Home > Free Summer Institutes > Previous Institutes > American Founding (June 23, 2002 to June 28, 2002) > Readings and Audio Recordings
The American Revolution and the Founding of a New Nation
Sunday, June 23, 2002 to Friday, June 28, 2002
Ashland University, Ashland, Ohio
Instructors: Christopher Flannery and Gordon Lloyd
Readings
- Philip B. Kurland and Ralph Lerner, eds. The Founders' Constitution. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 1987. http://press-pubs.uchicago.edu/founders/
- Alexander Hamilton, et al. The Federalist. Clinton Rossiter, ed. New York, New York: New American Library, 1999. (ISBN: 0451628810)
- James Madison. Notes of Debates in the Federal Convention of 1787. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 1987. (ISBN: 0393304051)
- Gordon Lloyd and Margie Lloyd, eds. The Essential Bill of Rights: Original Arguments and Fundamental Documents. Lanham, Maryland: University Press of America, 1998. (ISBN: 0761810765)
- William B. Allen and Gordon Lloyd, eds. The Essential Antifederalist: Second Edition. Lanham, Maryland: Rowman and Littlefield, 2002. (ISBN: 0742521885)
- Declaration of Independence and Constitution of the United States of America. Ashland, Ohio: Ashbrook Center for Public Affairs, 2001. (ISBN 1878802332)
- Websites: See Gordon Lloyd, School of Public Policy, Pepperdine University: www.pepperdine.edu
Schedule
Sunday, June 23
Monday, June
24
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Session One
(86:46 minutes)
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Session 1 with Professor Flannery: 9:00 am -10:30 am
(Seminar Room, Founders Hall)
Topic: "Apple of Gold:" The Centrality of the
Declaration of Independence in American Political Life
Focus: Why is it important to understand the
Declaration of Independence? What does the Declaration say, and why and how
does it say it? What does the Declaration not say, and why and how does it not
say it? What is the significance of Jefferson's draft of the Declaration? What
does the Declaration mean, and what does the Declaration not mean? What is the
philosophical and historical heritage on which the Declaration draws?
Reading:
- Declaration of Independence (Declaration/Constitution booklet, p. 3)
- Selection from Thomas Jefferson letter to Henry Lee (Declaration/Constitution booklet, p. 51)
- Selection from Thomas Jefferson letter to Roger Weightman (Declaration/Constitution booklet, p. 52)
- Abraham Lincoln, Gettysburg Address (Declaration/Constitution booklet, p.54)
- Abraham Lincoln, Fragment on the Constitution and Union (Declaration/Constitution booklet, p. 58)
- Thomas Jefferson, Notes on Debates in Congress (The Founders' Constitution, Chapter 15, Document 18) also found in The Essential Bill of Rights, pp. 175-180.
- Alexander Hamilton, The Farmer Refuted, 23 Feb. 1775 (The Founders' Constitution, Chapter 3, Document 5)
- Martin Luther King, Jr., "I Have a Dream": speech delivered at the Lincoln Memorial, Washington, D.C., August 28, 1963 (to be handed out)
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Session Two
(38:13 minutes)
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Session 2 with Professor Flannery: 10:50 am - 12:20
pm (Seminar Room, Founders Hall)
Topic: "The American Mind"
Focus: What is the logic of the argument of the
Declaration? Reflections (time permitting) on the course of human events,
people, the laws of nature and of nature's God, decent respect for the opinions
of mankind, self evident truths, equality, rights, liberty, the pursuit of
happiness, consent, prudence, the ends of government, the right to abolish
government and institute new government, facts submitted to a candid world,
sacred honor, and more.
