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Syllabus: the Modern American Presidential Election

Fall 2024

U.S. Capitol building

Course title

The Modern American Presidential Election in Historical Perspective 
(part of the Hopkins Semester D.C. program) 

Leah Wright Rigueur

Instructor

Leah Wright Rigueur,
SNF Agora Institute,
Associate Professor of History 

Course description

You cannot understand modern presidential politics and contests without examining the historical antecedents. What are the foundational moments in modern American social, political, and economic history that provided the “building blocks” for the 2024 presidential election? 

Selected readings

  • Fannie Lou Hamer, “Testimony to the Credentials Committee, Democratic National Convention,” August 1964 
  • Kathryn Cramer Brownell, excerpt from 24/7 Politics: Cable Television and the Fragmenting of America from Watergate to Fox News 
  • Grover Norquist, “Natural Conservatives,” The American Spectator, June 2001 

“So much of what happens in the lead-up to elections, and the aftermath, is incredibly important to questions of American democracy, and in some respects global democracy. I want students to be able to invest in this and to speak to this, and for it to really influence the work that they go out into the world and do in ways that matter.” 
Leah Wright Rigueur 

“My experience in this course has been incredible, from the thought-provoking discussions we have through a historical lens that help us make sense of these polarized times, to the highly accomplished guest speakers we have the privilege of hearing from each week and the important context they bring to understanding this moment in American politics.” 
Grayson Miller ’26,
public health studies major

“This is a deeply engaging course that situates the students between the events happening in front of our eyes and the historical materials that help contextualize them. I anticipate taking away not just the opportunity to hear from our guest speakers, but also Professor Wright Rigueur’s methodical approach that teaches us to understand our current political climate through a historical lens.” 
Celine Sui ’25,
anthropology major