American Political Thought

Front 1

“We shall be as a city set upon a hill. The eyes of all people are upon us.”

Back 1

John Winthrop

Front 2

“We look upon authority too often and focus over and over again, for 30 or 40 or 50 years, as if there is something wrong with authority. We see only the oppressive side of authority. Maybe it comes out of our history and our background. What we don't see is that freedom is not a concept in which people can do anything they want, be anything they can be. Freedom is about authority. Freedom is about the willingness of every single human being to cede to lawful authority a great deal of discretion about what you do.”

Back 2

Rudy Guilani

Front 3

“If this be treason, let us make the most of it.”

“I do not know what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!”

“Our chains are forged! Their clanking may be heard on the plains of Boston!”

Back 3

Patrick Henry

Front 4

“I do not speak for my church on public matters, and my church does not speak for me.”

Back 4

John F. Kennedy

Front 5

“Freedom requires religion just as religion requires freedom.”

Back 5

Mitt Romney

Front 6

“A benevolent man should allow a few faults in himself, to keep his friends in countenance.”

“A republic, if you can keep it.”

Back 6

Benjamin Franklin

Front 7

“Sin is not hurtful because it is forbidden, but forbidden because it is hurtful.”

I confess that there are several parts of this constitution which I do not at present approve, but I am not sure I shall ever approve them.”

“Thus I consent, Sir, to the Constitution because I expect no better, and because I am not sure, that it is not the best. The opinions I had of its errors, I sacrifice to the public good.”

Back 7

Benjamin Franklin

Front 8

“In a time of injustice – the just man’s proper place is in prison!”

"Run from those who would do you good.”

Back 8

Henry David Thoreau

Front 9

“Slave drivers of ourselves”

“Tools of our tools”

Back 9

Henry David Thoreau

Front 10

“Have the power to begin the world over again?”

“Our great title is AMERICANS.”

Back 10

Thomas Paine

Front 11

“If men were angels no government would be necessary. If men were devils no government would be possible.”

“Liberty is to faction what air is to fire.”

Back 11

James Madison

Front 12

“The proposed Constitution, therefore is, neither a national nor a federal constitution, but a composition of both.”

Back 12

James Madison

Front 13

“Dangerous ambition more often lurks behind the specious mask of zeal for the rights of the people than under the forbidding appearance of zeal for the firmness and efficiency of government.”

“A nation without a national government is an awful spectacle.”

Back 13

Alexander Hamilton

Front 14

What Does it Mean to Be an American?

Written by:

Back 14

Walzer

Front 15

What is an American?

Written by:

Back 15

De Crevecouer

Front 16

Observations Concerning the Increase of Mankind

Written by:

Back 16

Benjamin Franklin

Front 17

Two Weeks in the Wilderness

and

Democracy in America

Written by:

Back 17

De Tocqueville

Front 18

A Model of Christian Charity, Speech to the General Court (or “On Liberty”)

Written by:

Back 18

Winthrop

Front 19

A Plea for Religious Toleration

Written by:

Back 19

Roger Williams

Front 20

Virginia Act for Establishing Religious Freedom

Written by:

Back 20

Thomas Jefferson

Front 21

Religion the Only Sure Basis of Free Government

Written by:

Back 21

Samuel Kendel

Front 22

Speech on His Religion

Written by:

Back 22

John F. Kennedy

Front 23

Faith in America

Written by:

Back 23

Willard “Mitt” Romney

Front 24

Walden (or Life in the Woods)

and

Civil Disobedience

Written by:

Back 24

Henry David Thoreau

Front 25

Fundamental Orders of 1639

The English Bill of Rights (1689)

AlbanyPlan of Union (1754)

Petition of the House of Burgesses to the House of Commons (1764)

Written by:

Back 25

Thomas Hooker

Front 26

Give me Liberty or Give me Death (1775)

Written by:

Back 26

Patrick Henry

Front 27

Common Sense, The American Crisis #1 and #13, Letter to Jefferson

Written by:

Back 27

Thomas Paine

Front 28

Speech to the Constitutional Convention (1797)

Written by:

Back 28

Benjamin Franklin

Front 29

The Federalist Papers: #1

Written by:

Back 29

Hamilton

Front 30

The Federalist Papers: #10, 39, 51

Written by:

Back 30

Madison

Front 31

Washington’s Farewell Address (September 19, 1796)

Written by:

Back 31

Hamilton

Front 32

"Melting Pot" idea came from who?

