In Recognition of 250 Years of Democracy

Facilitator: Kay Gillespie

Contact information: 970-231-8954, kaygi2@aol.com

Please note: This class will be conducted via ZOOM!

Class length: 2 hours, Mondays

Class time: 1:30-3:30 pm

Class duration: 8 weeks, starts late: Sept 14—Nov 2nd

Place: Foxtail 2

Class size: 16

Required texts: The Constitution of the United States of American and Other Founding Documents: Gilded Pocket Edition, Arcturus Publishing Ltd., London, England, 2024. (Participants are requested to purchase this edition, which, while available new, is also likely to be available at used outlets at a reasonable price.)

Course Description:

Through this 8-week class we will engage in review, consideration, and discussion of four founding documents of the United States as we recognize and think critically about 250 years of the existence of our nation’s democracy. These documents are, in order of ratification, the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights.

Note that the Front Range Forum is a learning community, which means we learn from and with each other. In this regard, this class will be discussion based; and participants, while not required, will be expected to provide brief reports on identified areas of our readings as introductions to discussion and perhaps also in relation to current events. We will consider foundational beliefs and evolution of thought from the beginning of the founding of the United States to the present.

There is a wealth of information to be explored, and we will have many questions to which we may have some answers, but some to which we may have no answers. Note that an atmosphere of civility and respect is expected throughout this class.