2. According to Pope, what message do voters declare as they vote?

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1 A Promised Land 1. According to Elder Holland, America may be seen as a sacred place. What determines whether a location is sacred or profane? What must be done in order to maintain a location s sacred nature? 2. Quoting Benjamin Franklin, Elder Holland remarks that America s cause is the cause of all mankind. How does America s experience illustrate this truth both spiritually and politically? 3. Throughout history, many people built up civilizations upon the American continent. Some succeeded others did not. According to Elder Holland why did some early societies fail? Why did the founders believe they succeeded? Voting 1. Pope lists some plausible explanations for the reasons that motivate people to vote. What conclusions does he draw about why people choose to vote? 2. According to Pope, what message do voters declare as they vote? 3. What is paradoxical about the action of voting? The Mayflower Compact 1. Though Pilgrims and Puritans sought to create a godly covenant community, they also cared deeply about politics. In what ways might Puritan religious beliefs influence political beliefs? How are both concerns evident within the Mayflower Compact? Does one concern predominate over the other, or do they reinforce one another? 2. Upon arriving in the New World, the Mayflower Compact records that Pilgrims sought to create a political covenant with each other. What does it mean to create a political covenant? Drawing on the document as well as previous reading within City Upon a Hill, how might such covenants help new societies escape the human predicament? From A Model of Christian Charity

2 1. Winthrop notes that God Almighty in His most holy and wise providence, hath so disposed of the condition of mankind, as in all times some must be rich, some poor, some high and eminent in power and dignity; others mean and in submission. The thought that God promotes economic inequality bothers many today. How does Winthrop justify this belief? Do you find his argument convincing? 2. Within his speech, Winthrop characterizes Puritan society as the body of Christ. What does this imagery tell us about how Puritans viewed their community? What responsibilities did each individual have to promote the community s good? 3. How might Winthrop s portrayal of America as a City Upon a Hill encourage Puritans to create a better society? Do you see any weaknesses within Winthrop s image? Is there room for those who hold diverse opinions within Winthrop s city? Little Speech on Liberty 1. How do natural and civil liberty differ? How do Winthrop s views on liberty compare to Benjamin Constant s? 2. According to Winthrop natural and civil liberty each view political authority in a different light. How do the two compare? How might Winthrop s position as a leader of a newly formed colony influence his choice to underscore the importance of civil liberty? 3. What are the advantages and the disadvantages of Winthrop s civil or moral liberty? Excerpts from the Second Treatise on Government What is the origin of government for Locke? How does his stance on that question relate to the ideas of the Enlightenment? How does it differ from that of the likes of John Winthrop? Given these origins, what is the purpose of government for Locke? What does he mean by property? What does he mean by equality? Who (and/or what) governs in a legitimate government? What makes the difference between a legitimate government and tyrannical usurpation? What is the proper response to tyranny and usurpation? How did these and other ideas echo in the American political experiment beginning with the Revolution?

3 Letter to Bryan Fairfax Washington wrote this to Fairfax, a more cautious fellow colonist, as the crisis with the imperial power moved towards open war. 1)Why were the British administration s acts regarding the colonies so outrageous to Washington? What ideas lay behind his outrage? Why did he hold those ideas so strongly while others remained loyal to the administration in London? The Second Coming of Adam Smith 1. What notions did Smith have on increasing the wealth of a nation? 2. Why might the invisible hand approve of someone going out of business? 3. In what ways can workers effectively increase output? 4. How do Smith s ideas relate with political policy? I, Pencil 1. What principles of a free market economy are illustrated through the creation of a pencil? 2. What principles that Adam Smith taught are illustrated in the creation of a pencil. Common Sense Who or what does Paine attack in this passage? On what does he base his case? Why did such radical ideas appeal so powerfully to his audience? What were and are the implications of his argument here for American government and society? Circular to the States 1. What was Washington s primary fear that he expressed? 2. According to Washington, what advantages does the US possess? 3. How can American s become better citizens?

