Master of American History and Government

Ashland University

AHG 510D:

Great American Texts: Franklin's Autobiography and Jefferson's Notes on the State of Virginia

Sunday, July 27 to Friday, August 1, 2008

Instructor: David Tucker

Course Focus:

Franklin's Autobiography and Jefferson's Notes on the State of Virginia are exemplary expressions of the principles that inform what we have come to call the American way of life. The course aims to understand that way of life by examining what these books have to say about nature, human desires, reason, Indians, education, religion, government, farming, commerce, war and a number of other things.

Learning Objectives:

By the end of the class, students should understand:

• the various ways that one may read books like the Autobiography and Notes on the State of Virginia
• the connections these books make between nature, human nature and political life
• the views of Jefferson and Franklin (as presented in these books) on education, government, happiness, virtue, religion, and revelation
• what these books tell us about their authors visions of the American way of life

Course Requirements:

• Students should read both the Autobiography and Notes on the State of Virginia before the class starts and then re-read the sections of the books assigned for each session at least once before that session. (In class, I will refer to readings below listed as "suggested readings" and we may read portions of them in class and discuss them but students are not required to read them before class. Students should bring copies to class, however.) (33% of the course grade)
• From time to time, students will be responsible for preparing to discuss specific questions or topics in class (included in participation grade above).
• Two in-class essay exams, one each on the Autobiography and Notes on Virginia. The exam will require students to answer study questions distributed at the beginning of the class or developed during it. (Each exam is 33% of the course grade.)

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.

• Benjamin Franklin, Autobiography, ed. J. A. Leo Lemay and P. M. Zall, W. W. Norton (1986) ISBN-10: 0393952940
• Thomas Jefferson, Notes of the State of Virginia, ed. Frank Shuffleton, Penguin Classics (1998) ISBN-10: 0140436677
• Suggested Readings Pack (or "SP") of additional readings and materials.

We will be paying attention to specific passages in each book. I will be referring to these passages by using the page numbers in the editions above. If you use other editions, you may have difficulty following references and assignments.

Sunday, July 27

4:30 - 6:00pm:
Session 1 – Introduction to Reading Franklin; His Early Life

Focus:

On pg. 31, Franklin recounts with wit "a serious" agreement he made with a friend named Osborne. How seriously should we take this witty story? How should we interpret it? On two occasions in the Autobiography, Franklin says that he learned to hide himself in order to get things done. On page 67, in his list of virtues, he annotates "sincerity" by saying "use no hurtful deceit" (emphasis added). Should such stories and remarks guide how we read the Autobiography? If so, what guidance do they provide?

What kind of person is Franklin revealed to be in the opening pages of the Autobiography? Why did he write it? Why does he mention that he "was the youngest son of the youngest son for five generations back"? What was most important to him? What is the relationship between vanity and humility in Franklin? What is his attitude toward religion?

Reading:

• Autobiography, pp. 1-20 (only through the first line on page 20)

7:00 - 8:30pm:
Session 2 – Ashbrook Lecture (Attendance Required)

Monday, July 28

9:00 - 10:30am:
Session 3 – Franklin in England; His Early Thinking

Focus:

What sorts of dispositions and attitudes are important to Franklin? Why? Are these connected to his view of why it is good to be a reasonable creature? (p. 28) Why did he think that publishing his pamphlet on pleasure and pain was a mistake? What is Franklin's attitude toward religion at this period in his life? What does his description of "the Maiden Lady of 70" tell us about Franklin?

Reading:

• Autobiography, pp. 20-40

Suggested Reading:

• Franklin, "Dissertation on Liberty and Necessity, Pleasure and Pain" (1725) P1: 58-71 (SP p. 5)

10:50am - 12:20pm:
Session 4 – Return to America; Self-Improvement, Business and Politics

Focus:

Is there a connection between Franklin's "Principles and Morals" (pp. 45—46) and what he tells us about his attitudes and how he lived? On page 7, Franklin tells us what his father taught him about the relationship between the honest and the useful. Is this the same relationship that Franklin remarks on (p. 46) when he discusses free thinking at this point in his life?

Reading:

• Autobiography, pp. 40-57

Suggested Reading:

• Franklin, "On the Providence of God in the Government of the World" (1732) (P1: 264-269) (SP p. 17)

2:00 - 3:30pm:
Session 5 – Moral Perfection

Focus:

How do Franklin's virtues compare to the traditional understanding (as presented in "Cardinal Virtues")? Why are industry and frugality important to Franklin? How does Franklin think his discussion of virtue improves on other efforts?

Reading:

• Autobiography, pp. 58-76 and "Cardinal Virtues"

Suggested Reading:

• "Articles of Belief and Acts of Religion" (P1: 101-109) (SP p. 23)

Tuesday, July 29

9:00 - 10:30am:
Session 6 – Free and Easy; Public Affairs

Focus:

What does Franklin understand to be the connection between industry and virtue? What is the connection between virtue and being free and easy? Why would someone interested in being free and easy involve himself in public affairs?

