For Fall 06, Think About Adding Franklin S Autobiography and Emerson S Essays

JUNIATA COLLEGE

PS 221 American Political Thought

Fall, 2009 Jack Barlow MWF 10:00 – 10:55 AM Good 315 Good 320 641-3651

Course Description

This course will examine the development of political thought in America, with an emphasis on selected writers in the American political tradition. Particular attention will be given to the ideas of nature, human nature, and natural rights as expressed in the Founding era, and their subsequent development in American politics and American literature.

Course Objectives

The general objectives of the course are to develop a familiarity with primary source materials and critical thinking skills, and to promote effective oral and written communication. Substantive objectives include analysis of significant texts in American political thought, identifying and understanding the nature of competing political principles, and examining the tension between the principles of equality and consent.

Required Texts

Center for Civic Education, American Legacy Ralph Waldo Emerson, Selected Writings of Ralph Waldo Emerson, ed. Gilman (Signet) Benjamin Franklin, The Autobiography and Other Writings, ed. Silverman (Penguin) Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay, The Federalist, ed. Rossiter/Kesler (Mentor) Martin Luther King, Jr., I Have a Dream, ed. Washington (Harper) Malcolm X, Malcolm X Speaks, ed. Breitman (Grove) Reinhold Niebuhr, Reinhold Niebuhr: Theologian of Public Life, ed. Rasmussen (Fortress) William Graham Sumner, What the Social Classes Owe to Each Other (Caxton) Alexis de Tocqueville, Democracy in America, ed. Kessler (Hackett) Mark Twain, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (Modern Library)

Students are also required to read The New York Times every day.

Course Requirements

(1) Participation. Students are expected to attend every class having read the assigned material and prepared to participate in class discussion. Participation counts 15% of the final grade for this course; clearly the quality of the participation will depend on attendance and preparation. In addition, students will be required to form study groups as part of their class participation. The groups will from time to time receive assignments for both in class and out of class work, but primarily will be responsible for posing questions or issues for class discussion.

(2) Written Assignments. There will be three written assignments: The first concerns Franklin’s Autobiography; the second will examine the argument of one Federalist paper in depth; and the third will ask you to think about Emerson, Sumner, and Twain. Additional guidelines will be provided for these assignments, which are due on the indicated dates. Unless an extension has been granted by the instructor at least one class day before the due date, late papers will not be accepted for credit. Any assignment may be resubmitted once, provided that: (1) the original paper was submitted on time, (2) both the initial and the rewritten paper give evidence of serious effort, and (3) the rewrite is submitted together with the original paper not more than seven days after the paper is returned. In order to receive an improved grade on a rewrite, the author must show that she or he has made serious revisions to the structure, evidence, or argument of the paper; simply fixing the typos is not sufficient.

(3) Examinations. There will be a comprehensive take-home final examination.

(4) Withdrawal from the course. Students may withdraw from the course at any time up to the deadline established by the Registrar's Office.

(5) Academic Honesty. All work submitted in this course must be the student's own and prepared specifically for this course. The college's policy on academic honesty, as set forth in the "Pathfinder" (http://www.juniata.edu/services/pathfinder/honesty.html) and elsewhere, is the policy of this course; this policy is to be followed without exception. Collaboration with one another, peer editing and reviewing of one another’s papers, and outside class discussion, however, are not only not considered academic dishonesty, but are specifically encouraged.

(6) Accommodations. Students who require accommodations for learning disabilities must first contact the Academic Support Services office, which will guide them through the procedures.

Grade weighting

The first written assignment is worth 15%, the second 20%, and the third 25% (60% altogether); the final is worth 25%, and class participation is worth 15%.

Office Hours

I will generally be available during posted office hours. I will usually answer an e-mail message within 24 hours. You may also phone me at 641-3651.

Schedule

8/24 M Introduction 8/26 W Benjamin Franklin, Autobiography, pp 3-50 8/28 F Franklin, pp. 50-93 8/31 M Franklin, pp. 93-134 9/2 W Franklin, pp. 154-171 9/4 F wrap-up on Franklin

9/7 M The Declaration of Independence 9/9 W The Constitution of the United States 9/11 F The Constitution of the United States II; PAPER 1 DUE

9/14 M Federalist 1 9/16 W Federalist 10 9/18 F Federalist 23

9/21 M Federalist 51 9/23 W Federalist 63 9/25 F Federalist 70

9/28 M Federalist 78 9/30 W Federalist 84 10/2 F Tocqueville, Democracy in America, Introduction, pp. 1-15

10/5 M Fall Break 10/7 W Tocqueville, I/1, ch. 2, pp. 15-33 10/9 F Tocqueville, I/2, chs. 1, 2, 6, pp. 73-93; PAPER 2 DUE

10/12 M Tocqueville, I/2, chs. 7-8, pp. 102-127 10/14 W Tocqueville, I/2, ch. 9, pp. 127-146 10/16 F Tocqueville, II/2, chs. 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, pp. 201-228

10/19 M Emerson, “Self-Reliance,” pp. 266-292 10/21 W Emerson, “Politics,” pp. 375-389 10/23 F Sumner, Social Classes, Introduction, chs. I and II

10/26 M Sumner, chs. III – V 10/28 W Sumner, chs. VI – VIII 10/30 F Sumner, chs. IX – XI

11/2 M Twain, Huckleberry Finn, chs. 1-16, pp. 3-80 11/4 W Twain, Huckleberry Finn, chs. 17-28, pp. 81-163 11/6 F Twain, Huckleberry Finn, chs. 29-end, pp. 163-244

11/9 M Reinhold Niebuhr, “Moral Man and Immoral Society,” pp. 45-68 11/11 W Niebuhr, “The Conflict between Individual and Social Morality,” pp. 69-81 11/13 F Extra day for catch-up; PAPER 3 DUE

11/16 M Niebuhr, “The Struggle for Justice,” pp. 174-192 11/18 W Niebuhr, “Love, Law, and Relativity,” pp. 192-212 11/20 F Martin Luther King, Jr., essays and speeches, I Have a Dream, pp. 3-36

11/23 M King, “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” pp. 83-100 11/25 W Thanksgiving Break 11/27 F Thanksgiving Break

11/30 M King, “Where do we go from here?,” and “The Drum Major Instinct,” pp. 169- 192 12/2 W Malcolm X, “The Ballot or the Bullet,” in Malcolm X Speaks, pp. 23-44 12/4 F Malcolm X, “After the Bombing,” pp. 157-177

12/7 M review and conclusions