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Master of American History and Government Ashland University AHG 502A: The American Founding Sunday, June 22 to Friday, June 27, 2008 Instructors: Christopher Burkett and Gordon Lloyd Course focus: This course is an intensive study of the constitutional convention, the struggle over ratification of the Constitution, and the creation of the Bill of Rights. It will include a close examination of the Federalist Papers and the Antifederalist literature. Learning Objectives To increase participants' familiarity with and understanding of:
To enhance the ability of participants to teach about:
To equip participants to make use of the Constitutional Convention Website for studying and teaching about the Constitutional Convention. To prepare participants to answer and to use over 250 questions about the texts and subjects studied. Requirements: A final examination, which will consist of 100 multiple choice questions. The exam questions will be selected from a Study Guide consisting of approximately 250 possible questions. The Study Guide will be distributed at the beginning of the first session Students auditing the course as a part of a Teaching American History Grant program must complete the readings and fully participate in the seminars during the week.
Sunday, June 22 4:30 pm - 6:00 pm: Introduction and Session 1: Introduction to this course with Chris Burkett and Gordon Lloyd (Ashbrook Center, 8th Floor, Ashland University Library) Topic: The "American Mind" and the American Founding Focus: Thomas Jefferson wrote that in drafting the Declaration of Independence he meant to give expression to "the American mind." What does the Declaration tell us about the American mind as it relates to the foundations, forms, and purposes of the first political institutions established in the newly sovereign United States of America? Required Reading:
7:30 - 9:00 pm Session 2: Institute Lecture Location will be provided during check-in on Sunday. Attendance is mandatory. Monday, June 23 9:00 am - 10:30 am: Session 3 Professor Burkett Topic: Crisis of the American Mind 1780-1787 Focus: What defects or vices did Americans discover between 1776 and 1787, in the new governments they had instituted and in the principles on which the foundations of those governments had been laid? How did these defects threaten the "safety and happiness" of the American people? What remedies were suggested that seemed more likely to effect Americans' safety and happiness? Required Reading:
Recommended Reading:
10:50 am - 12:20 pm: Session 4 Professor Lloyd Topic: Constitutional Convention I: The Alternative Plans Focus: In what respects did the "Virginia Plan" represent a new constitution rather than a mere revision of the Articles? What were the delegates' initial reactions and questions concerning the Virginia Plan? What parts of the Plan were rejected or amended? What did the delegates mean when they spoke of a national government as opposed to a federal government? What different principles animate the New Jersey and Virginia Plans and the Hamilton Proposal? Why were they even introduced? What are the arguments for representation of the states, as opposed to the people, in the federal government? Consider the discussions of the executive power, bicameralism, and the role of the judiciary in the context of "republican principles." Is Madison's extended republic argument a departure from republican principles? Required Reading:
1:45 pm - 3:15 pm Session 5 Professor Lloyd Topic: Constitutional Convention II: The Connecticut Compromise Focus:
Required Reading:
Tuesday, June 24 9:00 am - 10:30 am: Session 6 Professor Lloyd Topic: Constitutional Convention III: The Committee of Detail Report Focus: Who was elected to the Committee of Detail and what has been their position so far with respect to the republican and federal issues? How does the Committee on Detail Report differ from the original and amended Virginia Plans? During their deliberations of the Report did the delegates let "experience be their guide"? What powers and what rights of Congress did the delegates suggest be enumerated? What was the status of the Executive and the Judiciary branches by the end of the discussions of the Report? Who was elected to the Slave Trade Committee and what had they said about slavery up to that point? How did the slavery provisions undergo changes during the deliberations? Required Reading:
10:50 am - 12:20 pm: Session 7 Professor Lloyd Topic: Constitutional Convention IV: The End is in Sight Focus: The Brearley Committee was created to take care of "leftovers." How did it handle the disputes concerning the Executive branch? Who was on the Committee of Style and how did the Report differ from the Committee of Detail Report? What last hour changes did the delegates make to the Report? Why did Randolph, Mason, and Gerry decide against signing the Constitution? Were their reasons similar? Did the delegates attempt to accommodate their objections? What is the significance of Franklin's "Rising Sun" speech on the last day of the Convention? Required Reading:
1:45 pm - 3:15 pm: Session 8 DBQ Seminar Professor Burkett/Professor Lloyd Wednesday, June 25 9:00 am - 10:30 am: Session 9 Professor Burkett Topic: How to Read The Federalist Focus: Why is it important to read The Federalist? What kind of a book is The Federalist? What is the audience of The Federalist? What does The Federalist try to accomplish? What is the structure of the argument of The Federalist? What does Publius assume about human nature and the "course of human events," and how do these assumptions affect the arguments of The Federalist? Is there any place, any need, or any provision for civic virtue in the Federalist plan of government? What is the role of self-interest and passion as opposed to civic virtue, statesmanship, and reason in the Federalist frame of government? What improvements in "the science of politics" did Publius think necessary to make the republican form of government defensible? What is Federalist 10's republican remedy for the problem of faction? Consider Madison's reasoning in Vices and in his June 6 speech at the convention and Publius' reasoning in Federalist 10 and 51. What are the defects of the Confederation, according to Publius? Why is there "an absolute necessity for an entire change in the first principles of the system"? How did the proposed union provide necessary protection against external and internal dangers? What is the "utility of the Union" according to The Federalist? What are the "objects" of the proposed Union, according to Publius? Required Reading:
Recommended Reading:
10:50 am - 12:20 pm: Session 10 Professor Burkett Topic: The Federalist, A New Beginning: The General Form of the Proposed Government Focus: What is the place of "moderation" in Publius' argument? To what extent is the new constitution founded on "reflection and choice," to what extent on "accident and force"? What "inducements to candor" and to the "spirit of moderation" does Publius present in Federalist 37-38? What were the difficulties "inherent in the very nature of the undertaking referred to the [constitutional] Convention"? Why is it difficult to combine stability and energy with liberty and the republican form? What are (some of) the ingredients of republican government? of good government? What are the sources of "vague and incorrect definitions"? What examples does Publius use to explain these sources? To what part of the plan are these lessons applied? How does it induce moderation to acknowledge the various interests probably influencing the convention? What are "the distinctive characters of the Republican form," according to Publius in Federalist 39? How is the proposed government both federal and national according to Publius in Federalist 39? How, in Federalist 40, does Publius answer the question of "how far the convention were authorized to propose such a government"? Required Reading:
1:45 pm - 3:15 pm: Session 11 DBQ Seminar Professor Burkett/Professor Lloyd Thursday, June 26 9:00 am - 10:30 am: Session 12 Professor Burkett Topic: The Federalist, The Sum of Power and the Separation of Powers Focus: Outline of Federalist 41-46 and 47-51. What is "delicate" about the two questions raised at the end of Federalist 43? What does Publius mean by the last sentence in the penultimate paragraph of 43? What articles and clauses of the Constitution are discussed in 43 and 44? How, in Federalist 43, does Publius defend the Convention's proposal to supersede the Confederation "without the unanimous consent of the parties to it"? Why, in the American representative republic, should the people "indulge all their jealousy and exhaust all their recautions" against the legislative branch? What are Publius' criticisms of Thomas Jefferson's suggestions for maintaining the separation of powers? Why does Publius think that it is necessary to have the "prejudices of the community" on the side of even the most rational government? What kinds of prejudices is he thinking of? "[I]t is the reason of the public alone that ought to controul and regulate the government. The passions ought to be controuled and regulated by the government." How does Publius reconcile this principle with the republican principle that government "derives all its powers directly or indirectly from… the people"? Why would "an extinction of parties necessarily [imply] either a universal alarm for the public safety, or an absolute extinction of liberty"? What is the principle of Separation of Powers? What is the greatest threat in the American republic to Separation of Powers, and why is this the greatest threat? Required Reading:
10:50 am - 12:20 pm: Session 13 Professor Burkett Topic: The Federalist, Legislative, Executive, and Judicial Branches Focus: What qualities did Publius expect or take for granted in the American people who would be living under the proposed new constitution? In what ways was the constitution a response to these qualities? What qualities did Publius expect in the people who would serve respectively in the House of Representatives, the Senate, the office of President, and the Supreme Court? How did the functioning of each of these branches and of the constitution as a whole involve the operation of these qualities? What are the relations of the composition, powers, mode of selection, and tenure of office of the House of Representatives, Senate, Executive, and Judiciary to the political purposes these offices were meant to serve and to the overall purposes to be served by the constitution? How, in particular, do any of these elements contribute to the effective functioning of the separation of powers? Required Reading:
Recommended Reading:
1:45 pm - 3:15 pm: Session 14 Professor Lloyd Topic: Ratification Focus: What is the enduring significance of the nine month campaign to secure ratification of the Constitution? Just how closely did the Constitution come to not being ratified? Who were the main actors in the ratification struggle and what were their arguments? Why did James Madison agree to introduce a Bill of Rights in the First Congress? What were the arguments in favor and against the adoption of the Bill of Rights? How reliable are the original documents surrounding ratification and the adoption of the Bill of Rights? Required Reading:
Friday, June 27 9:00 am - 10:30 am: Session 15 Professor Lloyd Topic: Bill of Rights Focus: How did Madison propose to adopt "moderate" and "proper" amendments that would not alter the structure and power of the newly formed government? Did Madison and Jefferson change their minds concerning the importance of a Bill of Rights? Why did Sherman urge that the Bill of Rights be attached to the end of the original constitution and why did Madison object to this strategy? What changes were made to Madison's June 8 proposals? Required Reading:
10:50 am - 12:20 pm: Session 16 Review and Final Questions Professor Burkett/Professor Lloyd 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm: Session 17 Final Comprehensive Exam
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