Download Government - We the People

Government - We the People
Lesson 2: What Ideas About Civic
Life Informed the Founding
Generation?
Lesson Purpose
• People make judgments about government:
the government is “bad” or the government is
“good.”
• Political philosophers have debated the role of
government and the rights of individuals for
thousands of years
• This lesson examines the concepts of
common good, civic virtue, the state of nature,
natural rights, consent, and the social contract.
• After reviewing this lesson, you should be able
to describe how natural rights philosophy
differs from classical republicanism.
Terms and Concepts
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Civic virtue
Classical republicanism
Common good
Consent of the governed
Divine right
Inalienable rights
Natural rights
Political legitimacy
Popular sovereignty
Pursuit of happiness
Right of revolution
Social contract theory
State of nature
What Values from Antiquity
Influenced the Founding Generation?
• Antiquity refers to the times of the Greeks and
Romans - Classical period of history
• The founders were most influenced by the
Roman Republic - which lasted from the 6th
century B.C.E. to the 1st century B.C.E. roughly 500 years
• The Roman Republic is classified as having a
mixed constitution - a combination of
monarchical power, aristocracy, and rule of
the common people.
• Historians during the era of the Founders
believed that the Roman Republic did the
best job in promoting the common good.
What Values from Antiquity
Influenced the Founding Generation?
• The devotion of citizens to the common good
is what we now call classical republicanism.
• Classical republicanism is the idea that the
needs of the people as a community are
above individual liberty and selfdetermination.
• Cicero - a Roman leader and orator - viewed
public life as the highest calling. Public life
called for citizens to make personal sacrifices
for the sake of the common good.
What Values from Antiquity
Influenced the Founding Generation?
• There are three aspects of classical
republicanism that were particularly influential
for the founders:
– Small, uniform communities: As Aristotle states,
Man is “a political animal.”
– Citizenship and civic virtue: In most ancient
societies, citizens were expected to stay inform
and participate in civic affairs. This emphasizes
duties, not rights
• An example of civic virtue would be Cincinnatus - the
farmer twice called to perform duties as dictator during a
political crises. After the crises, he relinquished his power
and returned to the farm.
• George Washington is considered the Cincinnatus of
America because he sacrificed his private interests for
the good of the nation.
What Values from Antiquity
Influenced the Founding Generation?
• Three Aspects of Classical Repubicanism
– Moral education: Includes instruction in “civil
religion” - the symbols, rituals, and values of the
society
• Moral education requires that children develop proper
habits to include: generosity, self-control, respect,
fairness, and courage
• The entire community was responsible for the moral
education of the young - it takes a village to raise a
child(Hillary Clinton).