Starting with the premise that polarization and resentment often begin with students’ lack of understanding of their own political beliefs, the course is oriented around students taking the Janda Ideolog survey at the beginning of the semester and then examining each of the four ideologies identified in Packer’s four different “Americas.” Course readings are then centered around the historical development of each of these Americas using original source material identified in the Packer piece. Four essays are assigned throughout the class where students interrogate each of Packer’s Americas, considering their own ideological views. The final course assignment is a research essay in which students either defend their ideological position as determined at the beginning of the semester via the Janda survey or explain why they may have changed their position.