4 The Generation 1. How is hindsight a tricky tool? 2. What was the primary purpose of the Constitution? How was this achieved? 3. What insights does the historical ledger bring to light? 4. Why is there a core truth to the Revolution that does not revolve around fighting a war? The Articles of Confederation Look for weaknesses in the articles of confederation that had to later be addressed and resolved by the Constitution. Rakove Chapter 5 1. What about laws was Madison concerned with? What was his remedy for this? 2. How did Madison feel about voluntary compliance on behalf of the states? 3. What was the logic behind Madison s desire to extend the republic? Rakove Chapter 6 1. What were the vices of the political system of the United States, according to Madison? 2. Madison, as the architect of the Constitution, held deep-rooted suspicions against the states. Why did he think the states threatened to ruin the national government? How did Madison seek to remedy this? Do you find his arguments convincing? 3. During the Constitutional Convention of 1787, heated debate broke out over the issue of representation in Congress. What were the two main arguments concerning the issue? Though both expressed a desire for equality how did their notions of the term differ from one another? 4. What were the various plans presented at the Constitutional Convention? What elements of the various plans can be found in our Constitution today? Relatedly, what were Madison s greatest victories and his greatest defeats during the Convention? 5. After being forced to compromise on issues of representation, to what branch did Madison turn to in order to stop legislative [and state] excess[es]? How did Madison attempt to separate this branch from the legislative branch s power? 6. Why did Madison take notes during the convention?

5 The Divinely Inspired Constitution 1. What miracle does Elder Oaks think should be added to the miracle of Philadelphia? Why was it so miraculous? 2. What elements of the Constitution are divinely inspired, according to Elder Oaks? Based on your study this semester, would you add anything to his list? If so, what? 3. How should the belief in a divinely inspired Constitution affect your attitude toward the political system? Toward your personal responsibilities in that system? What does it mean to you to believe in a divinely inspired Constitution? 4. How does the amendment process protect minorities? 5. Elder Oaks wrote that the rule of law is the basis of liberty. How does the rule of law fulfill that description? Do you agree with the statement? Why or why not? 6. Elder Oaks wrote that the personal righteousness of citizens will strengthen a nation more than the force of its arms. Do you agree with that statement? Why or why not? How does his comment relate to President Kimball s reading about idolatry? Federalist No What are the obstacles to the Constitution that Hamilton acknowledges. 2. What reasons does Hamilton give that demonstrate why it is in the reader s best interest to adopt the Constititution? Federalist Speech of James Wilson What were the Antifederalist objections Wilson set out to refute? Can you gather any sense of how powerful those objections were from Wilson s answers to them? How does he attempt to answer them? How does he characterize the motives of the Antifederalists? How does this compare with Warren s characterization of Federalists motives? How persuasive is he? Why?

6 Letter to James Madison 1. What does Jefferson approve of in the new Constitution? What are his concerns? 2. Thomas Jefferson remarks that, in questions of government, he considers all the ill established which may be established. What does Jefferson mean by this, and how does it relate to his view concerning the lack of a Bill of Rights within the Constitution? 3. What are Jefferson s concerns about the executive branch? How does he wish to change it? Do you believe Jefferson s fears are relevant today? Why or why not?4. Though comrades throughout the early days of the revolution, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams would later part ways largely owing to political differences. One such difference dealt with the issue of how much to rely upon virtuous citizens within government. How do Adams s and Jefferson s views concerning this matter differ (hint: skim over Adams s Thoughts Concerning Government ). How might their views result in differing structural approaches to Government? Brutus I 1. What are Brutus s main concerns about the new Constitution? Given our experience since the ratification of the Constitution, have his fears been realized? 2. Why does Brutus take issue with the supremacy clause and the necessary and proper clause within the Constitution? What, according to him, will these clauses allow the national government to do? What are his concerns about the principle of federalism? 3. Brutus directly challenges Madison s large republic theory. What reasons does he give to prove Madison wrong? Which author do you find more convincing Brutus or Madison? Why? Brutus II 1. Brutus comes from a generation of political thinkers who understood the writings of John Locke. How does Brutus use Locke s ideas from the second treatise of government to bolster his argument?

