This course will explore the electoral history of the United States since 1912. It's a good place to start since that presidential election saw a dramatic split in the Republican Party, a Socialist who garnered 6% of the vote, and victory for a segregationist Democrat. We will cove a period of over 100 years of US history and much happened. Thus it is that such a course is necessarily topical. Many significant issues, persons, and events are left out. There is always more to think about and learn about than what's on the syllabus. But, really, the big matters to think about here are the contemporary issues raised. If this course challenges you to contemplate in more informed and thoughtful ways about such matters as liberalism and conservatism, what is "political," why do people vote the way they do, what coalitions have formed the Democratic and Republican parties, the so-called "culture wars," and religion and politics, then it will have been a success. Actually, it will likely cause creative confusion about these matters.