowment, a philanthropy endowed by Mr. and Mrs. Jesse H. Jones Any views, !ndings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication do not necessarily re/ect those of the National Endowment for the Humanities. 2 THE U. S. CONSTITUTION & AMERICAN HISTORY F"#,0 R '1)*% 3 THE UNIT ED STAT E S CONSTI TUTION is the foundation of our federal system of government, de!ning both the principal organs of government and the basic rights of U.S. citizens. Despite differing interpretations of its provisions, the Constitution has proven remarkably durable as the nation has evolved over the span of 220 years. In June 2009, Humanities Texas partnered with the College of Liberal Arts at The University of Texas at Austin, The University of Texas at San Antonio, and the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum to present a pair of residential teacher institutes in Austin and San Antonio entitled “The U.S. Constitution and American History,” which examined this founding document, its history, and its contemporary relevance. B,-23*)&#4 the history and culture of the U.S.-Mexico border, “Southwest Vistas” represented a signi!cant Austin institute Since 2004, Humanities Texas has held summer teacher institutes around Texas with the support expansion of Humanities Texas’s educational programs, as it included two teacher institutes— participants gather of the National Endowment for the Humanities We the People initiative. The 2004 “Institute on one in Houston, the other in El Paso, both sharing the same curricular goals. In 2007 and 2008, on the steps of the LBJ Congress and American History,” organized in partnership with the LBJ Library, the National Humanities Texas followed the same model, partnering in 2007 with Texas Christian University, Library’s Great Hall. Archives and Records Administration (NARA), and UT Austin’s College of Liberal Arts and Dolph Texas Tech University, and the Amon Carter Museum to hold “The West and the Shaping of Briscoe Center for American History, explored Congress’s role in the pivotal events of U.S. history. America,” two institutes in Fort Worth and Lubbock that explored the history and culture of The following year, Humanities Texas collaborated with the Bob Bullock Texas State History the American West. In 2008, Humanities Texas, Trinity University, and the University of North Museum to hold “Gateway on the Gulf: Galveston and American Immigration, 1845–1914,” which Texas held “From Disunion to Empire: The United States, 1850–1900,” a pair of institutes in examined the history of nineteenth-century U.S. immigration from the perspective of Galveston, Denton and San Antonio exploring U.S. history in the second half of the nineteenth century. the “Ellis Island of the West.” Through these institutes, Humanities Texas has developed a formula for intellectually Although I found each particular In 2006, Humanities Texas partnered with the University of Houston and The University of stimulating summer programs for the state’s classroom teachers. Participants work closely speaker’s presentations and materials Texas at El Paso to hold “Southwest Vistas: The Border in American History.” An exploration of with leading scholars and colleagues from around Texas, exploring topics central to the state’s relevant to my teaching, what I think Charles Flanagan humanities curricula. Evaluations have been superlative, with many teachers reporting that will make the most impact is the broad leads a primary source they returned home inspired to share what they learned with students and colleagues. message of the institute—that the workshop in San Constitution is a living document that Antonio examining the P*)3*,5 D'6'0)15'#% has shaped and been shaped by the course Bill of Rights. The late Roy Mersky, former Humanities Texas chair and director of the Jamail Center for of our nation. Legal Research at the UT School of Law, !rst proposed a teacher institute examining the U.S. Elizabeth Chapman, Westbrook Intermediate Constitution. The basic plans for the 2009 institute developed from a series of meetings that School (Friendswood) Humanities Texas Executive Director Michael L. Gillette held with Alan Tully, chair of UT’s history department, and Randy Diehl, dean of UT’s College of Liberal Arts. Tully and historian George Forgie helped shape the program and identify core faculty. Betty Sue Flowers, then director of the LBJ Library, agreed that the