7 2. Because the Constitution was ratified it could be said that Brutus lost in his fight against ratification. However, the Federalists who supported the Constitution still realized that many of the anti-federalist arguments were valid concerns for the American people. Compare Brutus II with the Bill of Rights in the Constitution and look for amendments that mirror rights that Brutus argued for. 3. The Bill of Rights was the greatest argument the anti-federalists had against the Constitution. Why, according to Brutus II, did the Federalists feel a Bill of Rights was unnecessary? Why do you think that many of the colonists, including the Anti-Federalists, thought it was important to include? Do you think it is a good thing that the Constitution has a Bill of Rights? 4. In Federalist 51, James Madison said that if men were angels no government would be necessary. Based on your reading of Brutus II, do you think that idea was exclusive to the Federalists? Federalist No In Federalist 78, Hamilton argues that the judicial branch has neither force nor will, but merely judgment. What does he mean by that? Do you agree with Hamilton that the judiciary is beyond comparison the weakest of the three departments? Why or why not? And what does Hamilton mean when he calls the judicial branch weak? 2. Hamilton argues that judges should be kept in office for life as long as they have good behavior. He says that this guards against oppressions of the legislative branch as well as assures an impartial administration of the law. How might lifetime service accomplish this? More generally, what are the advantages of a judiciary that is more distant or independent from the people? 3. Many scholars argue that the Founders, previous to John Marshall, had little understanding of the idea of judicial review. After reading Federalist 78, where do you think Hamilton would have stood on the issue? Back up your thoughts with quotes from the reading. Compare and contrast Hamilton s approach to law and the Constitution with that of John Marshall in the case of Marbury v. Madison. 4. Hamilton believes that separating the judicial from the legislative branch may serve to promote virtue throughout the republic. Why might this be the case? An American Tragedy: Slavery in a Land of Liberty

8 In what ways did slavery become accepted within society? What changes took place that illustrated this acceptance? How did slavery affect the founders and the events at the Constitutional Convention? What characteristics were common to the work performed by slaves? What arguments were employed to justify the practice of slavery? The Roles of Government in the Economy The Perils of Indifference According to Wiesel, what does indifference mean? Why is indifference a common practice? Is indifference a sin or punishment? Why? What flaw does Wiesel point out in FDR s history? Letter From Birmingham Jail 1. King writes, Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. Is this true? What are our responsibilities when we see injustice? 2. What is the purpose of non-violent direct action? What are the steps of a non-violent campaign? Why does King think non-violent protest is a more excellent way? 3. According to King, why is action needed now? Why not wait? 4. What is the difference between just and unjust laws? (Be sure to explore the various definitions King gives.) What are our responsibilities with respect to just law? What about unjust laws? 5. What consequences should those who disobey the law in the name of nonviolent protest expect? 6. Does King believe he is an extremist? Why or why not? Why is King disappointed in white moderates those who say that the goals of the civil rights movement are right, but the means

9 are wrong? 7. What is the relationship between the civil rights movement and American ideals, according to King? Mitt Romney s Mormon Cult Controversy What prejudices are easily seen on display within this article? What is difficult about working on the prejudices that you need to work on? Religion in Public Life How is religion the basic civil liberty? How has its original position in society? What changes to public education have inhibited students from learning about America s divine providence? What misunderstandings does Oaks mention concerning prayer in public education systems? What are some possible solutions that Oaks proposes to alleviate tensions between opposing groups? Which solutions does he view as unacceptable. God Mend Thine Every Flaw 1. How does Elder Maxwell define patriotism? How can individuals be patriotic? 2. Much of Elder Maxwell s speech details problems besetting America. What are the problems he outlines? Do you agree with his diagnosis? Even with these problems, Elder Maxwell believes America can be saved and is worth saving. Why is this? What in America is worth saving? 3. According to Elder Maxwell, how are individual morality and religion connected with the fate of America Except the Lord Build the House What are some of the principles that America was founded on according to Holland? What are some dangers to the American system of government?

1. According to Oaks, how are rights and responsibilities different? Why is this difference

Dallin H. Oaks: Rights and Responsibilities 1. According to Oaks, how are rights and responsibilities different? Why is this difference important? 2. What role does responsibility have in maintaining a