Reading:(from The Founders Constitution)
- Chapter 1, Document 6, Massachusetts Constitution (Preamble and Part the First. A Declaration of the Rights of the Inhabitants of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.), March 2, 1780
- Chapter 2, Document 1, John Locke, Second Treatise, §§ 4-15, 54, 119-22, 163, 1689
- Chapter 2, Document 4, David Hume, Of the Original Contract, 1752
- Chapter 2, Document 5, James Otis, The Rights of the British Colonies Asserted and Proved, 1764
- Chapter 4, Document 1, John Locke, Second Treatise, §§ 95-99, 1689
- Chapter 3, Document 2, John Locke, Second Treatise, §§ 149, 155, 168, 207-10, 220-31, 240-43, 1689
- Chapter 16, Document 3, John Locke, Second Treatise, §§25-51; 123-126, 1689
- Chapter 18, Document 1, James McHenry, Anecdote, 18-
- Chapter 18, Document 6, Samuel Adams to James Warren, 4 Nov. 1775
- Chapter 18, Document 7, John Adams to Mercy Warren, 8 Jan. 1776
- Chapter 18, Document 11, Thomas Jefferson, Preamble to a Bill for the More General Diffusion of Knowledge, Fall 1778
- Chapter 18, Document 22, James Madison, Federalist, no. 55, 375-78, 13 Feb. 1788
- Chapter 18, Document 29, George Washington, Farewell Address, 19 Sept. 1796
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Session Three
(89:07 minutes)
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Session 3 with Professor Lloyd: 4:30 pm - 6:00 pm
(Seminar Room, Founders Hall)
Topic: Governments Instituted Among Men: Confederation and
State Constitutions
Focus:What were the common elements of "republicanism" as
reflected in the new state constitutions adopted in the course of the American
Revolution? To what extent did the Americans take their bearings from
"experience," to what extent from abstract theory, in forming their new
constitutions? How did the idea of the "constitutional convention" and popular
ratification develop? What were the leading features of the "first" American
constitution, the Articles of Confederation? How republican and how federal
were the Articles of Confederation?
Reading:
- The Virginia Bill of Rights, 1776 and The Virginia Constitution, 1776 (The Essential Bill of Rights, p. 188-196)
- The Constitution of New Jersey, 1776 (The Essential Bill of Rights, p. 196-201)
- The Pennsylvania Constitution, 1776 (The Essential Bill of Rights, p. 202-215)
- Massachusetts Constitution, 1776-1780 (The Founders Constitution, Chapter 1, Document 6)
- Articles of Confederation, 1781 (The Essential Bill of Rights, p. 238-246)
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Tuesday, June
25
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Session Four
(91:53 minutes)
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Session 4 with Professor Lloyd: 9:00 am -10:30 am
(Seminar Room, Founders Hall)
Topic: Constitutional Convention I: Debating the Virginia
Plan
Focus: In what respects did the "Virginia Plan" represent
a new constitution rather than a mere revision of the Articles? Of what
significance were the rules adopted by the convention? What were the delegates'
initial reactions and questions concerning the Virginia Plan? Did the delegates
exceed their authority when they decided to consider the Virginia Plan? Why did
the delegates seem to be so frightened by the prospect of democracy? What did
the delegates mean when they spoke of a national government as opposed to a
federal government? Why did the delegates take up the question of the executive
branch with such reluctance? What different principles animate the New Jersey
and Virginia Plans and the Hamilton Proposal? What are the arguments for
representation of the states, as opposed to the people, in the federal
government? Compare the national and the federal views. Consider the
discussions of the executive power and bicameralism in the context of
"republican principles." What do "republican principles" say about the sources
of power, the powers, and the structure of the federal government? Is Madison's
extended republic argument a departure from republican principles? What are the
arguments for the "legality" of the New Jersey Plan?
Reading:
- James Madison, Vices of the Political System of the United States (The Essential Bill of Rights, p. 246-253)
- James Madison, Notes of Debates in the Federal Convention of 1787, May 29, May 31, June 6, June 11, June 13, June 15, and June 18
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Session Five
(89:14 minutes)
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Session 5 with Professor Lloyd: 10:50 am - 12:20 pm
(Seminar Room, Founders Hall)
Topic: Constitutional Convention II: The Convention in
Crisis
Focus: Why did Madison think that the issue facing the
delegates was not small states vs. large states? How did the "partly national,
partly federal" concept enter the discussion? Who changed their minds and why?
Who favored and who opposed the Connecticut Compromise?
