This course uses the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol and the documentary Defenders of Democracy: The Thin Blue Line (https://www.pbs.org/show/defenders-of-democracy-the-thin-blue-line/) as a case study in how democratic institutions are stressed, defended, interpreted, and rebuilt. Defenders of Democracy: The Thin Blue Line examines the causes and consequences of the attack, the electoral certification process, and the experiences of police officers and families affected by the violence.