Tuesday, November 16, will be the first session of my four-week online course on the history and theory of state nullification. The course will be delivered via the Mises Academy, the Mises’ Institute’s portal for online instruction. It will cover the historical, constitutional, and moral arguments that have been raised for and against the idea of state nullification. Students will examine the major sources and documents that comprise this tradition of American political thought, and read and discuss the famous debates in American history over nullification and the nature of the American Union: Daniel Webster vs. Robert Hayne, Andrew Jackson vs. Littleton Waller Tazewell, and Joseph Story vs. Abel Upshur. To become acquainted with this topic is to gain an intimate knowledge and understanding of American history. (The book Nullification is the only required reading that is unavailable to read online.)
We had a nice time in my recent course on the New Deal. (Here’s a testimonial.) I gave a presentation, students asked questions, and when all on-topic questions were exhausted, we talked about whatever people felt like discussing. Anyone could sign off at any time, but quite a few of us stayed online talking for more than an hour after the official class session was technically over.
Please consider signing up. Hope to see you there.