Reading:
- James Madison, Notes of Debates in the Federal Convention of
1787, June 26, June 29-30, July 2, July 5, and July 16
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Session Six
(95:39 minutes)
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Session 6 with Professor Lloyd: 4:30 pm - 6:00 pm
(Seminar Room, Founders Hall)
Topic: Constitutional Convention III: Drafting the
Constitution
Focus:How does the Committee on Detail Report differ from
the original and amended Virginia Plans? Did the delegates let "experience be
their guide"? What powers and what rights did the delegates suggest be
enumerated? How did the slavery provisions undergo changes during the
deliberations? Why did Randolph decide against signing the Constitution? What
happened to Mason's bill of rights proposal?
Reading:
- James Madison, Notes of Debates in the Federal Convention of
1787, August 6, August 13, August 22, August 24-25, September 6, September
10, and September 12.
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Wednesday, June
26
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Session Seven
(77:43 minutes)
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Session 7 with Professor Lloyd: 9:00 am -10:30 am
(Seminar Room, Founders Hall)
Topic: How to Read the Constitution
Focus:What traditional features of republicanism and
federalism as revealed in The Articles of Confederation and state constitutions
are present in the constitution? Where do the states fit into the Constitution?
What changes and similarities do you see when comparing the Constitution to the
plans that were presented at the Convention? Is the language of the
Constitution vague or clear?
Reading:
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Session Eight
(97:44 minutes)
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Session 8 with Professor Flannery: 10:50 am - 12:20 pm
(Seminar Room, Founders Hall)
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 is the place of
"moderation" in Publius's argument? To what extent is the new constitution
founded on "reflection and choice," to what extent on "accident and force"?
(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?)
Reading:
- The Federalist, especially 1, 9, 10, 14, 15, 23, 36
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Thursday, June
27
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Session Nine
(88:24 minutes)
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Session 9 with Professor Flannery: 9:00 am -10:30 am
(Seminar Room, Founders Hall)
Topic: The Federalist, continued
Focus: What "inducements to candor" and to the "spirit of
moderation" does Publius present in Federalist 37-38? 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"? How, in Federalist 43, does Publius defend
the Convention's proposal to supersede the Confederation "without the unanimous
consent of the parties to it"? (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 public-spirit and reason in The
Federalist frame of government?)
Reading:
- The Federalist, especially 37, 38, 39, 40, 43.
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Session Ten
(87:46 minutes)
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Session 10 with Professor Lloyd: 10:50 am - 12:20 pm
(Seminar Room, Founders Hall)
Topic: The Federalist, concluded
Focus: Does Madison reject or adhere to Montesquieu's
understanding of the separation of powers? What is the Antifederalist critique
of the structure and powers of the House? Do you find Madison's response
persuasive? What does Madison mean by the "cool and deliberate sense of the
community"? Is Hamilton convincing in his defense of a vigorous executive and
an independent judiciary?
Reading
- The Federalist, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 55, 63, 70, 71, 78
- Brutus essays (The Essential Antifederalist)
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Friday, June
28
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Session Eleven
(90:51 minutes)
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Session 11 with Professor Lloyd: 9:00 am -10:30 am
(Seminar Room, Founders Hall)
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?
Reading:
- State Ratifying Conventions (The Essential Bill of Rights, p. 301-319)
- James Wilson, October 6, 1787 Speech (The Essential Bill of Rights, p. 283-286)
- The Federalist, 84
- Jefferson-Madison Correspondence (The Essential Bill of Rights, p. 319-324)
- Handout, Ratification of the Constitution (Download Adobe PDF or Microsoft Word)
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Session Twelve
(92:40 minutes)
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Session 12 with Professor Lloyd: 10:50 am - 12:20 pm
(Seminar Room, Founders Hall)
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?
Reading
- Jefferson-Madison Correspondence (The Essential Bill of Rights, p. 324-331)
- James Madison Speech, June 8, 1789 (The Essential Bill of Rights, p. 331-344)
- Time-line from The Essential Antifederalist.
- Congressional History of the Bill of Rights (The Essential Bill of Rights, p. 344-357)
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