Reading:

• Autobiography, pp. 77-101

Suggested Reading:

• "The Way to Wealth" (1757) (P7: 340-350) (SP p. 31)
• "On Private Property" in Autobiography eds. Lemay and Zall, pp. 221-223

10:50am - 12:20pm:
Session 7 – Public Affairs (cont.)

Focus:

What does Franklin's recounting of his public endeavors tell us about his understanding of how human beings get things done collectively (that is about politics)? What does Franklin's account of British-American relations tells us about the causes of the revolution? Why was Franklin eager to save the empire? What does the comparison between Franklin and Braddock tell us about Franklin? Does it teach us anything about human virtue?

Reading:

• Autobiography, pp. 101-120

Suggested Reading:

• Franklin's Letters to Governor Shirley, (P5: 441-451) (SP p. 41)

2:00 - 3:30pm:
Session 8 – Return to London; Imperial Politics; Further Reflections on Human Nature and Politics

Focus:

What does the episode of the minister and the rum tells us about what rules in the human soul and therefore how men should rule themselves? What does Franklin's account of the Moravians tell us about ruling? Do the episode and the account tell us the same things about ruling? If not, how do we reconcile them? How would apply all this to relations between Great Britain and her American colonies? In this section of his autobiography, Franklin refers to this "age of experiments." What is the relation between experimental science and politics and being free and easy?

Reading:

• Autobiography, pp. 120-146

Suggested Reading:

• "Pennsylvania Assembly: Remonstrance to William Denny," (P7: 106-109) (SP p. 49)

Wednesday, July 30

9:00 - 10:30am:
Session 9 – Exam on Franklin's Autobiography

10:50am - 12:20pm:
Session 10 – Notes on the State of Virginia: Introduction; Natural Setting; Nature

Focus:

Does Notes on Virginia have a structure? Does it matter? What does Jefferson mean by "Virginia"? What do his descriptions of the natural setting of Virginia tell us about this land? What do the descriptions tell us about the people (i.e., Jefferson and by implication all human beings?) who view this setting and its particular features?

Readings:

• Advertisement; Table of Contents; Queries 1-5 (pp. 5—27)
• Tucker, "The Structure of Notes on the State of Virginia"

Suggested Reading:

• Jefferson to Maria Cosway, October 12, 1786, (P10: 448-452) (SP p. 53)

2:00 - 3:30pm:
Session 11 – Nature and Human Nature

Focus:

What is nature, according to Jefferson? How does he conceive of it? What is its relation to human beings? Are they part of it or merely in it? What does Jefferson understand the relationship to be between God and nature, the Creator and his creation? What is the relationship between nature, human nature and politics?

Reading:

• Queries 6—11 (pp. 28—113)

Suggested Readings:

• Jefferson to Peter Carr, August 10, 1787 (P12: 13-15) (SP p. 61)
• Jefferson to Charles Thomson, December 17, 1786, (P10: 608-609) (SP p. 65)

Thursday, July 31

9:00 - 10:30am:
Session 12 – Constitution and Law

Focus:

How does Jefferson understand nature and law to be related? How does he understand the relationship between power or powers and right or rights? Jefferson articulates 6 criticisms of Virginia's constitution. Do these criticisms have anything in common? Does Jefferson's revised constitution (Appendix 2) escape these criticisms?

Readings:

• Queries 12—13 (pp. 114—136)
• Appendix 2 (pp. 217—230)

10:50am - 12:20pm:
Session 13 – Law and Reforming the Law

Focus:

Do Jefferson's reforms of Virginia's laws aim at one goal? If so, how would you describe it? Are the reforms compatible with what we know about Jefferson's views of nature and human nature? What about his views of blacks and education?

Reading:

• Query 14 (pp. 137-155)

Suggested Reading:

• Notes on the State of Virginia, pp. 271-276; 284-287; Jefferson to George Wythe, August 13, 1786, (P10: 244-245) (SP p. 69)

2:00 - 3:30pm:
Session 14 – Public Space; Religion

Focus:

Do Jefferson's remarks on public buildings tell us anything about the republican governments that he hoped would thrive in America? What about his remarks on religion? Is his argument for religious freedom a good argument? Are its premises correct? Is its logic valid? What does it prove?

Readings:

• Queries 15-17 (pp. 156-167)
• Appendix 3 (231-232)

Friday, August 1

9:00 - 10:30am:
Session 15 – Manners and Manufacturing

Focus:

What problems for republican government does slavery pose? Why is farming important to Jefferson? How does commerce fit into his republic?

Reading:

• Queries 18-23 (pp. 168-203)

Suggested Reading:

• Jefferson to James Madison, September 6, 1789, (P15: 392-397) (SP p. 73)

10:50am - 12:20pm:
Session 16 – Franklin and Jefferson

Focus:

Would you say that Franklin and Jefferson had the same political objectives? Did they want to establish the same sort of government in America? Are their views on nature, human nature, religion and government similar or different? Do their views of these large issues affect their politics? If you think Jefferson and Franklin differ, have the views of either one prevailed in contemporary America?

Reading:

• Lemay, "Franklin's Autobiography and the American Dream,"
• Autobiography, pp. 349—360

1:30 - 3:00pm:
Session 17 – Exam on Notes on the State of Virginia