The course objective is to take a close look at how the American government works. It takes a look back at US history from the moment the first colonists set foot on American soil to independence and the establishment of a government free from the ties of Britain. From independence to the Civil War to the Civil Rights Movement, students will look at what part each branch of government played in shaping the nation as well as all the other factors involved, from interest groups to the media. Students will further explore the scope of each branch of government and how they work together as well as struggle against each other to govern within the framework of the Constitution.