POLI 2342 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Peloponnesian War, Town Meeting, Puritans
American Political Thought Introduction!
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political theory -> attempt to explain this!•
city and philosopher entails conflict, philosophy seeks truth, difficult consideration!◦
each city defines its own understanding of justice!◦
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constitution -> makes a community with a shape!•
Rousseau -> if all men are born free, why are minds shackled?!•
Hobbes -> if we are naturally free, if we don't obey authority, we face death, reconcile freedom •
and authority!
Thucydides -> explain the Peloponnesian war, city makes its own catastrophe!•
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what has American political thought aimed at?!•
most important source of thought is tradition of english liberalism!◦
men born free and equal, government by consent!◦
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Americans were familiar with early thinkers, derived from 1630s to 1760s, in relative isolation •
from england!
American colonists dirty experience the civil war in England!◦
pitted royalists against the others!◦
British american colonies were self-governing and largely protestant!◦
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religion formed the foundation for democratic government!•
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most colonies were dominated by protestant sects!•
puritans tended to be in New England!•
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in the colonies, king was hypothetical presence!•
Americans had creeds, elements based on their experience!◦
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Core Principles!
1) men are free and equal -> no one is bound by nature to be servile, no official aristocracy!
no original privilege, anyone giving directions is quickly informed that he too must work!◦
conditions imposed equally, based on need for labor -> some recognition of eduction and ◦
merit!
still had to work!‣
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2) government is a natural response to the human condition, helps cities live well!
town meeting in church, later they separated into town hall and church!◦
religion and political authority isn't opposed!◦
collective power of settlers made survival possible!◦
public action under authority is clear under hardship!‣
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government is practical, easy to forget if government has crowns, pomp and ◦
circumstance!
purpose of effective collective action!‣
John Adams said the puritan ancestors were sensible!◦
government is understandable to people with common sense!‣
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