Back 32

De Crevecouer

Front 33

Samuel Kendel: Religion the Only Sure Basis of Free Government

What is opinion on religion?

What makes men obey the laws and keep their oaths?

Back 33

-He thinks nonbelievers are basis (they only need to justify their actions to themselves)

-People will run wild without religion

-The fear of eternal damnation

Front 34

JFK and his opinion on separation of Church and State

Back 34

Conscience: if you believe something to be good and true why would you not defend and enforce it?

He thinks you can’t enforce religion just because you think it’s right, you need to keep church and state separate

Front 35

Mitt Romney and his opinion on separate of Church and State

Back 35

Everyone believes in something similar (a God)

But you need to keep them separate

Front 36

Fundamental Orders of 1639

-Why write a constitution?

-Who can vote

-What makes it legitimate

-Length

Back 36

1. Keeps anyone person from accumulating to much power

2. who can vote: white males (property owners)

3. Legitimacy: everyone agreeing and consent through representation

4. Length: they already agreed on most things so they could write the minimum. They also did not expect gov. to do much

Front 37

Albany Plan of Union (1754)

- 5 key issues

- Why was it not approved?

Back 37

1. Representation (equality = Senate, population = House)

2. Veto (powerful act)

3. New Colonies (how to let them in)

4. Taxes (how to tax)

5. King’s power in America

Why it was not approved? Local leaders don’t want their power reduced

Front 38

Petition of the House of Burgesses to the House of Commons (1764)

What are the rights claimed by the representatives of Virginia?

What is the source of those rights?

Back 38

1. Britain cannot tax them without their consent

2.

- Birth rights/natural rights

- Practice, history (what has been practiced should continue)

- Rights are granted to you by your rulers

Front 39

“Give me Liberty or Give me Death” (1775)

How does he defend rebellion against the King?

What is the source of liberty?

How can we know we are in the right in resisting the King?

Back 39

1. Appeal to a higher law (God) and the rulers have failed us

2. Source of liberty: from God, not a king

3. Their duty is to God not a king

Front 40

Washington’s Farewell Address

1. Central principles of Washington’s Address?

2. What does he warn against?

3. What is necessary for the survival of a republic?

Back 40

1. He is against factions and is the 1st person to give up power

2. Allegiances with foreign powers (because then you have to fight their battles)

3. American Exceptionalism- entanglement with other countries will taint America

Front 41

Economist: The Perils of Constitution Worship

1. Why do people give magical power to the Con?

2. Why has the Con. survived?

3. Would the Framers recognize today's American government?

Back 41

1. Its old, it seems to work

2. - people are committed to it

- been trained to believe it's good

- short and vague (lots of space for debate)

3. No, it is much larger and many difference branches/departments

Front 42

Roger Williams: A Plea for Religious Toleration

What are the two key reasons he gives for religious toleration and against enforced religious uniformity?

Back 42

Practical: avoid war and destruction

Spiritual: forcing people to believe doesn’t mean they will really believe it

Front 43

Winthrop: A Model of Christian Charity, Speech to the General Court” (or “On Liberty”)

1. Why does the existence of social and economic inequality reflect God’s plan?

2. Decribe Liberty: natural and civil

Back 43

-God wants inequality, he wants some people poor and some people rich

-Providence: everything happens for a reason

- Natural: doing whatever you want to (beast) - Civil: agree to limits natural liberty within a society. Power comes from God to the magistrates. You agreed so you can’t complain. If you disagree you favor anarchy.