Constitution 101: The Meaning and History of the Constitution

Learn the meaning of the Constitution and the principles of American government in this new version of Hillsdale’s most popular course.

The United States Constitution was designed to secure the natural rights proclaimed in the Declaration of Independence. Signed by Constitutional Convention delegates on September 17, 1787—Constitution Day—it was ratified by the American people and remains the most enduring and successful constitution in history. 

In this twelve-lecture course, students will examine the political theory of the American Founding and subsequent challenges to that theory throughout American history. Topics covered in this course include: the natural rights theory of the Founding, the meaning of the Declaration and the Constitution, the crisis of the Civil War, the Progressive rejection of the Founding, and the nature and form of modern liberalism.

Join more than one million Americans who have taken “Constitution 101: The Meaning and History of the Constitution” by enrolling in this free online course today!


Enroll in this free course on the Constitution today!

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What students say

This online course is excellent. This is true as well for the other two Hillsdale online courses I've completed. Everything--the lectures, outlines, supplementary videos, quizzes, etc.--is done well with a high quality throughout. I'm truly thankful that such fine courses are available.

– Kent


It is both succinct and thorough, both fair and interesting, and is truly more intellectually worthwhile than many of the university classes I took a decade ago. I wish I had been exposed to such professors or to a more free-thinking institution like Hillsdale at the time.

– Micah


The speakers are exceptional, and the course covers information that even at my age I have never heard before. I am learning so much.

– Betty